The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 160
341 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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160
Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
on the contrary, because they were desirous to bring back the Gov-
ernment to the terms of the constitution of 1824."1
Despite such authorities, an examination of the private corre-
spondence of the time, principally Austin's own, and other docu-
ments that were not intended for the Mexican eye leads one to the
conclusion that the declaration of November 7 and all acts in con-
formity thereto. were not altogether the results of loyalty to the
constitution of 1824, but were dictated largely by policy. William
H. Wharton, in declining his appointment to go as commissioner
to the United States,2 testified to the fact that it was expediency
that governed the action of the Consultation. Referring to the in-
definite attitude assumed by the November declaration he said:
"It was generally thought, and I then thought it a matter of policy
so to declare. It was thought (by a majority over a very strong
minority) that a declaration for the constitution would neutralize
the prejudices or enlist the sympathies and assistance of the Fed-
eral party of the interior in our favor; and also that under such
declaration we could obtain the requisite loans, etc., from the cap-
italists of the United States."" James W. Robinson, one of the
prominent members of the Consultation and who afterward be-
came Lieutenant-Governor of the provisional government and
ex-officio president of the General Council, writing from the Con-
sultation on November 3, 1835, said: "How the convention will
decide is uncertain, but the probability is in favor of the constitu-
tion as a matter of policy only, as all agree we must go, sooner
or later, for independence."' Robinson, it must be remembered,
was also of the radical party, and his statement may be somewhat
biased. But it is a well-known fact that the first report of the
committee of the Consultation,' which John A. Wharton presented,
November 4, was an absolute declaration of independence. This
was even adopted; but on the recommendation of Houston, tradi-
tion says, it was reconsidered, and the declaration of November 7
'Senate Does., 24 Cong., 2 Sess., I, No. 20, p. 7.
-See below, p. 168.
8Wharton to Archer, November 29, 1835, in Brown, History of Texas,
I, 428.
'Robinson Ito Frost Thorn, November 3, 1835, cited by Yoakum, History
of Texas, II, 12, footnote.
'See above, p. 156.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910, periodical, 1910; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101051/m1/180/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.