Committee room of the Committee
of safety of the jurisdiction of Austin
San Felipe de Austin Oct. 4, 1835
War is declared against military despotism— Public opinion has
proclaimed it with one united voice— The campaign has opened. The
military at Bexar have advanced upon Gonzales. General Cos has arrived and
threatens to overrun the country.
But one spirit, one common purpose, animates every one in this
department, which is to take Bexar, and drive all the military out of Texas,
before the campaign closes.
There are about three hundred volunteers at Gonzales at this time, and
will be upwards of five hundred in a few days.
It is confidently believed in this quarter that the people of the
department of Nacogdoches will turn out and join the army of the people now in
the field and facing the enemy.
Arms and ammunition are needed; we have more men than guns. Could
not some muskets be procured from the other side of the Sabine? This
committee will contribute, and is responsible that the people here will do
the same, to pay a full proportion of the expense. This is all important—
a few wagon loads of muskets and fixed ammunition would be of the
utmost service at this time. Could not volunteers also be had from the
United States? Our cause is one that merits the moral and physical aid of
a free and magnanimous people, and those who now step forward, may
confidently expect that Texas will reward their services.
That distinguishd and virtuous patriot Don Lorenzo de Zavala formerly
governor of the State of Mexico, and late minister to France has just
arrived from his residence on San Jacinto, and is now here at the residence of
the chairman of the committee. He is a citizens of Texas, and enters fully
and warmly in the cause of the people, approves very much of the position
they have taken against military despotism, and of the circular of this
committee of the 19th ult.
This committee relys on you to forward copies of this communication
to San Augustin and the other committees in that quarter, and also to send
the inclosed papers to some parties in the U. S. (circulars of this
committee of the 19th ult. and 3 October and public proceedings of other
committees), for publication, in order that the public may be generally
informed of the present state of affairs in Texas.
An express has been sent to San Jacinto and Trinity, it would however
be important for that committee to communicate with the people of Trinity
and Bevils Settlement, as it inspires confidence to know that the whole
country is acting in union and with one and the same spirit and one
purpose— This, as I before observed, is to take Bexar, and drive the military
out of Texas before the campaign closes.
S. F. Austin Chairman of Com.
To the Committee of Safety of Nacogdoches and San Augustin