New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-06
THE TRIBUNE.
Fo. The New York Tribuna.
HISTORY OF TEXAS. No. ii.
BY A TEXAN LADY.

he'd arrested and detalnco III prison on lnsnhclent
.-t,ences many esteemed citzens-had annulled
4. civil authorties-taken servants from their
-....srs. and, in short, manifested in every way
,,ch high.handed contempt for the Colonists
ann their legal rights, that the whole community
o,iy waited the crowning provocat;on to rise and
,;neI the soldiers of Mexico at once and for ever
f,on the limits of Texas.
Amcng the master spirits who were continually
.,;1y opon the Colonists to break the Mexican
,oks was Branch T. Archer, the restless, ambi
tious and speculating yet honorable and patriotic
S.scendsnt of Pocahontas. He came to Texas in
al. with heart full of thousand brilliant as
5ntions fol himself, mingled with chivalric
r;de in his native land, and a fond desire to see
,he beautiful and beloved Texas of his adoption
,,eedily united to her in marriage bonds. He SO
eagerly wished to aid, to hasten the auspicious
mlop, that he could scarcely wait for Texas to
become of age TO pronounce the vows.
The infamous conduct Of the renegade Brad
burn, the Mexican commandant at Anuhuac, at
he mouth Of the Trinity, applied the spark, and
lie country was in blaze; with one heart and
one voice it vas resolved to expel the Mexican
rznisuns. Archer and his immediate partisans
wished even then 10 declare the independence of
TsSas, but the more moderate men trusted that
The accession of Santa Ana, the hero and cham
pOn Of The Federal Constitution, to supreme
poser in Mexico would open farer and stabler
ho,e to the coonists. A sacred and invio!ate
Constitution was their trust; such a Constitution
the brave and successful Santa Ana rose TO de-
iend-was sworn 10 cherish, and they were ready
ioObsy. Martial law, as declared by Bradburn,
and all illegal invasions of private rights, they
njscted not the less and with this resolution
dates the birth Of self governing Texas.
Bradbum, who had basely cntrapped the gal
lant Travis, with many other excellent citizens,
IN ais prison, saw himself forced, first to yield
item up to the indignant demands of their fel-
lgw.coonists, who negotiated their release rifle
in nhand; then, for another perfdy, to give up his
men to the victorious assault, and finally to
abandon Texas A little band Of settlers, num-
berng l35 men, threw themselves on The fort OF
ysasco, at the mouth of the Brazos, and, after
hc, conflict of eleven hours, and, for their mum.
bers, costly sacrifice of blood, 0or Ugartechea
Of yelasco'w was as brave as Bradburn- of Anihuac
was cowardly) the fort was taken. 1t was a
brilliant and decided blow; it sealed in June,
1882 with the mark OF blood, the name and
place Of new Government. Pudrar of Nacog.
doches, whose courteous and manly bearing won
thess!eem Of those forced to displacc him, was
compelled to cvacuate his post, and, with the rest
oithe Mexican soldiery, withdraw from the coun.
Try, From the borders Of the United States TO the
westward Of the Colorado there was left no ves-
tseo Mexican sovereignty, and since June '32
30 Texan, except as prisoner of war, has ac.
knowledged or obeyed Mexicon ruler. While
ihs Texans had thus acted and organized (that
Su'aof power among intelligent and determined
men, the Mexican saw with indignant astonish-
msn their troops sent home, and the remote
cocnsts taking u more resolute stand for the
Maintenance of their Constitution than they
could venture on themselves A fleet was sent
down under Gen. Mexia to enquire into the con-
duet Of these saucy fort-takers. II anchored al
aemouih Of theeBrazos, Col. Austin was sent
msnd as the fricn of peace, as he had been
hro4shout the Empresario, defended with digni.
E,he course of the colonists. They but acted
m'eiIdefsnce, and were more true to the fla o.
MsIlco than the lawless soldiers who had made
asnamea cloak for the grossest violation Of hel
Ass. For defence Texas did not require Mexi
Gu gairisons; as oppressors she would not endure
uem. For like causes the Mexcans had hurled
Ss'amente from power. Why then should Tex
u DC blamed for expelhng his myrmidons
Nas Ana and Mexia had drawn their swords
@'he constitution of 1922 and so had the Tex
~ There was clearly no ground for quarrel
oah'st principles, and Mexia returned with his
ss'so Mexico, and left Texas to the Texans
neutrality-suspicious. of Texas would be secur
@el the Constitution of "a and that Santa Ana
~ Me1a would sustain-if they did not
,'ass would abandon Mexico and Santa Ana
/ = ne meantime the Texans were resolved to
I'e oshcoss OF tier own election, trial by jury
~ oil Conscience, free emigration, NO custom
s 's'es and above all, no martial!aw.
a.. = 'ae quiet and prosperous enjoyment of these
aslssaess," as Mexico styled them, or
1 =, gas as they were sturdily upheld by Texas,
Se ".0als's went on from 80 to i25, though
= ~ eu e. were heard vague rumors and mu,tcred
Nsas OF invasion and chas,isemen. "we will
-'Ae our own laws and we will defend ,hem,'
~ ne ever-ready response of the Texans.
.e'i'c opinion had been systematized by the
.-s 0i 1882. The Anglo-Americans now
.sss'0Od their position as selfgoverning
ga'ohty, and saw clearly the means of Sc,
& s A State Government would release
s@ non the civil dssensions which were per.
.aiy convusing the Mexican race, withou,
a,aas them from the conlederacy. With
h, hssssiQ enl!y Of purpose, Convention oil
sss ss,ss from the various departments of Texas
ss aSled in 1888 at St. Felipe, on the Blasos,
81 3e The preliminary stems for f,,rn;n. S+.,o