The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937 Page: 323
348 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Analysis of Work of General Council, 1885-1886
If a somewhat generous use be made of the imagination, the
address of the Council to the Mexican people may be placed under
the head of foreign relations. The purpose of the address was to
set forth to their Mexican neighbors the "causes and reasons why
the people of Texas have taken up arms, and requesting them to
co-operate with us in the glorious struggle against military des-
potism and misrule." The address was ordered printed for circu-
lation among Mexicans.'*
The calling of a convention was given generous consideration
during the first two weeks of December. On December 2, Austin
appeared before the Council and expressed himself as favoring the
calling of a convention with plenary powers. The following day,
in answer to a request from Barrett, Austin again stated his posi-
tion, saying that he was heartily in favor of a convention, and
that the call should be made by the Governor and Council. Austin
declared it to be his opinion that the labors of the Provisional
Government had "been directed by the purest desire to promote
the general good, and merit the approbation of the country.""
Barrett presented to the Council, December 4, a report of the
committee on state and judiciary advocating the calling of a
convention. The report contained an interesting statement of the
contract theory of government, and argued that, permanency being
one of the bases of good government, the Provisional Government
should be replaced by one of a more permanent nature. Accom-
panying the report was an ordinance calling a convention to meet
March 1. On motion of John A. Wharton both report and ordi-
nance were ordered to lie on the table.'"
A few hours later a message was received from Governor Smith
in which he suggested the calling of a convention with plenary
powers. After this message was read, Wharton proposed that a
special committee consider the communication of Austin, the mes-
sage of the Governor, and the proposed ordinance; and report on
the advisability of calling a convention, as well as the nature of
the convention, should one be called. The committee, as appointed
by the president, was composed of Wharton, Barrett and Millard.1"
As might have been expected, the committee presented majority
"Ibid., I, 631, 651.
1Eugene C. Barker, The Austin Papers (Austin, 1926), III, 275-279.
"Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 622.
"Ibid., I, 625.323
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937, periodical, 1937; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101099/m1/351/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.