9 oclock A, M Oct 19—/35

Mr. President

Sir—After having heard you this morning in regard to the arrest of Judge Williams, I communicated your Idias and mine to Mr Hardin on that subject, it met his full approbation, Mr. Hardin further observed to me that he thought it was advisable and necessary to have a Mr J M Smith also arrested, His reasons were as follows—Mr Smith has always been opposed to the Cause of Freedom, he has when ever in his power, favored the Mexicans, to the prejudice of Our Citizens the has Sir, injured the Cause of Liberty by Giving all the information possible to enemies, (that is to those that are now our enemies) He has Sir, when the Pirate Thompson was lying in the bay of Galveston) informed him of all He knew of the movements and intention of our Citizens, he has Sir, blacken'd the reputation of the best Citizens in that part of the Contry, by informing the Mexican officers. Military as well as those that belong'd to the Custom House of all that was said by them and a great deal more, All lies of his he has to my knowledge Sir, attempted to take the life of Mr Chs Wilcox, for no other reason but only because, he was favorable to our cause, and took an active part in the affair that took place at Anahuac, and was the advocate of Freedom

He has influence enough Sir, to injure our cause matirealy. He is beside all I have stated to you of his character, a murderer My reason for saying so, is that a few days before I left home I was informed that, he and his son, have murdered a Mr Carroll, (son in law to said Smith) the last accusation is not probably the business of this body—but it is my opinion that as we had had no court in the districk of Liberty since our country has been attack'd Therefore I think it is our duty to have him arrested, not only as a murderer, but as a Traitor and an enemy to the Cause of Liberty

Peter J. Menard, approved of by Joseph Bryan—Both from Liberty

[Addressed]: To The President of the Genl Council of Texas