Letter from S. F. Austin to G. Borden, Jr.

Mr. G. Borden, Jr.:

Dear Sir,—

I have just received your letter of the 15th instant, informing me that great efforts are making to circulate reports and slanders, for the purpose of injuring me, at the election which is to be held on the first Monday of next month.

Such things are to be expected. In all communities, there are men, who attempt to rise and effect their individual views, by trying to mislead the public. The check upon them, is the good sense and sound judgment of the people. Relying upon this check, I have not considered it necessary to notice any of the slang that has been circulated about me.

I feel but little anxiety, of a personal character, whether I am elected or not. I am not a volunteer candidate, for I agreed to become one from a sense of duty, because I was solicited to do so, by persons whose opinions I could not disregard, without laying myself liable, at least in some degree, to the imputation of having shrunk from a high and responsible station, at a time when the situation of Texas was most critical, and its political affairs most difficulty. Had I refused being a candidate, I should then have been censured for abandoning, in the time of difficulty, the public affairs of a country, to which I have devoted so many years to build up and bring forward.

To place before you in a succint manner, the nature of the reports spoken of by you, I will recall to your mind a few facts in relation to the past. I have been connected with the public affairs of Texas, in one way or another, for fifteen years, and under circumstances, during the whole of that period, the most difficult, perplexing and embarrassing.

I was for many years the principal organ of the local administration, and of communication between the settlers of this colony, (who, be it remembered, came direct from a free and well organised government, the United States, with all their political ideas and habits fresh upon their minds,) and the Mexican government, which then was, as it still is, in that state of chaos produced by a sudden transition from extreme slavery and ignorance, to extreme republican liberty. The difficulty of such a position is evident. The dangers of premature and ruinous collisions, produced by a difference of language, forms, laws, habits, etc., were almost insurmountable. The very nature of things opened an almost boundless field for demagogues and personalities, and the country was placed, during the whole of that eventful period, upon a volcano, subject to be ruined by popular excitements on the one hand, or by the jealousy of the Mexicans on the other. I was individually liable to suspicion, and to fancied or real complaints from all quarters; and a mark for the shafts of envy, and personal animosity, as well as for the attacks of those who honestly differed in opinion with me, or were misinformed. That period was more difficult and dangerous to the settlement of Texas, and to its ultimate emancipation and liberty, than any which has subsequently threatened, or which now threatens its destinies; for had its colonization failed, there would have been no foundation to plant independence, or any thing else upon.

We passed through that period, however, in safety. A foundation was then laid, which I believed, and am now convinced, could not, and cannot be broken up. No one knows or can appreciate so well as I do, the labor it has cost, and perhaps but few have maturely considered its strength, and results—they are co-durable with the English language and with the Anglo-American race.

In April, 1833, I was appointed by the people of Texas, represented in general convention, to go to the city of Mexico as their agent or commissioner, to apply for the admission of Texas into the Mexican confederation as a State. This appointment was ruinous to my individual interests, and in every respect hazardous and fatiguing. I accepted it, however, from a sense of duty and went to Mexico at my individual expense, for I never asked, or received one dollar from the country for that trip. I was imprisoned in Mexico, as is well known, and detained about two years. During this time, it seems that some persons engaged in large land speculations at Monclova, the seat of government of the state of Coahuila and Texas. These are the speculations to which you allude in your letter of the 15th instant, and which, you say, are ruinous to my election.— You ask me to say whether I am or not concerned with them.

The whole of the circumstances connected with that affair—my absence from the country at the time—the almost impossibility of communicating with me, then, owing to my imprisonment in Mexico—my known, and uniform and undeviating opposition to every thing that was in any manner calculated to entangle the land or political affairs of Texas—all, prove to impartial minds, that I was not concerned in them. But, as you ask me a direct question, whether I am interested or not, I will reply out of respect to you, and say positively that I never have been, and am not, concerned or interested in those speculations directly nor indirectly. Neither did I know the full history of those transactions, until within a few days past, nor am I certain that I understand them yet.

I pass to another point-—the Convention of November last, adopted a declaration on the 7th of that month—it was the voice of the people legally expressed, Whether the Constitution of 1824 was the proper basis for the country to take, or not, it was taken by that declaration with certain limitations, and consequently the said declaration of 7th Nov. was, for the time being, the fundamental law of the land, and as such, it became the duty of every citizen to sustain it, until it was changed. The country acted upon this principle at that time—I did so, as it was my duty to do, and it seems that I am now denounced for so doing, and isolated expressions are raked, without any reference to the peculiar circumstances and temporary excitements of those days, or to the idea which was entertained by many, of trying to keep the seat of war beyond the limits of Texas, until the country was better prepared, and by that means save the families from the devastations of invasion which they have suffered.

I was appointed, and not at my solicitation, by the said November Convention, to go to the United States as a Commissioner in conjunction with Dr. B. T. Archer, and W. H. Wharton, Esq. I obeyed the call of my country, thus expressed, and labored faithfully and arduously in the cause, as did both of my colleagues. Our services were of a nature that it is difficult to explain or appreciate—we made loans that were beneficial, and did not hesitate to pledge our private property—our accounts have been rendered to the government and are matter of record— We labored assiduously to enlighten and inform the public mind, as to the origin, principles, and objects of the contest with Mexico, and in every respect obeyed our instructions. The estimate in which my own services were held by my colleagues is sufficiently shown by their request that I would be a candidate for President, and by their support of my election. And yet it is now charged upon me as sort of a crime that I obeyed the call of the November Convention, and left Texas at all, and it is also said that nothing was done by the Commissioners but to eat fine dinners, drink wine, etc.

Such is the kind of slang you inform me will destroy my election. The people ought to be competent to analize these matters, and judge for themselves. They are however liable to be misled, by wrong impressions, but will do justice in the end, and I assure you that it will be no personal mortification to me, individually, if I am not elected while such erroneous impressions exist. I have one proud consolation which nothing can deprive me of, and that is the approbation of my own conscience, and the certainty that all I have done since I came to Texas in 1821, will bear the test of the most rigid scrutiny. I do not pretend by this to say, that I have not erred in judgment, and perhaps from imprudent council, but I do say, that no man has labored with purer intentions, or with a more ardent and disinterested desire to promote the prosperity, and happiness, and liberty of Texas, and I will also say, that I consented to become a candidate at this election with great reluctance. I have been absent from Texas, on public business, for about three years. During this time, my individual affairs have been neglected, and much of the old colonizing business remained unclosed. It was my wish and intention to devote this year to those objects, at the same time giving all the aid I could, as a citizen, to the public cause. You requested a reply to your letter—I have given a long one, and you can make any use of it you think proper.

Respectfully, your fellow citizen, S. F. Austin.