Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-02-08
BRIEF HIsroRy OF TEXAS.


Interesting The following account is fur
nished by a writer in the N. Y. Sun.
II is not denied that from the discovery of
Louisiana to the year 1903, Texas belonged to
France, and formed part Of the territory of
Mexico, In that year France cold Texas and
Louisiana to the United S,a,es,-wc held it as
cut Territory for 16 years, or until 1910, when
we transferred it to Spain. and during our pos
session it formed no part of the Mexican terri.
tory. At the time OF our transferring II TO
Ferdinand VII. King of Spin, Mexico was in
a state of revolt against the mother country.
We could not therefore in tranferrng Texas
TO Spain, be considered as giving it to her re.
yolted colonies.
Texas became independent Of Old Spain and
of all the world in 1886, before Spain acknowl-
edged the independence o: Mexico herself
What ground is there for assuming that Texas
is now or ever has been Mexican Territory,
which she has right to sutjugate at will while
we have right to acquire it by treaty with.
out her consent! The only party really enti.
tied 70 consideration in this matter is Old Spain,
and as she has made no opposition it i, reason.
able that she has no objection. The only con-
nection which ever existed between the ctl.
zcns Of Texas and the people Of Mexico was
that Of a civil compact or bargain. A compact
can only endure 80 long as it is faithfully adj
hered to by the contracting parties. In 1924,
Mexico made constitution similar TO our own,
which like ours was ratified by the states form.
ing the confederacy--t profasscd 10 be- m in
strnrncnt of limited powers preserving 10 each
state its own sovereignty; each state had its
Governor, Legislature and Judiciary. A Pre-
silcat and congress were TO be chosen nt the
head of the confederation, precisely Ike our
own. The people Of Texas, whose territory
had been sold to foreign king who could afford
them no protection being at the same srvc-
ed from the United States, were compel.
led from their feeble state 10 seek other allan.
Gee. As the constitution Of Mexico w.s af
democratic character it was arranged that
Texas, and Coahuila should form distinct
etate aud enter the confeGcracy as a member,
with the distinct understanding that whenever
Texas should become sufficiently populous to
become a separate and Independent s,ate she
should be admitted as such. The constitution
vf 1925 was 30 formed that it did not prohibi,
the introduction of slaves from the United
States. Under its administration and authority
they were continually carried into Mexico
nnt apprcnticed to their owners for 90 years
In 1894 this federal compact went into opera
ton, continuing in full force until 1926 when
Santa Anna. successful General in the rebel
lion formed the design of subvering the con-
s,itution, erecting a Central Government ma
king himself supreme Dictator. Accordingly
the priests, who feared the Protestant faith nn.
der an entire free government, anI especially
through the Northern states Of Coahuila and
Texas, united their interests with Santa Anna
to effect the contemplated revolution.
In 1925, they succeeded in electing n Con.
gress who proclaimed the federal constitution at
en- end pronounced all separate Governments
dissolved and decreed that all power and au-
thority should be concentrated in the city Of
Mexico, from which edicts were to emenate for
the Government OF the empire The Roman
Catholic religion was declared the established
religion Of the land, and the States including
Texas. we're called upon to swear allegiance to
the new form OF government, and surrender
their privste arms to the Agents appointed to
receive, and also TO subscribe 10 the Catholic
faith as the established religion. An armed
force was sent into Texas and Coahuila at the
time their legislature was in session. Several
members were seized and imprisoned with their
Governor. without being charged with any Of
fence. Gen. Stephen Austin went to the city
of Mexico to intcrccde for his coun,rymen, and
without accusation was thrown into dungeon
and confined two years, which SO undermined
his constitution as TO cause his death. This
violent, traitorous and sudden revelation and U.
surpation ca aused several OF The states 10 take up
arms in defence Of the federal consiitut on o
1924, among which were Zace,ecas, Durango
Texas and Coahula. In short time Santa An
M having the army and the treasure, forced
them all to submit except Texas alone. On thi:
hsndtu, of Tree. born Americans, Santa Anna il
his pride ard power, determined to POUR I'll The
walls of wrath denouncinn them as pirates, ant
demanding their unconditional su.missiun, o.
threatening them with extermnaton from lh'
land which they had improved and made fertile
without protection or aid from Mexico.
The people Of Texas resisted and drove thei
invaders ont Of the territory, declared ,hcm
selves independent, aud formed a CnnsItuiIO