only to have been error. But Messrs. Wilson and Postelthwaite well know that whilst they were writing down their calumnies, a new order of things had taken place in Texas-that a President and Vice President had been chosen in obedience to the constitution, and that a Congress, composed of a Senate and House of Representatives had been elected by the people, and that consequently there was an organized government in the country, worthy of, and possessing the confidence of the people and the army. But as their object was not lo give correct information, but to draw a fancy picture to suit their special purpose, they did not think proper to inform the world of this important fact.-And why do they complain of the party-spirit existing in Texas? Who has ever seen or read of a republic or other free government, where there was no difference of opinion, no party spirit? It is the soul of free institutions, it is the spirit of health, that searches out and expels the principles of disease and corruption; and its abscence is the never failing token of the approach of both, or of the actual existence of absolute despotism. But considering the newness of the country and its revolutionary condition, there is much less division of opinion and party-spirit than have been found in every other country in the same situation. In the revolutionary struggle of the United States at one period nearly one-six th of the whole population consisted of Tories; and a very large number of them took up arms with the enemy, and embrued their hands in the blood of their fellow countrymen and brothers. Yet that glorious revolution was successful, and our independence and liberties were secured and firmly established. And the De Kalbs, the La Fayettes, and the Kosciuskos of that revolution, were not appalled al their disaffection; they kept their eyes steadily fixed upon the great principles of the revolution; the star of liberty shone brightly above them; and whenever they found themselves tossed upon the billows of contending factions, they paused, took an observation, and rectified their course by its its glorious light; contributing to the success of the cause no less by the soundness of their opinions and the constancy of their perseverence, than by the chivalry of their arms. No foiled ambition nor disappointment about rank or land induced them to desert the cause in which they had embarked, and sent them to their native homes to tell a tale of horror against the struggling patriots they had abandoned; but they met every difficulty and faced every danger undismayed, until their efforts were crowned with complete success, and won for them immortality in the history and in the hearts of a mighty nation.
122
Powered by FlippingBook