It is all important that information of the movements of the enemy and the dangers which threaten the country should be published in the U. S. and sent to all our agents. The certainty that real danger threatens Texas, will send thousands to our aid who would not go, if they thought they were not needed. Sound the alarm if necessary by a plain statement of facts, let the truth be told in every instance without underrating the forces or materials of the enemies' army, or magnifying those of our own.

We have heretofore expressed our opinions in favor of a decided and unqualified declaration of independence. We again repeat and confirm that opinion. In the next declaration, the ground heretofore taken should be maintained, that Texas has been absolutely independent of the Govt. of Mexico, since the commencement of hostilities October last, and that no sale or transfer of that country or any portion of it, by that Govt. to any one will be recognised as valid or binding on the people of Texas.

Respectfully your most obt. servants

On my arrival here I enquired of Maj. Miller for the law under which he was offering 800 acres of land and twenty four dollars

February 12, 1836. See Austin, Archer, and Wharton to Smith, February 16, 1836, on file with the correspondence. It must have been an inclosure in the letter which it here follows. It is written on page 3 of a folio, the first two pages of which are covered with printed matter. At the top of page 1 in the center are the words "To the Public." Immediately underneath this is a vignette showing Hercules attacking the Hydra, on either side of which is the coat of arms of the United States. Below the vignette is the title "Liberty triumphing over Tyranny and Priesteraft." Next comes the following:

Repeated inquiries being made of us in regard to the terms on which volunteers in the cause of Texas are received, we have thought proper, for general information, to publish the decree of the provisional government on this subject. It will be seen that the decree published below relates exclusively to volunteers. Texas has also a regular army, which is placed on the same footing with the Regular Army of these United States in respect to pay, rations, promotion and discipline, and, indeed, in every respect, with the superaddition of a mile square of land as a premium to those who serve two years, or during the war. Those disposed to embark in this struggle are requested to do so promptly, as their services will be needed during the ensuing spring, more than at any time hereafter.

"W. H. WHARTON, "S. F. AUSTIN, "B. T. ARCHER, "Commissioners for Texas."

Then follows the decree of December 5, 1835, for which see Ordinances and Decrees of the Consultation, Provisional Government of Texas, and the Convention, etc., 47-50.

bounty. He showed me a proclamation of Genl. Houstons which contains those offers but as the commissioners have never seen the law authorizing them, and have no knowledge of any ordinances on the subject except what is contained on the other page of this paper, we send you this copy as all the law in our possession on the subject We have information that Santa Anna is making great preparations to invade Texas in the Spring. There is no time to loose, and I hope you will have complete the regiments you have proposed to raise.

We shall leave day after tomorrow for Louisville.

yours respectfully

Col. T. D. OWINGS

late 28 U. S. A.

S. F. AUSTIN

The greatest enthusiasm and interest is felt in this city in favor of the cause of Texas-indeed it pervades the whole of this State, and all ranks of society. The Ladies of Nashville have offered to furnish the means of equipping a company from here. Such an act merits the highest grade of encomium-it belongs to history.

S. F. AUSTIN

AUSTIN TO [SMITH (?)]'

DR SIR,

NASHVILLE, Feb 18, 1836.

Thrice bad roads have detain[e]d us, but the time has not been lost or misapplied. We have all been active, and I think usefully engaged

The enthusiasm in favor of Texas is very great and universal all over this country, and we can get aid to sustain our independence I have no doubt. of it and I think there will not be much difficulty in procuring the recognition of the U. S. Govt. Nothing is wanting but union, and harmony, and concert of action and of purpose, at home; and an unquallified declaration of independence-keeping up always the position heretofore taken, that Texas has been absolutely independent of the Govt of Mexico, since the commencement of hostilities in October last, and that no sale or transfer of Texas by that govt. will be recognised as valid or binding on the people of Texas.

I am greatly pleased with Nashville. There is much genuine hospitality patriotism and chivalry in this people. H. R. W. Hill, (whom we have appointed the agent of Texas here) deserves to be remembered in the most complimentary and gratefull manner, and I hope he will be.

Dated December 12, 1834 [1835]. Copy in Austin Papers.
Copy in Austin Papers.

Farewell. I close by repeating-Union, union, union, and concert of action and of purpose with a single eye to the independence and prosperity of Texas

Yours truly

S. F. AUSTIN

SIR,

AUSTIN, ARCHER, AND WHARTON TO SMITH.a

NASHVILLE Feb. 24, 1836

On the recommendation of H. R. W. Hill Esqr. of this city, (of whose appointment by us as the agent of Texas in this State we advised you a few days since) we have concluded to adopt the plan of issuing treasury notes. As delay is pernicious and may be ruinous to our cause, we have concluded to take the responsability of having the plates engraved for the notes immediately on our arrival in Philadelphia, and take them with us to Texas, to be signed by the President of the republic of Texas.

As one of us at least, will be at home in April, we recommend that no law be passed for the issue of treasury notes until one or all of us arrive with the plates. The law can then be passed and published. We shall procure a model for the law at Washington from the acts of congress on the subject, and from men of financial knowledge. In this way no time will be lost and the best of advice can be had on the subject

Enclosed is a copy of the notes proposed by Mr. Hill. This gentleman is the same who advanced five thousand dollars for Texas, and is at this time more actively engaged in promoting our cause than, any man in the U. S. He has this day assured us that he will take $50,000 of these notes and is confident that money to any amount we need may be raised on them

Another great advantage of this plan is the supplying a circulating medium which is much needed in Texas

Respectfully
your most

obt sevts.

S. F. AUSTIN

B. T. ARCHER

WM H WHARTON Commissioners for Texas

Draft in Austin's handwriting; signatures original.

The form provides for notes payable in ten years, bearing five per cent interest, receivable in payment for public lands and of dues to the government of Texas. Austin's comment written on the form states that the denominations are to be five, ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollars.

In the original these words are written across the lines to the right of the three

names.

P. S. We leave here tomorrow for Washington-the ice has given way and the river is open We have been detained by the ice in the Ohio and the impassable state of the roads for stages.

We enclose a note handed to us by the Texas committee of this place to be sent to you for collection as the men who signed it have gone there

AUSTIN AND ARCHER TO THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.

To the Governor

SIR,

of Texas

Louisville, Kentucky, March 3, 1836

It possibly may be considered that the commissioners have delayed too much time in getting on to Washington.

The delay has been unavoidable owing to the ice, and the illness of Mr Wharton and Gen Austin at Nashville..

But had nothing of this kind detained us, we have no doubt that the cause of Texas has been much more effectually promoted by our presence in this country, than it could have been done in Washington City.

It is almost useless for us to appear in Washington untill we receive instructions from the convention of Texas, to apply in form to the U. S. govt. to recognise our independence. If we go to Washington now, we cannot be recognised or received in any public capacity whatever, and a refusal to receive us as Commissioners would have a bad effect. This opinion is founded on information recd. from a source that is entitled to confidence.

The course heretofore pursued by the people of Texas has been universally approved by all men of reflection and calm judgment; for they say it has been marked by prudence and forbearance on our part, which has placed us on high ground

The events in Mexico, the revolutionary state of that country, the prostration of the constitution, and the establishment of centralism, have compelled and forced Texas to separate, and declare absolute independence. It now ought to be done, public opinion all over this country expects and calls for such a declaration, and our friends are anxiously awaiting it. Altho it would have been viewed as a premature, or at least a doubtfull measure in November last, it now will be hailed by this people as the true course, and the salvation of Texas.

a Draft in Austin's handwriting; signatures original, except that Archer's to the postscript seems to have been written by Austin.

See Austin, Archer, and Wharton to Government of Texas, April 6, 1836, note.

The particular object of this letter is therefore to urge upon you all an immediate and full declaration of independence, and to send it to the commissioners by express, with full powers to act under it. We hope all this will have been done before this reaches you. We have stated here, that we had no doubt the declaration would be made on this day, or tomorrow the 4th of March.

The regulation of the financial operations, is all important. A bank will give great facilities to the country in its monied affairs. Mr S. M. Williams has made arrangements to put one in immediate operation, he has the bills etc all with him. We strongly recommend this subject to the convention and authorities.

In our communication from Nashville we recommended the issuing of treasury notes. We now repeat that recommendation, and have to superadd that the bank, in our opinion, will aid very materially in giving credit to those notes. As we informed you from Nashville, we shall procure the plates etc for the notes, and take or send them to Texas without delay after which the law can be passed.

We left Mr Wharton sick at Nashville, but expect him here dayly. We shall proceed from here to Cincinnatti and up the river, stopping a short time at the principal places.

Respectfully

your most

obt sevts.

S. F. AUSTIN

B. T. ARCHER Commissioners for Texas.

P. S. The difference in the publication made by Majr. Miller and the ordinance of 8 Decr. relative to volunteers has made some confusion and has done some harm.

S. F. AUSTIN. B. T. ARCHER

COMMISSION OF GEORGE C. CHILDRESS AS AGENT OF TEXAS AT WASHINGTON.

[Childress, acting with Robert Hamilton, is to open negotiations with the Cabinet at Washington, D. C., " inviting on the part of that

"A native of Baltimore who came to Texas in 1822 and rendered valuable service as secretary of Stephen F. Austin in the organization of Austin's colony.

In the original these words are written across the lines to the right of the names. A native of Tennessee who came to Texas in 1834; member of the Convention of 1836 and chairman of the committee that reported the declaration of independence, of which he is supposed to have been the author.

d March 19, 1836. Childress is commissioned "in conjunction with Robert Hamilton esqr.", and the form of the document is such as to suggest that it was intended as a commission for both; but a careful reading indicates that it was for Childress alone, and that besides his other duties, he was to cooperate with Hamilton who seems to have been expected to serve as financial agent of Texas.