Copy of a letter from Col S. F. Austin to P. W. Grayson, Columbia, dated Sep. 19th 1835

Dr Sir. The final answer of Gen Cos has just been recd— It is positive that the persons who have been demanded shall be given up—and that the people of Texas must unconditionally submit—to any reforms or lterations that Congress has to make in the Constitution— I give you the substance, which is that we have no rights except what the Govt think proper to grant us as a favour.

Can or will the people of Texas submit to this! According to the position already taken by them they cannot.—

War then is inevitable— It is impossible to avoid it— This is my opinion and I have therefore issued the circular from the committee of this place which goes below by this opportunity I have written to Hall, and advised the raising of a Volunteer Corps, to be ready for immediate opperations— I think he could raise such a corps— Texas now needs the united councils and cooperation of every man in it— War and peace parties are at an end— There is no remedy but to fight— I shall send to Nacogdoches—

A Gentleman writes from Bexar that the country will be invaded whether the obnoxious individuals, (the persons demanded by Ugartechea) are given up or not, and the land business and everything else is to be regulated by the military. and he says the people must make up their minds either to submit or prepare for defence.

I place more reliance on what he says because he has made so many exertions to effect an amicable reconciliation. He also says that he will stay and see Cos. though he has no hopes of doing any thing—

I think he has been faithful to the people here and fear he will get into prison—

Now my friend tell me what we can do except to fight— an attempt at reconciliation has been made and failed, and the agents (for Barrett who has returned says the same thing— who were sent, say that we must submit or fight— Is the Country or any man in it ready or willing to submit to a Military Despot.— I think not and for this reason I thought it was my duty to let the people know their true situation, as I done in the Circular—

Give me your opinion and that of the people in that quarter—

These things have come on us much sooner than I expected when I left Mexico or N. Orleans but there is no remedy that I see— Cos has precipitated them— Two Regiments it is said are ordered on from San Luis, and also the Campeachy Troops— So says our informant who heard it in Bexar