The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-25

re- assembled on the following year. This Conven-
ton resulted in petition being sent from the people
TO the Central Government Of Mexico exhibiting their
numerous grievances and praying speedy sePara
ton. To invest these complaints with character and
influence the insurgents sent Austin on mission TO
the seat of Government After a council with the
parent authorities Austin wrote TO the Texans, sd-
visng them Immediately to sunder the colonial Tie,
and declare themselves free and independent of Mex-
can thraldom. After a short and bloody contest,
which terminated with the achievements of Houston,
on the sanguiDary field Of San Jacinto the patriots
Of Texas, like their llusrious sires, established
soil red with cruelty and wrong the noble standard Of
political freedom. Santa Anna, the Mexican Chief,
was captured and Mexico compelled TO acknowledge
the independence Of her victorious colony.
Since that period the Republic hrs met with
the fellowship Of many Of the commercial nations Of
| the globe In March, 1887 she recognized by the
United States during the last year l840) she has also
been recognized by France England, Holland, and
Belgium. Her population is said to be upwards Of
two hundred thousand
The form Of Government adopted by the Texans,
after the achievement Of their independence does not
materially differ from that of the United States
Henry M, Motif, in letter addressed TO the late
John Forsyth, CS36,) thus writes: "A Convention
was held al San Felipe in November, 1885, composed
of ffty-sx representatives from all the municipalities
in which they declared that Santa Anna and other
military chiefiains, had by force Of overturned
the civil institutions Of Mexico and dissolved the
cial compact which existed between Texas and other
members Of the Federal Confederacy they had taken
against the encroachments of military despots
| and in defence of the Constitution. "Ths was
considered absolute separation from Mexico
and the I'd of March, 1885, delegates of the people
from oil the districts, declared Texas free sovereign
and Independent State" A provisional Govern
ment (such as the American Continental Govern
ment) had already been formed under the Convention
OF November 1885, which continued until general
Congress met at Washington the Rio Brossos on
the day previous to the Declaration of Independen ce
his Convention took place by wris of election ia
sued by the provisional Government, and it is said
that all parts OF Texas represented in it, from
the extreme western settlement San Patrcio to the
Sabine and Red Rivers" "On the 9TH of March
1856, that Convention unanimously adopted the PIE
sent Constitution"
The powers the General Government, under that
instrument, are divided into Legislative Executive
and Judicial Departments. The representatives are
chosen annually, until Congress shall otherwise pro-
vide BY law, and the Senators for the term of three
years The House of Representatives to consist of
not less than twenty-four, than forty mem
beers, until the whole population shall exceed one hum
dred thousand, which is the case. The Senate
was never 10 be less than one-thrd nor mole than
one-half the number of representatives.
The Executive authority is vested in Chief Ma.
gstrate styled the President of the Republic of Texas
the first to hold his Office for two years and all sue
ceedng Presidents to be elected for three years and
to be ineligible during the following term The Ju-
dicial powers confded to one superior and such
other courts as Congress may establish the judges to
hold their Offices for four years and to be reeligble
Some of the peculiarities Of the Constitution are
that ministers Of the Gospel shall not be elected 10
the Executive Office :" shat they also excluded
from seat in either branch Of Congress" ~That no
holder OF public money or collector shall be entitled
to seat in the Legislature until he shall have ac-
quilted himself Of all responsibility" "That the Su
preme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction only
and that no judge shall sit in in the Su-
preme Court which shall have been tried by him in
court below" That the Judges elected by Joint
ballot OF both Houses of Congress for four years.
That the Executive shall not command the army
and navy in person, without the authority of spe
sal resolution Of Congress" "That all officers shall
remain in office during the term of the President un
sss sooaer removed with advice and consent Of the
oen3e. That Congress shall not have power TO
emahcPa'e saSe' nor shall any stakeholder be allow
ed 10 manumI, whL>ut the consent Of the LenisIa-
lure, unless ne snail SEM the slave without the limits
Of the Republic" THAT L, alien shall hold land
except of title direct from the r,oyernment ,honob
their heirs may take by descent" That ,,rn,;,;..
and monopoiies contrary to the g,n;us or !. f,o.
government and are not to be allowed" aTb,, a.
appropriation shall be made for private Local NINA
ses unless two-thirds of each House shallconcn
'That the President shall not re nominate H.. s,,o
individual to Office after rejection by The Senat,"
Lastly, the Constitution protects the public domain =
which is very extensive from donations made by the
Legislature of Coohuila and Texas, to persons not
citizens of the Republic and declares such grants TO
be fraudulent.
The general provisions of the Constitution are very
like those of the Federal Constitution, having been
modelled after it.
In geographical and local advantages few countries
excel the Republic of Texas its resources naturat
and artificial are great ultimately give con-
spcuous rank among the nations Of the earth. Her
form Of government with the exception of a single
feature is also excellent to contribute immensely
ramount prosperity and happiness of her citizens In
the childhood of her national existence possessing
very imperfect manner that apparatus essential to
the dignity and influence of an independent nation
she is yet almost destitute Of and rank so rich
ly merited. This she will attain in due time.
The social economy Of Texas is yet imperfect
Speaking in comparative sense society is rude and
unpublished no uniform system of education has been