Jose Francisco Ruiz advises Antonio Navarro to not serve in the Senate.

In April of 1835, a year before Texas Independence, Jose Antonio Navarro was offered a seat in the Mexican Senate being reformed under Santa Anna's centralist rule. It came with a hefty salary of 10,000 pesos a year. He wrote to his uncle Jose Francisco Ruiz for advice. This was his reply. “My nephew, you know me well enough to excuse any preambles on my part to the decision you wish me to make. I will give you my advice in a few words, remembering the favorite expression of your worthy father, Bread is Bread, Wine is Wine. The die is cast, and in a few months will begin the revolution that will forever separate Texas from the Republic of Mexico. I feel a lump in my throat when I say this. I spent the flower of my life and freely shed my blood for the Independence of Mexico, and I would willingly do so again, though I am now old, could I see any evidence that unfortunate Mexico was capable of governing herself, or upholding the honor of her flag and her nationality; but I have lost all hope of remedy, and see nothing in the future but her inevitable ruin and degradation. I have military honors (you know it well), and receive a pension from the Government of Mexico. I will lose it all rather than go to Mexico and unite myself to the ranks of that oppressive army. Do not go to the Senate of Mexico, for you will only go to assist in quenching the dying embers of Mexican liberty; let us rather stay in Texas, and throw in our lot with our native State."