The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901 Page: 202
366 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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202 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
quence of it which provoked all the Texans into united rebellion.
Travis, indeed, found the general sentiment so strong against him
that for several weeks he published a card in the Texas Republican,
asking the people to suspend judgment concerning him until he had
time to make an explanation and justification of his act. This was
tardily written on September 1, and forwarded to Henry Smith at
Brazoria for publication, but I believe it never appeared in print.
It reads as follows:
"To the Public:
"The undersigned published a card some time since, stating that
he would give the public his motives in engaging in the expedition
to Anahuac which resulted in the capture of the garrison of that
place on the 30th of June last. Circumstances beyond my control
have hitherto prevented me from redeeming the pledge therein
given. I will now do so in a few words.
"I refer the public to the following documents to shew what were
my motives in that affair. At the time I started to Anahuac, it
seemed to be the unanimous opinion of the people here that that
place should be reduced. The citizens about Galveston Bay, who
had formed a volunteer company for the purpose sent to this place
for aid. The Political Chief approved the plan and presided at a
meeting of about 200 persons who adopted the resolutions which
appear below.
"Being highly excited by the circumstances then stated, I volun-
teered in that expedition, with no other motives than of patriotism
and a wish to aid my suffering countrymen in the embarrassing
strait to which they were likely to be reduced by military tyranny.
I was casually elected the commander of the expedition, without
soliciting the appointment. I discharged what I conceived to be
my duty to my country to the best of my ability. Time alone will
shew whether the step was correct or not. And time will shew that
when this country is in danger that I will shew myself as patriotic
and ready to serve her as those who to save themselves have disa-
vowed the act and denounced me to the usurping military.
"San Felipe, September 1st, 1835.
"W. BARRETT TRAVIS."
The documents which he expected to publish with this were
doubtless the proceedings of the meeting of June 22, which author-
ized his attack on Anahuac. I have been unable to find them.
The University of Texas, December, 1900.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901, periodical, 1901; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101018/m1/224/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.