“Comes _near_ independence, doesn’t it!” quoth somebody. “Just says if they won’t play with us we won’t play with them!”
“Merely being polite about it, is all,” agreed Dick. And he resumed.
6th. That Texas is responsible for the expenses of her armies now in the field.
“Glad to hear that,” was the interruption. “I’ve been pinin’ to know who was goin’ to pay me for my crops I’ve lost.”
7th. That the public faith of Texas is pledged for the payment of any debts contracted by her agents.
“Pay in faith, huh? Wall, thar’s nothin’ else in the treasury, that’s sartin.”
8th. That she will reward, by donations in lands, all who volunteer their services in her present struggle, and receive them as citizens.
“Thar’s sense to that. We got land a-plenty, anyhow.”
These declarations we solemnly avow to the world, and call God to witness their truth and sincerity, and invoke defeat and disgrace upon our heads, should we prove guilty of duplicity.
“Who wrote that?” he asked, of Leo. “Sounds a little like Sam Houston, and then ag’in it doesn’t seem to be quite high and mighty enough. Sam’s fond of big words.”
“Don’t know who did write it,” answered Leo. “They say there were four or five propositions. Austin sent one in, favoring the Mexican constitution of ’24 and separation from Coahuila. It was the mildest. Daniel Parker, of Nacogdoches, and D. C. Barrett, of Mina, had a couple of others. Three-legged Willie had another ready. That was the hottest, and they say the most of the one adopted is his, toned down some.”
“Well, I should rather reckon there were. I heard ’em through a window. Most of us outsiders had to listen through the door and windows. Dr. Branch Archer made a bully speech, as president. He said we weren’t fighting for ourselves alone; we were ‘laying the corner-stone of liberty in the great Mexican republic.’ Mr. Royall read a letter from Austin, telling what he thought the consultation ought to do――and they pretty nearly did it. Martin Palmer argufied for independence and J. D. Clements, of Gonzales, argufied for the constitution. Then J. A. Wharton argufied for independence; and General Houston made the bulliest speech of all, asking us all to go slow and work together. He and J. A. Wharton almost had a fuss over whether we should declare for independence or the constitution, but Houston won out, when the question was put, more than two to one for the constitution.”