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PAPERS OF }[IRABEAU B{.;O~UPAHTE LA~I.\R
ancl valuable, should not be lost, his friends finally persuaded him to try his fortun(' in the infant Republic of Texas. They e11tertaine<l the hope that whe11 seperat('(l from his family, ancl thrown upon his own resourc:(•s, and not uutil then, he woulll see and feel the necessih· of exNtion, antl atiai11, wliat was practic·ahle for him with ordinary" ap- plic:ation, the iunplest ~ncce~:;. Thither he repairc<'I, ancl established himself, I understand, at San Antonio, where, I suppo.,.:c, he still resides. I have endeavoured to obtain, from candid and disinterested sources, information as to his present deportment and prospects; and, although I have been unal,lc to l('arn m1y thing definite or certain respecting him, I am inclined to believe, from the partial knowledge I have ac- quired, that he has changed his habits, and is deYoting himself to elevated and honorable pursuits. I have understood that he was the District Attorney in the Circuit or District where he resides, and I perceive by a late New Orleans paper that he held a respectable poll for Congr<>ss in the County of Bexar. These circumstnn<'es naturally create the beliC:'f that he is a new man, and that the reasonable expec- tations of his friends will not be disappointed. Although I have scarc('ly known him since he was a youth, I am warranted in saying, from the representations of capable and disinterested witnesses, that in strength of intellect, and in extent and variety of acquirement, of his age, he has no superior in the United States, or in 'I'exas. I do not know, Sir, in what spirit this communication will be re- ceived. Its object has been, as you have doubtless perceived, to be- speak for one, in whose welfare I cannot but feel a deep and abiding interest, the friendly consideration of the Chief Magistrate of the Republic of Texas. If, unfortunately, I should be mistaken in my conjectures, and be deemed to have transcended the legitimate limits of public correspondence, by this candid & brief expose, no errors of motive will certainly be imputed to me in giving expression to feelings, so pure and laudable. Permit me, Sir, in conclusion, to congratulate you on the aus- picious era at which _you a!:sume the duties and responsibilities of Office. The llays of political delusion and anti-:Social conspiracies are pa:::.,,;ing away, ancl the true age of renson is de,·eloping to man the real interei-'ts of ~oc:iety, and tl~e stable benefits of a free and well organized go\'ernment. That your Administration may be at- tended with distinguishecl success- that justice and integrity may mark the triumphant steps of your Government-that mildness and im- partiality may pro<:liam the ei-'tahlishment of public freedom through- out the infant Republic-and that you may receiYe the applause ,llill gratitude of eYcry Patriot. ancl the general admiration of your CountrY, is the disinterested wish of Yr. Obt. Sen·t., J,UIES VAX NE~~- [Endorsed :] Jas Van Ness- Pres- Pri relations 3rd Nov. 1838 Columbus, Geo
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