Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-12-11


1924, Mexico established a fcdesal constltu-
ton, under which the Mexican republic was
composed of a number of sovereign States,
confederated together ina federal Union slml-
lar to our own. Each of these States had its
own Executive, Legislature, and judiciary, and,
for all except Federal purposes, was as indie
pendent of the general government, and that
of the other States, as is Pennsylvania or Viz
| gina under our constitution. Texas and Goa
hula united and formed one of these Mexican
States. The State constitution which they a.
| dopted, and which was approved by the Mex
lean confederacy, asserted that they were Gree
and independent of the other Mexican Uni ed
States, and OF every other power and domn-
ION whatsoever and proclaimed the great
principle OF human liberty, that 6 the sover-
eighty of the State resides originally and es-
sentally in the general mass of the individuals
who compose It," To the government under
this constitution, as well as to that under the
federal constitution, the people of Texas owed
allegiance.
Emigrants from foreign countries, including
the United States, were invited by the coloni-
cation laws of the State and of the federal 60
vernment to settle in Texas. Advantageous
terms were offered to inducetbem to leave theil
own country and become Mexican citizens
This invitation was accepted by many of ou1
citizens, IN the full faith that in their new home
they would be governed by laws enacted by
representatives elected by themselves, and tha
their lives, liberty, and property would be pro
tected by constitutional guarantees similar tc
those which existed in the republic they haG
lett. Under a government thus organized they
continued until the year 1885, when militia
ry revolution broke out in the city of Mexico
which entirely subyeEted the federal and state
constitutions, and placed a military dictator a
the head of the government.
By sweeping decree of Congress subser
Went to the will of the dictator, the sevcra
State constitutions were abolished, and the
States themselves converted into mere depart
ments of the Central Government. The peo
pie of Texas were unwilling to submit to this
usurpation. Resistance TO such tyranny be-
came a high duty. Texas was fully absolvec
from all allegiance to the Central Government
of Mexico from the moment that government
had abolished her State constitution, and IL
its place substituted an arbitrary and despoti.
Central Government.
Such were the principal causes of the Tex.
an revolution. The people of Texas at once
determined upon resistance, and flew to arms
In the midst of these important and exciting
events, however, they did not omit to place
their liberties upon a secure and permanent
foundation. They elected members to con
vention, who, in the month of March, 1916
issued formal declaration that their ''politi
cal connexion with the Mexican nation has
forever ended, and that the people of Texas
, do now constitute FREE, SOVEREIGN, and IN
DEPENDENT REPUBLIC, and are fully invested
with all the rights and attributes which prop
erly belong to independent nations" They
also adopted for their government liberal re
publican constitution. About the same time
+ Santa Anna, then the dictator of Mexico, in
vaded Texas with numerous army for thu
purpose Of subduing her people, and enforcing
obedience to his arbitrary and despotic gov
eminent. On the twenty-frst OF April, 1886
he was met by the Texan citizen soldiers, ant
on that day was achieved by them the memo
rable victory of San Jaeinto, by which the,
/ conquered their independence. Considerin;
the numbers engaged on the respective sides
history does not record amore brilliant achieve
ment Santa Anna himself was among tn
captlves.
In the month of May, 1886, Santa Ann
acknowledged, by treaty with the Texan au
! thorities, in the most solemn form, &C the full
, entire and perfect independence Of the repub
liz VI lCACS 1t ID u uC uC "do LljCll q pliS
, oner of war, but it is equally true that he ha
failed to reconquer Texas, and had met wit
signal defeat: that his authority had not bee
revoked, and that by virtue Of this treaty h
obtained his personal release. By it hostilitie
o were suspended and the army which had in
. vaded Texas under his command returned i
+ pursuance of this arrangement, unmolested, t
Mexico.
From the day that the battle of San Jacint
O was fought until the present hour, Mexico ha
i never possessed the power to reconquer Tex
as. In the language of the Secretary of Stat
, of the United States, in a despatch to GU
minister in Mexico, under date of the eight
q of July, 1912, &c Mexico may have chosen t
= consider, and may still choose to consider Tex
as as having been at all times since 1885, an
as still continu ne, a rebellious province; b.
o the world has been obliged to take very d;1
= ferent view of the matter. From the time {
r the battle of San Jacinto, in April, 1886, t
= the present moment, Texas has exhibited tn
= same external signs of national independent
= as Mexico herself, and with quite as niue
y stability of government. Practically free an
- independent, acknowledged as a political SOY
o ereignty by the principal Powers of the worls
Q no hostile foot finding rest within her terrific
y rY for SIX or seven years, and Mexico herse
Il refraining for all that period from any turtle
attempt 10 re-cstablish her own authority ov(
. that territory, it cannot but be surprising
= find MIR. de Bocanegra," the Secretary Of Fo
4 eign Affairs of Mexico) &c complaining that il
Il that whole period citizens of the United State
- or its government, have been favoring the r.
o. bells of Texas, and supplying them with We
. sells, ammunition, and money, as if the WI
IT for the reduction of the province of Texas be
Is been constantly prosecuted by Mexico, al
= her success prevented by these influences fro
u abroad" In the same despatch the Secreta1
!; OF State afirms that since 1887 the .. Stat
- have regarded Texas as an Independent sove
:" eighty, as much as Mexico and that trade
- commerce with citizens of government
N war with Mexico cannot, on that account;
20 regarded as an intercourse by which assistan
az and succor are given to Mexican rebels. II
r whole current of Mr.. de Bocanegra's remarl
" runs in the same direction, as if the indepe
y ;, dence of Texas had not been acknowledge
+ 1t has been acknowledged-it was acknoW
to edged in 1887, against the remonstrance al
pc protest of Mexico and most of the acts, of
g. ny importance, of which Mr.. de Bocaneg
Of complains, flow necessarily from that recogr
y ton. He speaks of Texas as still being s
e. integral part of the territory. of the Mexic;
N repubIic;' but he cannot but understand tn
na the United States do not so regard It, The
nr al complaint of Mexico. therefore, is, in su
of stance, neither more nor less than complai
1o against the recognition of Texan independents
. II nav he Thought rathar late tn ranpat III