From the municipality of Harrisburg-Lorenzo· De Zavala, M. W. Smith, Wm. P. Harris, John W. Moore. From the municipality of lllatagorda-R. R. Royall, Cha's Wilson. From the municipality of :Mina-D. C. Barrett, R. 11:L Williamson. On motion, the house adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. NOVEMBER 2nd, 1835, 10 o'clock, A. M. 'rhe house met pursuant to adjournment. Several additional members appeared and took their seats. .-\ quorum not being }ffl'.~ent, the house adjourned to nine o'clock to- morrow morning. NOVEMBER 3rd, 1835, 9 o'clock, A. M. The house met pursuant to adjournment. There being a quorum pres- ent. On motion of Mr. S. Houston, the house proceeded to an election of president and other officers. Whereupon, B. T. Archer was elected president, and P. B. Dexter, secretary. Mr. Archer, on taking the chair, delivered the following address: GEXTLt::\l'F.::---I return you my thanks for the honor you have conferred on me. The duties which de,olve on the members of this body are ardu- ous and highly important; in fact, the destinies of Texas are placed in ' your hands; and I hope that you are now assembled, in every way pre- pared to discharge those duties in a manner creditable to yourselves and beneficial to your country. I call upon each and all of you to divest your- selves of all party feelings, to discard every selfish motive, and look alone to the true interest of your country. In the words of the Hebrew pro- phet, I would say, "Put off your shoes, for the ground upon which you stand is holy." The rights and liberties of thousands of freemen are in your hands, and millions yet unborn may be affected by your decisions. The first measure that will be brought before the house, will be a de- cl11rat ion in whith we will Eet forth to the world the ca11.~cs which havi> impcll<'rl Ul' to tnke up nrms, nnd the nbjer.ls for which we fight. Sr.rrmdl!f. l will ,rn;:rl_!cst for your consideration ihc propriety of es- tablishing a provisional government, the election of a governor, lieuten- ant governor and council; and I would ·recommend that these officers be clothed with both legislative and executive powers. This measure I conceive absolutely necessary to prevent Texas from falling into the labyrinth of anarchy. Thirdl!t• 'Tlw or!!nnizntion of the milib1n· rccp1ir(';.; :mm· immediate attention. You have an army in the :field whose achievements have al- ready shed lustre upon our arms, they have not the provisions and com- forts necessary to continue their services in the field; give them char- acter or their. victories, though they are achieved not without danger and glory, will, nevertheless, be unproductive of good; sustain and support them and they will do honor to you, and render incalculable services to their country; but neglect them, Texas is lost. The adoption of a code of military laws is indispensable; without discipline and order in the ranks, your armies will be mobs, more dangerous to themselves than to their adversaries, and liable at all times to be routed and cut to pieces by a hnnclfnl of re:rnlnr!;. T know the men thnt. nrP nm,· in the field: therc>
-:·, :: I .. '
_,
248
Powered by FlippingBook