Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-12-23


ration, we did not adopt those measures OF
redress, which, under such circumstances,
are the justified resort of injured nations.
The annexation of Texas TO The United
States constituted no just cause OF offence
to Mexico. The pretext that it did so is
wholly inconsistent, and irreconcilable with
well authenticated facts connected with
the revolution by which Texas became
independent of Mexico, that this may be
the more manifest 1t may be proper to
advert to the causes, and to the history
of the principal events of that revolution.
Texas constituted portion OF the an.
cient province of Louisiana, ceded to the
United States by France in the year 1903.
In the year 1919, the United States, by
the Florida treaty, coded to Spain oil that
part Of Louisiana within the present Ii
mlrs of Texas; and Mexico by the revolu-
ton which separated her from Spain, and
rendered her an independent nation, sue.
ceeded to the right Of the mother country
over this territory. In the year 1924,
Mexico established a federal constitution,
under which the Mexican republic was
composed OF a number of sovereign States
confoderaied together in a Federal Union
similar to our own. Each Of these States
had lis own Executive, legislature, and Ju-
dlciary, and, tor all except federal purpo-
sos. was as Independent of the govern
meni. and that of the other States, as Is
Penusy lvauia or Virginia under our con-
>lllnlion. Texas and CoahuiIa united and
formed one Of these Mexican States. The
State constitution which they adopted, and
which was approved by the Mexican CON
fedcrary, asserted that they were Stree
and Independent OF the other Mexican
/ United States, and every other power and
dominion whatsoever" and proclaimed
the great principle OF humln liberty, that
/ "the sovereignty of the State resides orI-
ginlly and essentially in the general mass
of the individuals who compose it," To
the government under this constitution, as
well as to that under the federal constitu.
lion, The people Of Texas owed allegiance
Emigrants from foreign countries, in.
Guiding the Uujted States, were invite.
| bv the colonization laws Of the State anl
Of the federal government to settle ia
| Texas. Advantageous terms were offer.
ed to induce them to leave their own
country aud become Mexican citizens. -
This invitation was accepted by many OF
our citizens, in full faith that in their new
homes they would be governed by laws
enacted by representatives elected by
themselves, and that their lives, liberty,
and property would be protected by con.
slitu!ioual guarantees similar to those
which existed in the republic they had left.
Under a government thus organized they
continued until the year 1885, when a
military revolution broke out in The city
of. Mexico, which entirely subverted the
! federal and State constitutions, and placed
a military dictator at the head of the 90
vernmcnt
BY sweeping decree Of Congress
subservient TO the will Of the dictator. the
several Stale constitutions were abolish
ed, and the States themselves converted
into mere departments of the Central CO.
vernment. The people of Texas were
unwilling to submit to this usurpation. Re.
sistance to such tyranny became a high
duty. Texas was fully absolved from al
allegiance to the Central Government O,
Mexico from the moment that government,
had abolished her State Constitution, and
IN It's place substituted an arbitrary and
despotlc Central Government.
Such were the principle causes Of the
Texan revolution. The people of Texas
at once determined upon resistance and
flew 10 arms. In the midst of these i'm.
portant and exciting events, however, thew
did not omit TO place their liberties upon d
secure and permanent foundation. They
elected members TO a convention who. i'm
the month of March, 1886, issued formal
declaration that their "polilical conney,on
with the Mexican nation has forever end.
ed, and that the people Of Texas do now
constitute Free, Sovereign, and Indepen.
dent Republic, and are fully invested with
! all the rights and attributes which proper.
| ~ belong 10 independent nations" They
also adopted for their government a ibe.
raj republican constitution. About the
same time, Santa Anna, then the dictator
OF Mexico. invaded Texas with a hume
rouS army for the purpose Of subduing her
! people, and enforcing obedience TO his ar
btrarv and despotic government. On the
2lSt OF Aprl, 30, he was met by the
texan cItiZan soldiers, and on that day
was achieved the memorable victory of
San Jaclnto, by which they conquered
their independence. Considering the
Numbers engaged on the respective sides,
history does not record a more brilliant
| achievement Santa Anna himself was
among the capiives.
In the month Of May, 1885 Santa Anna
acknowledged, by treaty with ;he Texan
authorities, in the most solemn form.
full, entire, and perfect independence of
the republic of Texas." Ii is true he was
then prisoner Of war, bat it is equally
true that he had failed to reconouer Tex.