Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-04-19


The unanimous Declaration Of Indepen.
dence made by the Delegates ofthe Pco.
pie Of Texas, in General Convention,
made at the town of Washington, on the
I'd day Of March, 1886.
When government has ceased to pro-
tect the lives, liberty, and property of the
people from whom its legitimate powers are
derived, and for the advancement Of whose
happiness It was instituted, and so far from
being q guarantee for the enjoyment OF
those inestimable and unalienablerights, be.
comes an instrument in the hands of evil ru.
lcrs for their oppression; when the federal
republican constitution Of their country,
which they have sworn to support, no longer
has o substantial existence, and the whole
nature oftheir government has been forcibly
changed, without their consent; from res.
;tsicted federative republic, composed Of Sc
veral states, to consolidated central mill.
tary despotisn, in which every interest is
,disregarded. but that Of the army and the
priesthood-both the eternal enemies ofci.
~i liberty, the ever ready minions Of power,
and the usual instruments oftyrants; When,
long after the spirit Of the constitution has
departed, moderation at length so far lost by
sthose in power that even the semblance Of
freedom is removed, and the trainers them
selves ofthe constitution discountenanced,
:aad,so far from their petitions and remon-
stranecs beng regarded, the agents who
bear them are thrown into dungeons-and
merctnaTy armies sentforth to force a new
government upon them at the point of the
bayoi,et: When, in consequence Of such
acts Of nlalfeasance, and abdication, ON the
part ofthe government, monarchy prevails,
and civil society dissolves into its original
elements: IN such crisis, the first law Of
nature, the right ofself preservation, the in.
herent and inaienable right Of the people to
appeal to. first principles, and take their po-
rlitieal affairs into their own hands, in extre.
metAses, enjoins II as right towards them.
selves, and sacred obligation to their pos.
teity, to abolish such government, and
create another in its stead, calculated to res
cue them from impending dangers and to Sc
cure their future welfare and happiness.
Nations as well Us individuals arc amena-
ble for their acts to the public opinion Of
manEnd.A "A Estatement ofa part ofour grie.
ysncsssis therefore submitted to an impair
tialwu3d, in justification efthe hazardous
but unayoidable step now taken, ofsever.
ing our connection with the Mexican peo.
pic, and assuming an independent attitude
among the nations OF the earth.
The Mexican government, By its coloni.
zation laws, invited and in juced the Anglo.
American population of Texas to colonise
the wilderness, under the pledged faith of a
written constitution, that they should cont.
nue. to enjoy that constitutional liberty and
republican government to which they had
been habituated in the land of their birth, the
United States Of America. In this expec.
tation they have been cruelty disappointed
-as the Mexican nation has acquiesced in
the late changes made in the government by
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna;
who, having overturned the constitution of
this country, now offers us the cruel alterna-
tive, either to abandon our own house, ac-
quired by so many privations, or submit to
-themost intolerable ofall tyranny, the com.
bined despotsm ofthe sword and the priest.
hood.
Il has sacrificed our welfare to the state
of Coahuila, by which our interests have
been continually depressed, through a jeal.
Gus and partial course oflegislation, carried
on at far distant seat of government, by a
hostile majority in an unknown tongue; and
;shis. too, notwithstanding we have petition.
cd in the humblest terms for the establish.
sment Of a separate. state government, and
have, In accordance with the provisions Of
tt.e national constitution, presented to the
general congress republican constitution,
which was. without jyn cause, contemptu.
eusly rejected. .
It incarccrated in dungeon for q long
time one OF Four citizens, for no other canse
but Jealous endeavor to procure the &C.
ceptance Of our constitution and the esta.
blishment Of a state government.
Il has failed and refused to secure on q
6rm basis the right of trial by jury; that pal.
aadian Of civil Liberty and only safe guard
Softhe liberty and property of the citizen.
: ffhaGfaled to establish any public system
q sdneatisa although possessed Of means
"a 1zhes boundless, THE pthhe domain ans
IN lhough s an axiom N political science
>sSs njess Ae people are educated and
smighaened. i is idle to expect continuance
Of cira Eberty Or the capacfy for sell
Noveffment.
'Essisans suffered tie military commandan
-staheAedamongsf us; to exercise arbitrary
acts'coSsnppression and tyranny: thu:
frampmg upon the most sacred right ofthe
caasepSsod sendringahe military snperio,
10 the eivit.poYer. -
II has dissolved by force Of arms the