The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume V

P,\1•1-:1:s OJ-' .\I rn.\BEAU BGo~,\PARTE L,Dui: 181 Jnst r1realesl effort on the Independent Treasury bill to Save the Con- stitution- 'l'hank God the framers of Yours, ha,·e profited by the hitter experience of this Confederacy-I may appear to utter a strange startling opinion, one which some would construe into Enmity toward yom Young Ticpuhlic, Aud as implying a destitution of respect for my untirn lantl, \rhen I utter the honest conviction of my bosom, that possC'ssing withi11 yourseh·es all the Essential Ellement of National greatness, the single :-:t:n of "Texas, may not be eclipsed by being thrown nmong the 2(i of thi::: confederacy, until either we return to a rigi<l adherence to the letter & spirit of our Constitution, or the am- bition & reckless cupidity, and fanaticism of Our. No[r]them a/1-ics not Bretheren in the folly shall hare caused a Severance of the Union, then and not till then will it be to the permanent advantage of Texas to become a part of this Confederacy With Sentiments of high per- sonal regard, aud one who was more willing to be commanded by you than Gen! Rusk, tho Entertaining no personal ill will to the latter- I Am Your Obt Svt JOSEPH RIDDLE Jr You will please Accept my most fervent wishes for your Success in the Approaching Election; were I among you, it would aford me as much pleasure as I experienced in Voting for you a Temporary Maj Gen) when I was in the Arm_v at Victoria. l\fay there be among the Electors a large majority of those coincide with me on this subject Goel protect the young Republic may she increase iu strength- Virtue & intelligence until she shall command the Admiration of the Civilized \Vorltl and become more Terrible to Enemies than was the Pestilence to the Egyptians of old- Present my best Respects to nir Archer I do hope you will be able to give me encouragement to cast my lot among you If Old Hickory was now at the Helm of this Government he would punish the 'l'emerity of those base :Mexicans in having in- sulted the American flag streaming from the Steamer Constitution- But the present Incumbent partakes lei,s of the nature of the King of the forest than the fox- Yonr )fost Respectfully JOSEPH RIDDLE Jr r~t\.<lclre>ssed:] To The Hon l\Iirabeau·B Lamar City of Houston Reph Texas Via New Orleans [Endorsed: l J os Riddle l\Iiss A.pl 12th 1838 No. 709. STEPHEN S?lrITH TO LAMAR Wetumpka [Alabama] April 13th 1838 1\( B LAMAn Vice President Texas Srn I hope you will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing you but was imhicetl to clo so for seYcral considnations belie\"ing you would excuse me when you lwnrcl my reasons for doing what 1 hn\"e My brother William A Smith was Lieutenant in Captain 'fiekncr, Com- pany of .Alabama Greys & was killNl nt Goliad at. tlw tim<' of Col Fnnnin's massacre & had sen·ed some time previous thcre>to. Circum- stances unavoidable within thcmseh·es haYe hitlwrto prcYcntecl me from visiting that Country & 11t.te11cling to the mnt.te1· nml my object is to

Powered by