have been the army of Texas; and how would that army have been furnished? where would have been the credit of Texas; and where the prospect of a speedy recognition of her independence, by any power on earth? Where would _have been Texas, and the settlers of Texas? The settlers of Texas would have been harassed beyond all sufferance, broken up, and destroyed. Texas would have remained, in her locality, a delightful portion of the earth; but she would have relapsed, for a season, into the solitude in which we old settlers found her. The recognition of Texas would have been the event of a fuhire generation. The credit of Texas would have sunk beyond all hopes of redemption; and the army of Texas, destitute of all means of subsistence, would have dissolved; and many an angry and vicious spirit in that army, disbanded and loosened of all restraint, would have prowled over the country wreaking his vengeance or satiating his rapacity, on the peaceful and unoffending citizen in "putting down the enemies of Texas." Texas herself would have been prostrate, ruined and disgraced. This extremity was happily avoided. My answer to the army remonstrancehadbeendespatched:butevery report from what quarter indicated a high and feverish excitement; and it was difficult to determine what a day would bring forth. The situation of the government was embarrassing in the extreme. Suspicions of the foulest character were entertained and openly declared by some, of the integrity of the _administration: and an universal indignation seemed to pervade the country at the thought of liberating Santa Anna. Bribery and corruption were vociferously imputed to the executive, and new-fangled pseudo-patriots, trampled through the land to propogate the vile slander. But we always had the consolation to believe that the character of the imputation of the authors of it, were homogeneous. We felt that we had failed our solemn engagement to the President of Mexico; butwealso had a conscience that no moral turpitude could be attributed lo us, as far a breach of convenant: for where no violation is, there is no moral reponsibility. Being persuaded that the army had been abused and misled, by intrigue and falsehood;! determined to make an appeal to their good sense and patriotism: and at least, to inform them of the extent to which the government was compromitted, in regard to the extent to which the government was compromitted, in regard to the treaty. It was not expected that any considerable change of
16
Powered by FlippingBook