Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-25

AExANDRIA, (LoU.) JULY 81.
We ak indebted to a gentleman be-
longing 1.-THE army of the Republic of
Texas, fS the following copy of the
Dectaratih by the Supreme Council--
The editor congratulates that body on
tie progressed their eHorts-and HE, as
alt otAsrS eta free government should
be, is always ready and willing to contri-
butte his utmost exertions in the emanci-
patton of the erslayed and oppressed.
DECLARATION
By the Snhreme Council Jthe Rehub-
Tic Of IeraS.
As all governments were originally
established by the will of the people, for
the benefit of society, whenever the eX-
isting government, in any community,
fails to effect the purpose for which 1t
was instituted, it is competent to the
community at large to rescind its ex-
press or tact allegiance to the ruling
power, and 70 organize a new constitu-
ton and form of government more con-
sistent with its interests, and more con-
sonant with its feelings. In exercising
this objectionable right, an indcpen-
dent peopl have only to consult their
own discretion. But though amenable
to no tribunal for its municipal acts, as
free state,n claiming admission to the
communityof nations, owes to itself an
exposition If the motives which have
prompted it to the assertion of its
rights, as veil as ofthe principles which
it assumes o vindicate.
The citizens of Texas have long in
dulged thehopo that in the adjustment
of the boundaries of the Spanish posses
sions in America and of the territories OF
the United States, they should be inclu-
ded within the limits of the latter. The
claims of the United States, long and
strenuously urged, encouraged this
hope. An expectation so flattering pre-
vented any effectual effort to throw oil
the yoke of Spanish Authority, though
1t could not restrain some unavalllng re-
bellons against an odious tyranny.
The recent treaty between Spain and
the United States of America, has dis
sipated an illusion too long fondly che
rished, and has reused the citizens OF
Texas from the torpor into which a
fancied security had lulled them. They
have seen themselves by a convention
to which they were no party, literally
abandoned to the dominion OF the crown
of Spain, and left prey not only to i'm
positions already intolerable, but to all
those exactions which Spanish rapacity
is fertile in devising. The citizens OF
Texas would have proved themselves
unworthy ofthe age in which they live
nf their ancestry-of the kim
dred Of the repuh!iesz Of tho Anlerioen
COMMENSURATE they have hcsitatcd in
this emergency, what course to pursue.
Squirting the letters of colonial vas
salage, disdaining to submit to the most
atrocious despotism that ever disgraced
the annals of Europe--they have re-
solved under the blessings of God to be
FREE. BY this magnanimous resolu-
ton, to the maintenance of which their
lives and fortunes are pledged, they Sc
cure to themselves an elective and re-
preventative government, equal laws,
and the faithful administration of JUS
tice, the rights of conscience and reli-
gious liberty; the freedom Of the press,
the advantages Of liberal education, and
commercial intercourse
with all the world.
Animated by just confidence in the
goodness Of their cause, and stimulated
by the high object to be obtained BY the
contest, they have prepared themselves
unshrlnkingly to meet, and firmly to
sustain, any conflict in which this de- |
;laration may involve them.
Done at Nacogdoches, this twenty
bird day of June, i'll the year Of our
Lord, 1919. |
JAMES LONG,
President ofthe Suhreme Council. |
BIs'TE TARIN, Secretary.