Gen. Houston, who is now with the army), and their experience in public business gives them an ascendency over the rest of the body.  The President is losing ground.  He made a good impression at first, but by his partiality and weakness and great conceit he has forfeited the respect of the body, and a laxity of order begins to be apparent.

Among the persons here who are attracted by the Convention is David G. Burnett, one of the Empressarios of this country, who is spoken of as the President.  He is said to be an honest, good man, but I doubt his ability for such a station.

Saturday, March 12, 1836

Weather warm and pleasant.  No intelligence yet from the Alamo, nor from Houston.  The Constitution has been gone over by sections, and much altered and amended; but it is still so imperfect that it has been recommitted to another committee to amend the phraseology and arrangement.  As the President expresses it, to correct the verbiage.

Sunday, March 13, 1836

The Convention continued their business as usual, without regard to the day.  Indeed I have seen little or no observance of the day in Texas.  They are a most ungodly people.

Today a very pretty debate arose on the subject of imprisonment for debt.  It arose on a motion of Rusk, which went to prohibit imprisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud.  Motion to amend made by Potter.  Childress moved: "No person shall ever be imprisoned for debt, on any pretense whatever."  It was advocated by Childress, Carson, Parmer and Potter; opposed by Rusk, Collinsworth and Thomas.  (See the article in the Constitution.)

No intelligence yet from the Alamo.  The anxiety begins to be intense.  Mr. Badgett and Dr. Goodrich, members of the Convention, have brothers there, and Mr. Grimes, another member, has a son there.[17]

Zavala expresses the belief that in twelve months he will be in Mexico.  He thinks that Santa Anna's race is nearly run.  That a revolution will take place in Mexico, and the liberal party will be in the ascendancy; that he is the most popular man of that party, and he thinks that he will be called there to head it.  The seeds of ambition are not yet extinct in him, and vanity is his weak side.

Monday, March 14, 1836

No intelligence yet from the Alamo.  The weather is gloomy and warm, indicating rain.  The wind is from the south, and the wild geese are mustering for