Quintana, December 22, 1835.
Dear Sirs: We expect to get off to-morrow in the Wm. Robbins; Archer,
the two Whartons and myself and several other passengers.
There has been a great deal of low intrigue in the political maneuvering
of a party who I am at last forced to believe have their own personal
ambition and aggrandizement in view, more than the good of the country. These
men have operated on Archer until they have made him almost a political
fanatic, preaching a crusade in favor of liberty against the city of Mexico,
the only place short of which the army of Texas ought to stop, etc.
The Mexicans say that it is rather curious that the people of Texas should
fight against military rulers, and at the same time try to build up an army
that may, in its turn, rule Texas as it pleases. I think it probable there
will be some thousands [of] volunteers from the United States in a few
months. They nearly all wish to join the regular army on the basis of
volunteers. What shall we do with so many? How support them? I fear
that the true secret of the efforts to declare independence is, that there must
then be a considerable standing army, which, in the hands of a few, would
dispose of the old settlers and their interests as they thought proper.
The true policy for Texas is to call a convention, amend the declaration
of the 7th of November last, by declaring Texas a State of the Mexican
Confederacy under the basis laid down in the fifth and other articles of
said declaration of the 7th of November, form a constitution and organize
a permanent government. Every possible aid should be given to the
Federal party in the interior; but it should be done as auxiliary aid, in
conformity with the second article of the declaration. By doing this the war
will be kept out of Texas. This country will remain at peace. It will fill
up rapidly with families, and there will be no great need of a standing
army. I believe that the combinations in the state of Tamaulipas are very
extensive to form a new republic by a line from Tampico, west to the
Pacific, and it is probable that the capitulation at Bexar was made to
promote that object. In short, it is much easier to keep the war out of Texas,
than to bring it back again to our own doors. All that is necessary is for
us not to do any king that will compel the Federal party to turn against us,
and if they call on us for aid let it be given as auxiliary aid, and on no
other footing.
This takes away the character of a national war, which the government
in Mexico is trying to give it, and it will also give to Texas just claims on
the Federal party, for remuneration out of the proceeds of the custom
houses of Matamoros and Tampico, for our expenses in furnishing the
auxiliary aid. But if Texas sends an invading force of foreign troops
against Matamoros, it will change the whole matter. Gen. Mexia ought to
have commanded the expedition to Matamoros and only waited to be asked
by the Provisional Government to do so.
I repeat: It is much easier to keep the war out of Texas and beyond the
Rio Grande, thah to bring it here to our own doors. The farmers and
substantial men of Texas can yet save themselves, but to do so they must act
in union and as one man.
This, I fear, is impossible. In the upper settlement Dr. Hoxey is loud
for independence. Of Course he is in favor of a large standing army to
sustain it, and will no doubt be ready to give up half, or all, of his
property to support thousands of volunteers, etc., who will flood the country
from abroad.
It is all very well and right to show to the world that Texas has just and
equitable grounds to declare independence; but it is putting the old settlers
in great danger to make any such declaration, for it will turn all the
parties in Mexico against us. It will bring back the war to our doors,
which is now far from us, and it will compel the men of property in Texas
to give up half or all to support a standing army of sufficient magnitude to
contend with all Mexico united.
S. F. Austin.
[To F. W. Johnson, Daniel Parker, D. C. Barrett, J. W. Robinson, Wyatt
Hanks, P. Sublette, Asa Hoxey.]