The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-07

them 10 introduce into the country, Tree OF duty IN
.irumonis Of husbandry machinery aud UTENSILS, for
hi, ,vn use and me merchandise to the amount Of two
| thousand duars for each family
| On the 18th of February, 1928, special decree,
signed by lu rbids was issued in favor of Stephen
| Austin, confirming the grant OF land which his ia
her, Moses Austin, had received from the Spanish
Gyvernmn prior to the independence Of Mexico, and
| in faith OF which he had introduced colony Of Anne
! rican emigranls into Texas.
On the 18Th of March, 1928, Iturbide was com
PEELED 10 abdicate bu. the Government coniifm'
| ed the decree in favor of Ausn, who was then in
| the city of Mexico.
The abdicsiion Of lturbde succeeded by the
adoption of Federal form Of Government in Mexico,
| aud Const tuition modelled after that OF the United
| States. Under this Constitution the several States
| of Mexico were rendered much sovereign as
| those of our own Uaon in some respects their pow
ers in relation To their General Government, were
| even greater Texas not being then sufficiently
peopled to form State was with the consent OF the
colonists and under act OF the Con
gress Of Mexico passed May seventh, 1924,
united temporarily with the neighboring province OF
Coahpa TO form the Stats of Coahuila and Texas,
''un,il Texas"-to quote the words OF the act
"should possess the necessary elements to form
separate State of itself"
| On the 18th of August, 1924, National Colonza-
ton law was enacted BY the new Federal Govern
meni inviting foreigners to settle in the country un-
der colonization laws to be framed in detail by the
several State Legislatures, the power OF granting
vacant lands within their limits being vested in the
respective States A colonization law, highly Hbe-
raj ia its provisions, accordingly passed by the
Legislature of Coahua and Texas, in March, 1925,
vita provision, however, that ettemeDts should
be made within twenty leagues of the United States
boundary line withou, the appreciation OF the Gene
raj Government
Under these COLOMBIA alton laws Texas was settled
by hardy and industrious emgrants from the United
States the lands brought into cultivation, the In
dams kept in awe, and value and importance given
10 the country which it did not before possess.
The rapid progress OF Texas, and the character of
ITS population at length excited the attention and
jealousy of the General Government Of Mexico
In April, 1880, law passed closing the door to
any farther emigration from the United States and
at the time un der various frivolous preences
among others the absurd one Of guarding the popu-
lation against The Indians, troops were introduced
and garrsons established in every part of the coun
try the inhabitants WERE in fact, placed under mar
al law, and every species Of yeXation and oppres.
sion practised upon them.
For more than three years this state of things was
endured BY the People of Texas without any at.
tempt at revolt or separation from Mexico, although
the Government of that country was in an unsettled
and revolutionary state. So far from designing to
separate from the Mexican coniederacy, Mr.. Austin
proceeded TO the city of Mexico in the autumn of
1888, for the purpose of end,avoring 10 obtain the
admission of Texas into the coniederacy as State
b. ITSELF in conformity with the guaranty in the law
Of May It'll, 1924, in which he not only failed, but
was arrested and thrown into prison.
Early in the year 1884, General Antonio Lopez do
Santa Anna, who had been conspicuous and lead
ing character in the numerous revolutions in Mexico
subsequent to its independence, suddenly deserted
the popular and republican party, with which he had
hitherto acted and espoused the side OF the aristo-
crazy and priesthood. The result the overthrow
of the Federal Constitution, the dispersion of the Ma
iional Congress by armed force, and the establish
ment of consolidated Central Government, with
Santa Anna at its head. On the Sd Of October 1885,
q decree was issued sbolishing the State Leglsla-
lures, and making the Governors Of the States de-
pendent on the General Government for their APP
pontmen Is and authority.
| The nature of this change in the Government Of
| Mexico may be easily conceived by supposng sim
liar revolution in our country-that our present Con-
stuton should be overthrown by violence, without
the pretenoe of appeal to the wishes of the
| People, Congress dissolved 10y armed force, the
Legislatures of the several States abolished and the
Governors made amenable TO the National Execu-
! tive. Such a change would, Of course at once dis
solve all ties between the General Government ard
the States or the People, and legalize resistance
from the outset Any State which could assert and
maintain its independence under such circumstances
would he independent De jure.
This change was resisted by several Of the Mexi-
can States, Notwithstanding the overwhelming pre-
ponderanco Of disciplined military force, and, as
might have been supposed most strenuously resisted
by the State Of Coahuila and Texas
Early in September, 1895, General Martin Per
fecto dc Cos the brother-in.law Of Santa Anna, en-.
tered Texas at the head Of army for the purpose
Of compelling obedience to The Constitution and
the war commenced.
Even If the cause and origin Of the war had not
placed the People Of Texas in tie right, the manner
in which II conducted sufficient to entitle
them to the sympathy and support Of all civilized
nations and of all mankind. No respect was paid
either to the laws Of war, TO solemn acts Of csptu-
laGon, or to the dictates Of common humanity. The
avowed Intention Of the Mexican Government was
to exterminate tho American settlers in Texas and
their officers had orderS to put to death all over
years Of age Of either sex Santa Anna, himself on
having the city CT Mexico to take command Of the
army in person, said 20 have declared in the pre-
sence Of some OF the diplomatic corps, that the best
treaties those made at the mouth Of the can
non that he would not stop Until he planted hi.