Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-11

rar,csnntatlnu meet me in convention On Inc my u
dicated. tina. after a tui n''cusSi'n W wv eu,H';. 81,
r,,v ,es wla, Purse wO cai liake up, sufficiently
inryy. +, iu!ico The legislature {" carry out the ar
rnr.cu,.nt | propose. | think | have Il right ~ prefer
this request.
true. that to no man are you more indebted TINA to
the individual who addresses you for the acceptance
by Texas al the act OF Congress aplroprintiug the
seven millions seven hundred aud ii!ty thousand dol,
lars 10 your payment. than myself. accomplished
this by no lobby attendance oi. the Legislature ht III.
place where ! was not Ia be found. No member "l
the legislature had the buttons of his coat worn oil by
the grasp ni NY disgusting importantly. But | Knew
Il great labor was to b" pcriIrmei, and looked about
fr the man Ia perform it. | found him i'll a gentleman
whose popularity and ability were 80 great that NJ Il
meeting uf the Legislature at liz last session, lie was
at once, by n nearly unanimous vote, called To me
Speakers Chair 10 preside over its deliberations. lie
| had left public life with Il determination not again to
enter il, but to devote himself TO his duties, TO MS
family and TO his engagements i'll Il prUii'ai'ie ousi'
ness. Notwithstanding my objections 10 the intrinsic
Injustice and cneicive oppression OF the ACT oi
Congress. yet, in obedience 10 the wishes ot my Gre
ditnrs, who, under the assignment ! had made I'll my
interest in The public debt Of Texas, preferred recGl''
imS seventy-six per cent. to getting nothing, "nu DE-
Ing thoroughly convinced myself wltil"nt u con,
inencement of some kind was made, the debt w"hiu
never be paid. coriurr,l my young friend to stand
Tor the Legislature, ~ the rrisIs "i lie l'uoic ue''
would certainly come on a; liz next season. Ours
was an hereditary friendship. His father was my
bosom lflellu from our DpSlliihl ~ NV h'u' -
death. His son stood almost in the relation oil an
adopted one to me-. unsurpassed IN his deVono'i az"
affection by those sprung from my own io'ns' ne
acceded To my wishes, and WIS elected ny Il V"'e d
nearly equal Immunity, 10 that when cantu MN l"
the Speakers Chair. III the course "i nh interrupt
ed correspondence. durinE the last session "i the Lee
gisla,ure ut this place, even tn n man ot ms cdlaci!
and tact, | vcaturcd to afford hun some Information
in Regard to the public debt not accessible mere ana 10
give him tome suggestions ~ tn its use, whirh, alter
the victory was achieved, he acknowledged, when
delicacy furbids my making public: lie lent to the
great measure all the resources IF his intellect, ana
the energies OF his soul.
In return for these efforts aud these services, all l
ask,of you, is to meet me in convention at the time
Indicated, where, by irreiutable statistics, ] will prove
that the supplementary 81 rilemcnt, ] propose, which
imposes not a single additional burden on Texas,
will be a. profitable 10 you rs it will be beneficial 10
her Interests, and honorable to her public repute.
| am told the Legislature Of Texas would never
have accepted the Debt Bill, il its members had be
lcved it WAS not n Fn0h"g. Gentlemen, II Is aae-
cree of Almighty God that there is no EnoIf.R IN this
world, where there remains Il solitary act OF justice
To he performed. Man attempts, III vain, to rub out
the records OF his dominant oppression, but they re-
main eternal aul inciiar"ablc, inscribed OF the tau.
lets Of truth. Texas Gun find no FHdhfg to her Pub
liz Debt but by being lust. This may be achieved
without lis costing her one additional ~tarthing, which
will not be more than compensated III her rising pros
perity, and in her honor, which no man can after
wards i%mpcach. There is a m0r'd duress as we'll As
u INSNtfH oiG' i u lLhH "uIH ~ w u''ic' W pp''
~eriy--ilre result OF tho delayed justice Of his coun-
try-who is told stake MS or nOthing," acts under n
coercion scarcely less %strinsen; than he would, by the
application TO his bosom Of tile pistol of Il highway.
man.
In conclusion, | desire to give you the best evil
dence Of my sincerity, and tina; the opinions have
expressed are exempt from the imputation OF sordld
views of profit. OF the large amount OF my hte-
rests in the Public Debt of Texas, not one cent will
come to me or my wife aud children, to reinunerate
tne for fifteen years laborlous prosecution Of my
claim on the late Republic Of, aud now State of Tex
rs. But they will go 10 those who have a better
right TO tlicm-my creditors. But, gentlemen, II |
can persuade Il majority Of you 10 whom fifty per
cent. is II most muuitcent settlement, to devote the
pittance of twenty-siy per cent. to the Development
Of the gigantic resources Of this vast country, | shall
die content, and believe with all the humility that be.
longs TO my humble fortunes, that | have moi lived
entirely i'll vain.
/ remain, very respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant.
JAMES HAMILTON.
AUSTIN, TrxAs, March IS, 1886.