Original draft of a letter from Austin to the Provisional Government in the Austin Papers. This is not dated, but there is a copy in the archives of the State Department of Texas, Records, Vol. 3, pp. 157-159, dated December 3. The original so well illustrates the characteristic cautiousness of Austin, and at the same time suggests the sensitive nature of the subject, that two paragraphs are quoted with their erasures and interlineations inserted in brackets:
. . . “Should the Govt. succeed in giving to this war a national character, as they are attempting, Texas will have to contend against the whole nation united against her. That such a character will be given to it is probable—in fact it is almost certain, for the reason that the declaration made by the Genl Consultation [admits of] tends [more] fully as much to independence [than to] as to adhesion to the constitution of 1824—[and whether fortunately or some most]—some of the subsequent measures [especially the imp] have the same tendency. The manner [that] in which Govr Viesca and Col Gonzales [etc were recd. at have been were] have been recd. [at Goliad etc] will also have its effect [in short the debates and opinions expressed in favor of independence and the general impression that has gone abroad that independence was the object] the organization of a local Govt. without a clear and positive declaration that it was done as a member of the Mexican confederation under the constitution of 1824 and law of 7 May of that year will be perverted by our enemies [to mean that] to mean a different thing from what was intended. In short the impression has gone abroad that independence is the object, and the only object of Texas—This being the case [the] there is at least every probability [is great] that the Texas war will assume [a natio] the character which the Govt of Mexico are endeavoring to give to it, and that all parties will unite against us.
It is perhaps [out of place] too late now to inquire whether a different course and a more rigid adherence to the constitution of 1824, [and to the] and organization as a member of the Mexican confederation without any ambiguity, would or would not have [been more promoted comported much] been the true and [only] proper course for Texas—I believe it would, but the time [Here Austin stopped abruptly, and deleted the whole of this paragraph.]
