The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-11


no protection from any source. Their women and chil
dren were subject to buchery and massacre Their only
safety was IN the nerng certainty OF their rifles They
had no resource but their II was their all With
them they could brave all Without them they must
submit to death, either from the hand OF the savage or
from the more terrible calamity OF famine But they re-
sisted not still they demonstrated. When those troops
came, they were taken, liberated upon parole OF honor
ana permitted TO return again to Mexico Tins gave an
animation to Santa Anna that resistance would be made
To Hm, ana with an army he advanced upon Texas lie
not only had their regular troops, but he added the m
males OF all the prisons of Mexicothe congregated fell
ons and monsters in human shape These were the init
nations OF his mercy which the Texans had This was
that lenity against which they revolted this was that
merep benigni'y which was in prospect they had not
resisted.
Your foeiahers in 1875 resisted for less than Texas
aud their memories are worthy of Immortality. The
proud monument of Bunkers height would never have
been erected in memory of their gallant and patriotic
deeds they had bowed to the tyranfs scouge [Grea
applause We had their proud example, and we, too,
mad coursing in veins the blood which animated
them Texans had the right to resist They did not re-
bel They had sworn to support the constitution and
their provisional declaration still to support It, They
had invoked Mexico TO rally in opposing the yrant and
! usurper, and 10 sustain free principles
| Santa Anna not satisfied with this. After having
acquired taste for blood, proud conceit for himself
and desire for Napoeons fame, he advanced on Texas
Resistance was indispensable then The provisional gov
eminent had called convention, which met on the first
day of March, 1886 From the October previous they had
endured all that ncertude and anxiety could impose on
the human heart We had hoped for everything, desired
everything that peaceful and submissive as citizens
We had too much for fear and terrible apprehen
sion The contest was unequa-the odds were against us
We had 10000 900 unframed citizens surrounded by
hostile foes, invaded by army OF 10000 veterans, with
resources of eight millions to sustain them What had
| Texas but her valor to sustain her!
| She had one resource. The convention met on the
first day of March, 1886 Even at that moment Santa
Anna had advanced upon San Antonio, where $50 troops
were stationed, unsupped, soldiers ought TO be, in
every necessary OF defence Upon the 23d of February
he advanced upon San Antonio, and the convention met
on the st OF March On the second day, after soenn
deliberations they resolved that Texas should be free
sovereign and independents and she proclaimed to the
world 1t was high resolve and such one as became
men who dared not live TO be slaves, but would rather
die reemen. The dread of death is inherent in man,
but not TO fear slavery i'll becomes native Americans or
who loves freedom. On the ID day OF March the
declaration OF independence made and promulgated
Texas had not then 700 troops IN the field On the 9th
day Of March Santa Anna sormed st Alamo, and butch
cred every man within It's walls Not one OF that more
than Spartan band was left to tell the tale This did not
appease him but there with alternate layers of hui
bodies and of wood, he built pile, and burnt It t
ashes the only memorial OF the gallant dead This
was a fearful intmaon OF what we had to expect At
that moment $40 troops, hastily called together by
the emergency had repaired to BeXar with the intention
OF escung them from their danger. But they were be-
seged, and IL was too ate and $50 men were thus de-
sroyed.
Santa Anna after his triumph at ST. Alamo had given
Texas oreaste of his merciful designs, advanced
against Col. Fannin, and surrounded him He was UNI
able 10 make against the force which attacked
him, and at last capltulaed with the enemy The terms
wereshat he should be kindly treated with his men !;
no longer war against Santa Anna few days alter
and patoons OF Mexican soldiers marched in and sIaugh
tered every one This the faith of Mexicans; this
was the redemption OF their pledge.
Still his fury increased; and Texas, consulting her
and extreme wa want yeded and only Begged yea
spread Massacre and famine had struck panic into every
heart; women and children were fugitves husbands
mad to march with them to protect them against the In
dams. The little band, almost beret of hope but with
firm resolve, had TO sustain the mighty shock This con-
tinued the Texans from time to time falling back unit
he grew confident of success, and thought his triumph
complete and that he would he had threatened to do,
sweep every American from the soil of Texas, exter
inmate them from Its surface But, when he least eX-
peced it. the accumulated wrath OF vengeance was en-
bodying for his chastsement. When he had advanced
in his rapid march, regarding with supreme contempt all
opposition resistance of which he might casually hear,
little army fell upon his cut Oft his retreat, and
countered him in open fight as the last hope OF Texas,
and chastised him for his sins
Ii gave nation birth 1t made him feel that he was
human. Did Texans in this perform the duty of good
and true nen, would better have answered the pur
pose for them to have been the slaves the MeXcans now
are claiming the commlssera,on OF this gallant and en-
lighened audience! They did but their duty Had they
lone less they would not have performed It, THIS made
Texas Independent. Her independence was recognised
By the United States Subsequent to this she organized
the government of Texas and formed constitution.
Under the first president of that government and under
that first organization she declared her boundary 10 De
the Rio Grande 1t of the organic laws OF the
| first session after that declaration.
| While Santa Anna was yet prisoner, and while he
was cognizant of this it was deemed wise and humane,
after having saved him the time OF victory, when all
his grlevous offences fresh upon the memories OF
those who had ampled him, that he should be lib
Grated and he liberated by the constitutional Presl-
dent and restored to his country with his fellow prison
ers-a commentary upon their cruelty and inhumany,
while the Texan prisoners had fallen martyrs to liberty.
Had he his fellow prisoners been sacrificed, not word
of surprise would have escaped your lips, no rebuke
would have been heard; but calmer reflection would
have REQUIRED to it with dissatisfaction II would have
been initiating his babarous and unmanly example, and
would have looked i'll to people mbued with notions OF
American gallanry, American chlvalry, and American
pride. No conditions imposed upon him. He was
free the air. To be sure he turned loose,
son inmated to him: ''Your teeth drawn-your
claws cut, [Great applause:] You are harmless;
and when you get home, if they should grow again, come
back and shall be better able to chastise you again.
! [Renewed appause]
Texas maintained her independence She was recog-
Missed as independent with her boundary, by the United
States She was recognised by France England, Hol-
land and Bel GUM, and was regarded by all other parts
of the earth In this situation she remained until 1914,
anxious be reunited to the great family OF the north
She wished, her citizens constituted part OF
good society," that she might return and the
cations of early life, and be incorporated into IT, This
was denied her in 1896. With the adoption of the con-
stuon submitted also 10 the people proposition
to vote Tor anneXaton against it and OF the votes re-
ceived in the whole republics but ninety were count
ed against the of annexation lhls we thought
came with such unanimty of sentiment that the United
States would certainly accede. We were to get nothing
but good society," and they to get the hnest country
upon earth.
But we were disappointed Up to lsi3 repeated over
lures made and they always gently put aside
rlpcu ar fhnrp1