The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-07-03
they have resolved, under the bles-
sing of God, to be free %

sing of God, to be free %
As soon as the treaty was ratified,
Spain undertook to coerce the free
born citizens of Texas TO submit to
'the letters of colonial vassalage."
Hostile operations were begun. AL
ready had the momentous drama
commenced. But an overriding
Providence rescued Republican
Texas from the dangers that threat
ened her. The FIRE of liberty which
had burst forth in Texas, had swept
over the vast plains of Mexico, to
the very "palaces of the Montezu-
mas" Goaded on by repeated
wrongs and injuries, Mexico had
again taken up arms in defence of
her inalienable rights. The forces
which were intended to subjugate
Texas, were diverted from their pur-
pose to subdue Mexico. The con.
test was protracted and sanguinary
! one; but it at last resulted in tri-
umph to the arms of Mexico, and
old Spain was driven from the last
r of her possessions in North America.
No subsequent effort was ever made
by Spain to subjugate Texas, and
she became consequently, an indie
pendent nation. The United States
had abandoned her to Spain Texas
had declared herself independent Of
Spain and Spain having failed to
subdue her, she owed allegiance to
no other nation under heaven. Now
, let us pause for moment, and ask
r where was the western boundary of
r this Independent Texas? Most un-
questionably the Rio Grande. When
: Texas belonged to France, the Rio
: Grande was the boundary; and in
e absence Of all proof to the contrary,
a is not the conclusion irresistible, that
r when Texas belonged to herself, the
: same river was the boundary?
d Such was Texas, free and indie
y pendent, with the Rio Grande as her
If western boundary, at the formation
:, of the Federal Government of the
: United States of Mexico, in 1924
# A Constitution was formed, resem-
: bling in most respects our Federal
}, Constitution, to which Texas volun-
: tarily became party. And this is
d the only political connection that
= Texas has ever had with Mexico
It a nnection that owed its existence
is to, and was only co-existent with.
r. the constitution of 1924. When, ther
t, Santa Anna, in open violation o
> that constitution, by faith in the OBJ
to servance of which Texas had alon'
lie consented to become a member o
'e the Mexican Union, boldly declared
/ herself SOY creign and independent
y as she was before she adopted TIN
- Constitution of 1924. But Sant
lie Anna was determined to abolish thu
lie State government of Texas, and t.
E. compel her to recognize no othe
t. government but his grand Contra
In Despotism at Mexico. Fer this pur
OF pose, the usurper invaded Texas
~ The result is well known. SAINT
= 'rna was taken prisoner, and Texa
demonstrated. by the fire an
#, blood" of the battlefield, the prop
N osition she had undertaken to prove
4. namciy-that she was free and indie
OF pendent. Here the struggle ended
10 No other attempt was made to sub
Id jugatc Texas. Her independ,nc
nd was achieved. And are we not t
n conclude that the old and acknowl
N, edged boundary of Texas on til
as west, the Rio Grande, remained
:" Let us take an analogous case her
TO at home. When Virginia adopte
g. our Federal Constitution, the OH
i'm river was her western boundar,
ST. and is now. Suppose that some Dol
us and ambitious military chieftai
g, should succeed (Which heaven ;
he vert !! in abolishing our Feder
~, Constitution, and should attempt
er establish in its place military de-
potism Virginia would, of cours
ID, owe no allegiance whatever to sue
N abominablc nsurpation. She pu
to forth her Declaration of Indepent
ma ence-this Military Dictator a
de tempts, but fails to subdue her-sl
he achieves her independence, and it
er- acknowledged by other nations.
he now triumphantly ask, even thong
he there should be no inhabitant we
"a of the Allegheny mountains. woul
IDS not the Ohio river be the westel
ed boundary of Virginia ? But the ca.
as of Texas is stronger even than Il
Ian one here supposed. We are not lie
"a to conjecture as to the western boul
m diary Of Texas, for Santa Anna n
In gotiated treaty of peace with TIE,
lge as, in which he not only acknow
be edged her independence, but r
lall cognized the Rio Grande as the we
nj tern boundary. But it was object,
red that Santa Anna was in duress