The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-12


province. redeemed il from the wilderness Of the wlld
beast and the savage covered il with hardy and M
dustrous population aud inermxcd his labor with It's
most valuable soils.
True. in emigratiug TO Texas the enerprsins COO
mist hid expatrated himself, and ioegone the we'll
tired institutions Of his moher-lsnd but the institutions
he now lived under were modelled upon those he had
reluctantly abandoned His spii, and his habits, aud
his inbred and uncomprumisng repulicansn Continued
The same and he ready 10 resist The INVASION o.
hs chartered rights under the Mexican constitution Of
"a as he would have been TO have thrown himself INTO
the breach in behalf of that sacred instrument nnder
which he had been born aud educated.
Up TO the year 1880, tue people Of Texas haa iaAeh
but hiile 10 the series OF political COMMISSIONS
which had so CLOSELY followed another ~ the ine,
nor Of Mexico SO long they were left nnmoeslea
~ the enjoyment OF their own rights Their natural uislo
siqn for peace restrained them from participating mine
internal conmotions ofthe other States but ihef fa-
pdy growing strength and steady adherence TO repuh-
hcsu principles began 10 attract The notice aHd ex-
cite tho jealousy OF the Supreme Government his
plainly eynced by the passage Of the arbitrary law
of the 9Th Of April 1880, by which The farther INTRO
ducIion or emigration oi Amerean settlers 1870 eNas
was expressly and totally prohibited for the failure MILL
ary posts were established over the province the clyl
authorities were tranpcd under foot and the people Of
Texas for time, subjected To the eaprcions "
! ranny Of unrcsirainCd military m!srule.
In 1892 Bus.amenie had established himself upon
the rims OF the federal constitution, The eosohis's
now flew 10 arms. On the 26h OF June, with greatly
inferior numbers they besieged and took the fort at Va
asco. They then attacked the garrison at Anahnac,
and reduced that also This achievement was shortly
followed by the reduction OF the garrison at Nacogdo-
ches and, December OF the same year, upon the sus-
pension Of hostities between Generals SANTA Anna and
Bastancnte the colonlss found themselves once more
in the quiet enjoyment Of the rights guaranteed to them
by the constitution and the laws under which they con-
| scented to become Mexican citizens.
1893 Texas now conscious Of her integral strength,
and anxious 10 be erected into separate State. IN con-
a "a n n IL. z,I h,ph
had promised and secured to her separate constitution
so soon she possession Of the necessary ec-
ments OF scli-governmen assembled general convei'-
toa at San Felipe, for the purpose OF drafting an instiu
men suited 10 the wants and peculiar character ana
habits Of her people. Accordingly, Iihe spring oi me
1 same year, Stephen r. Austin, commissioned TO
present tho constitution agreed upon, with petition tor
the fulflmcnt OF the said decree OF the TN OF May
/ The respectful petition of the people OF Texas was
treated with disdain and their commissioner lcafceiat
| cd IN dungeon
| 1895 Affairs were now vcrging TO important
crisis. General Antonio Lopez dc Santa Anna, had
openly declared in favor of centraIsn, which, however
spccous in its pretences, really based upon the
downfall Of the State Governments and the consolida-
ton Of all power, civil and military in the hands OF
single individual Many Of the States had recourse to
arms, in support Of their sovereignty, and Santa Anna
took the field against them. The blood STAINED march
Of the usurper invariably attended with the most
i triumphant success One by one, the States toppled
aud FELL The Legislature of Coahula and Texas was
dissolved at the point Of the bayonet. The noble State
Of Zaca,ccas battling to the last for her liberties, and
weltcring in the lile-blood OF her buchcrcd citizens,
forced yield the relentless Of the dica
tor Mexican liberty fed, and found her only place Of
! refuge among the Anglo Amerlcans OF Texas.
Corresponding committees OF safety and vigilance
were formed IN oil the municipalities Of the pro-
vince. With single voice, they declared FOR the sup
port Of the constitution aud immediate appeal to
arms There was no alternative left them, and the
people Of Texas slnnged into the contest for the potec
ton of their liberties Oh the 2Sth OF September, 1885
they defeated detachment Of Mcxicans at Gonzales
On tie 9th of October they sorncd and took the strong
fortress Of Goliad IN the month"; they invested
the city OF San Antonio de Bcxar. On the 2Sib, they
fought the battle Of Conception, and with ninetywo
men obtained signal victory over four hundred Mex-
can regulars On the Sd Of November, they captured
the garrison Sepanlan. Shortly after they defeated
the enemy san Patriotic. On the sth, the Mexcans
again discounted, in the vicinity Of San Antonio
On The zott Iry were once more routed, with very
considerable l.ss. On the 9Th of December, the town
Of San Antonio sormcd by three hundred Ancr-
cans, under the gallant Mi!am and after five days IN
cessant fighting, General Cos forced to capituate
and thirteen hundred Mexcans set at liberty,
their parole OF honor " that they would not, any
(thereaer) oppose the re-cstahshnent Of the federal
constitutions Of 1924" Thus ended the first campaign
and the iry-coorcd flag Of the constitution still contn-
uGd TO wave in Iexas--but Of all Mexico, III Texas
alone. #. 4,
November 3, 1895 In the mean time, the delegates
Of the people ltsl assembled in general consulla
at San Felipe de Austin. Their deliberations resulted
in solemn declaration that they had taken up in
defence Of the republican principles Of the federal con-
stution Of 1924 that they would continue faithful TO
the Mexican confodcracy. long should he govern
ed by the constitution and laws that framed for the
protection Of ther-1>,tical rights; that they
longer morally clvy bound by the compact ofunon,
but that stimulated by the generosity and sympathy
common free people, they offered their support and
assistance such Of The members OF the coniedcracyas
would take up arms against military dcspotism This
declaration with response from the Interior and
Texas left alone and sing handed to carry the
war against the forces OF the dictator
Before the dissolution of the "cousultaton pro-
| vsonal government was organized. and the LIST OF
March, 1885, appointed for the meeting Of new con-
i ycntion.
In the month Of February 1896, General Santa An
appeared on the river San Antonio, in Texas at the
| head Of wclappontcd army Of eight thousand men.
On the 2lst he entered the OF San Antonio de
Bexar, and the Texan garrison, hundred and fifty
in number, retired within the walls Of the Alamo On
the 9th Of March, after nccssant bombardmcnt of
several days. the Alamo taken by assault and Ira
Wis Bowie, and Crockett, with their tle band ofhcroes
were oil put to the sword. The Mexican loss before
this fort, in killed and wounded amounted TO ff
teen hundred On the 18th Of March, Goliad, the
TEXANS nnor Fannin surrounded aud attacked y
much superior force Of Mcxicans under Urea in tho
middle OF an open prairie. The enemy at first
beaten oil, but the next morning receiving strong
enforcement with artillery from Goliad, the Texan
troops, being completely hcnmed in and of entire
from water, surrendered condition of being reeas-
ed parole and transported to the United States Tho,
terms OF the capiulaton shamefnlly violated, and
Fannan and his comrades reacherousy mustered
| in cold blood.
Notwithstanding the approach of the Mexican
forces rocking they from their recent victories
IN the interior and headed by leader whom they he
eved to be invncblc, the newly elected convention
met at Washington at the appointed time, and, in
ofmy with their instructions, the I'd day Of March,
1885, made formal and absolute declaration Of indie
pendcncc. They then proceeded to frame constitu-
on to be submitted to the people OF independent Texas
nrIrl lIziln nj