The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 169
319 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar
am proud to say that it gives me another proof in addition to the
many I have already had of your patriotism and desire to promote
the harmony and good of the country. From a press of business
it will not be in my power to call at your room at 2 o'clock this
evening but I hope you will not on my account have any hesitancy
in giving your consent to the request alluded to as there is no
design or desire on my part to have my name before the people
for any office whatever. As the representative of my country I
feel bound to discharge to the best of my abilities the duties of
the Station; but beyond this my private affairs and domestic obli-
gations so long neglected imperiously demand my attention and
will not permit me to think of public life beyond the discharge
of those military obligations in the hour of danger which I hold
paramount to all other considerations. But I shall be pleased,
dear sir, to see your name before the people for the office of Chief
Magistrate and shall be happy to sustain you in your labors for
the welfare of the country to which we are both under many obli-
gations for confidence reposed and honors conferred.
After the receipt of this letter, Lamar replied to the Senators
accepting their suggestion that he stand for the presidency. He
expressed his gratitude that the request came from those over
whom he had presided in the Senate. "I can only say in answer,"
he said, "that I came to this country for the sole purpose of sub-
serving the great objects of the revolution. Until those objects
are fully achieved, I do not feel myself at liberty to decline the
duties of any station, however high or humble to which the voice
of my fellow citizens may call me.""8
The nomination of Lamar by the Senate was followed by public
meetings which nominated him throughout the Republic. The
first of these was at Richmond, his home town, on April 17, 1838,
when he and Burnet were nominated. On April 21, a meeting at
Columbia took similar action. On April 23, a large public meet-
ing in Galveston nominated Lamar. A large gathering met in
the Hall of the House of Representatives in Houston on May 19,
and after much oratory adopted resolutions favoring the election
of Lamar to the presidency. These nominations were all from
west of the Trinity. On May 10 a public meeting at San Augus-
tine, in the extreme east, nominated Lamar and Joseph Rowe."9
The opposition was represented by the candidacy of Peter W.
Grayson, who had been Attorney-General in Burnet's cabinet and
"Lamar Papers, No. 631; Telegraph and Texas Register, June 2, 1838.
"Telegraph and Texas Register, April 25, May 2, June 2, 1838.]69
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920, periodical, 1920; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101075/m1/175/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.