The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 70, July 1966 - April, 1967 Page: 428
728 p. : maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
right and inevitable. In the words of Wharton: ". .. we are bound
by the first law of nature, self-preservation, to dissolve all con-
nexion, and take care of ourselves."" In addition, they had im-
portant connections in Nashville, New Orleans, Richmond and
Washington on whom they were counting for support.
In the midst of such singlemindedness Austin could not have
been at ease. He had left home still prudently holding on to the
hope of deriving assistance from the Mexican liberals and so had
not publicly committed himself to the policy of immediate in-
dependence. His position as a commissioner rested upon con-
tingencies and was, therefore, lacking in force. He had further
reason to doubt his personal influence in the United States. Save
for a brief stopover in New Orleans upon his return from im-
prisonment in Mexico City, he had not set foot in his native land
since coming to Texas in 1821 to organize his colony. He had
carried on voluminous correspondence with people there but he
did not know personally any of the important leaders of the
country.
It was a surprise and a matter of personal satisfaction to him
when the reception accorded the commissioners in New Orleans
was enthusiastic. As he expressed it in an informal letter to a
relative: "I had no idea before I left home of the deep and
general interest that is felt for the cause of Texas, or of the
influence which my opinions seem to have in this country-
had I known it sooner, I should have been less cautious than I
have been about precipitating the people of Texas into a declara-
tion of independence. . .."1
In New Orleans the commissioners were informed through
reliable sources in Vera Cruz and Tampico of a coalition between
the Federalists and General Santa Anna. That news destroyed
any lingering hope for the restoration of the liberal constitution.
At the same time, the news rendered obsolete the cautious diploma-
cy of the "peace party." Austin's conversion to the views of
eTelegraph and Texas Register (San Felipe de Austin), February 27, 1836. For
Wharton's authorship of this article, which is signed "Curtius," see William H.
Wharton to Henry Smith, February 7, 1836, Garrison (ed.), Diplomatic Corre-
spondence of the Republic of Texas, Part I, 65-66.
1"Stephen F. Austin to Henry Austin, February 14, 1836, Barker (ed.), The
Austin Papers, III, 314.428
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 70, July 1966 - April, 1967, periodical, 1967; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101199/m1/454/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.