Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-02

,erly extinsuished, did the people of Texas, on
the 3i March, 1886 BY their delegates assembled
in general convention at Washington, issue a
declaration Of independence, in which they set
forth
"Tha, the Federal Republican Constitution OF
their country, which they have sworn TO support,
has no longer substantial existence, and inc
whole nature OF their Government has been lofci-
bly, changed. without their consent, from a re-
strictive Fedcratve Republic, composed oil sove-
reign States, 10 consolidated, central, and militia
~ deSpotism.
That when
"Anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved
in It's original elements, in such crisis, the first
law o.! nature, the right OF Set-prcseyation, The
inherent and inalienabe right OF the pcop. to APP
peal 70 first principles, AM take their political al
fairs in their own hands" &c.
After reciting long train of grevances, Tar eX-
ceedins in enorInity those detailed in our own De-
claration of Independence, they proceed 10 say:
eve then took up arms in defence oil our Ma
tiona Constitution. We appealed 10 our Mexi-
can brethren for assistance; our appeal has been
made in vain; though months have elapsed, no
sympathetic response has We, been heard mon the
interior. We are, therefore. forced 10 the melan-
choly conclusion, that the Mexican people have
acquesced in The destruction ri their liberty, and
the substitution therefor OF military government;
government.
The necessity OF se!t-prcscrvaton, therefore,
now DEGREES our eternal political separation.
I'VE, therefore, the delegates, with plenary
powers Of the people of Texas, in solemn con-
vention assembled appealing 10 candid world
Tor the necessities of our condition. do hereby re-
solve and declare, that oar political connexion
with the Mexican nation is forever ended, ana
that the people OF Texas do now constitute tree,
Sorcrciga and u,JependeM RcpHhiic-and are luliy
invested with all the rights and attributes wAich
properly belong TO independent nations; and, con-
scious Of the rcctitudc OF our intentions, we fear
lesslessiy and confidently submit the issue 10 the
Supreme Arbiier OF the dcs,nies OF nations.
The appeal thus made was answered by Just
and overriding Providence: and the San@uInary
dictator with his mercenary army, were over
thrown and captured on the Dist April 1896; and
there the conflict terminated, and has never been
renewed. And here let me call your attention 10
the important fact that the present Government,
The central despotism OF Mexico, never was the
Government. de tacto or de .inyc, OF Texas, and
never controlled lis destinieS or lis people for an
instan, OF time. II never carried into execution
a law or enforced an cdict within the limits OF
Texas IL is not now, and never was, the Go
vernmeni of Texas; and the people of Texas
never owed or rendered il any allegiance The
ease OF Texas is s.rongerlhan any that has ever oc
CURED in the history ot na,onS-iar stronger than
that oithc then colonies in lIIG. II WAS not revolt
against an established Government, hut II was Il
successful resistance 10 a mos, unrigheouS eiU.t
TO establish over il the dominion OF military
uSurper and OF central deSpotiSm. The present
Government OF Texas is the only Su5SiSting Co.
vernment that has exercised any jurisdiction over
the people of Texas aud the war carried against
il was war of conques, and invasion, conducted
by Il Government OF which it never constituted a
part-which never exercised jurisdiction over it,
and To which il never owed any allegiance. II is
conceded that the Republic of Texas is Govern
ment dc facto; but Go not these incidents clearly
prove that il is 4 Government nc jHyc-that is. q
righltul Government, founded upon the will of Il
majority of the people and established by them ~
the only refuge from anarchy or dcspotism? And
who will deny the ri.htiul authority OF such a
Government!
1t may he questioned by The holy alliance-it
may be denied by kings and despots-it may be
denied bv those who assert the creed jrrc diriHo,
and the im?io.is doctrine of the heaven-anonted
authority OF kings: but no American can deny ii
without expnnging the principles of our own de-
claraiion OF independence, and striking down our
own Republic from the calendar of the nations Of
the world. and re-conrcrtng these States into the
Suhect-CounieS of the British Crown. Had the
case of Texas even been a revolt agaiD>, an e>-
tabiishe.l Government il would have been consc-
and the blood OF the patriots by whom it was
maintained. The principle upon which rests the
whole fabric of our political institutions is thus
SET forth in or declaration of independence
THAT Governments are instituted among men,
deriving their ust powers from the consent of the
governed; Tia! whenever any form ut government
becomes destructive Of these ends il * IL. right
of the people 10 alor OF at1'IS H. ana TO ihshu'e
new governments LAYING its foundation on such
principles, and organizing It's powers in such
form, rs TO them shall seem most likely 10 effect
their safety and happiness"
These principles which constitute the sole ioun-
daiion of the whole structure of me9ican liberty:
have been rcailirmcd in the following words in the
CONSTITUTIONS of nearly every State III the Union
a. That all power is inhercn, in the people, and
all free governments are founded OH their all,horl-
", and instituted Tor their peace safety and hap
piness; for the advancement OF those ends. they
have al all times an unaenable and inieieasihlc
right 10 aler, reform. or abolish, the government
in such manner as they NAV think proper.
90 That government bein" instituted for the
common benefit, The doctrine of non-reSi$tancc
against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd
slavish and destructive 10 the goo;! and happiness
Of mankind
To deny then, that Texas is government de-
iarc is to DENY the right Of revo!uion-a right, in
The language of the declaration of independence,
ONLY" Ii was The doctrine OF the ho!y alliance,
affirmed in the Congress OF Lavbach and Wen
ma that governments onlv-and not the people
can make any change in their form and admins
tra,ion: and this is the doctrine, although no; as
vet openly avowed, Yet in truth maintained by all
who DENY that Texas is a government dc pro
Such doctrines NAV suit the taste and Halter the
pride OF kings and despots bu on this continent
Ihey have found grave on the baiiletelds oi the
ION md n err
al Yorktown and San ]acinto.
Ii the Republic Of Texas is not the rishtiul go
vernmeni OF that people, what is? Ii follows by
irresistible inference that Mexico is the rghtnl
government OF Texas; that she owns the soil and
the people ofthat Republic; thai they are the sub
lectS of Santa Anna; and that central despotisln
and military usurpation, which never did exist
ior an instant as the government dc tac'0 OF Tex
rs, are paramount 10 the authority OF the people
OF Texas. and constitute the government Gc jerc
of,hat Republic If Mexico is the government
nc jarc of Texas, the declaration OF our in;hpcn-
tence is false; the right Of revolution is hcicsv
and the authority OF the people 10 establish free
government is iilacioilS and ahsnrd. But lit DC
otherwise then Texas is government DC ja'c aS
well as dc facio-and as 4 sovereign and indie
pendent nation. her right 10 enter into Il union or
alliance with this or any rgovcrnmcnt, is per-
feet and complete, and Mexico has no right 10
control her DESTINY or To Interfere with il in any
respect whatever.
But she is said 10 be at war with Mexico; but
where does this war exist and what constitutes
war? Il is defined BY Va,tel to he "ihat state in
which We prosecute our right by torcc." Now,
where has this war existed between Texas and
Mexico? Is it upon the oceanl Why her ports
have never been blockaded, her vessels have never
heen captured or assailcd, and not hostile yes
sci has landed upon her shores. Is this conflict
upon The landl Why, from the battle Of san la
cinlo until 1912, marc Man sir yeorS not a battle
was fought within her limits, nor a hostile force
marched within her borders. Well, what took
place in 1922 Why, not an invasion, not an al
Tempt at conquest, NOT formidable force marched
within her limits, but three marauding cxpedi-
lions, composed chiefly of Rancheros and Indians,
making sudden incursion into the frontiers, not
one of them remaining more than eish, days, and
re,reating more rapidly than they advanced