ingly, an ele('tion was held for an agent to negotiate in their behalf, :md make needful representations of their wants, which resulted in the choice of General Austin. And, though contrary to his own views as premature, he proceeded to ~Iexico in obedience to the instructions of his constituents. He had not been long in Mexico before intelligence was received in Texas, that he was in prison, but no reasons as~igncd for his detention. Many efforts were made to obtain from his incarcerators specific charges and a trial. But no accusation was ever made, to my knowledge, execpt that he was so zealous in his duty, on one occasion, as to give offence to the Secretary of State. The alleged insult to the Secretary, together with a letter received in Texas with his signature, recommending the forma- tion of a state government in defiance of the general goYernment, was severely animadverted upon by many citizens, as bringing them into collision with their rulers, which they wished to avoid jn their present feeble condition. Nothing occurred, after this event, of importance to disturb the political atmosphere for twelve months. In the winter preceding the breaking out of the war, a rumor (and we have few other means of knowing what is doing in the lfoxican interior) was circulated, that the Congress had passed a law, disfranchising all Anglo-Americans in Texas; and that Santa Anna had
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