The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-10

SANTA FE MEErNG-DoubtIess the most i'm
portant Santa Fe meeting that has yet been helt
in the State, was the one held on the sacred and
consecrated battle ground OF San Jacfnto. This
! meeting was principally composed of citizens from
the counties Of Harris, Liberty, and Galveston
After the citizens had congregated, the meeting
was called to order by james Morgan, who nomi.
mated Ashbe Smith, President. Harry II. Allen
was appointed Secretary Of the meeting.
DR.. Smith stated the object Of the meeting. lie
said The object Of the present meeting, as stated
by Col. Morgan, is known to every gentlemen
here, yet it is well for clearness of understanding
| and the despatch Of business to state that object
in form. We are assembled, gentlemen, to take
into consideration the attempts which are making
to wrest from us an integral part Of State, to
! erect into new State Of the Union the Santa Fe
district, regardless alike Of the ri lts and feelings
Of the great body of Texan citizens; yes, attempts
are making to rob us under forms OF law Of that
Territory, which we won from The enemy and a
foreign oppressor, this battle field, on the very
ground where we now stand. There is great ap-
propriateness in making the battle field Of San
Jacinto the place Of this meeting. In coming to-
gether among these graves TO take counsel, may
the ashes which repose here, inspire us with a
fitting solemnty and calmness of deliberation.
The speaker then briefly recapitulated the
ground Of our title to Santa Fe and to all Texas
Maj or Neighbors, said he, our commissioner for
organizing counties in that district, has been
thrust out. He was threatened with imprison-
ment by u judge then unknown TO our State gov
eminent, should he attempt To perform the legiti
mate duty devoIved on him by the proper authorl-
ties Of the State He then proceeded The citi-
zens Of the Santa Fe district, in fragrant rebellion
against the State Government of Texas have met
in convention there, adopted form Of govern
ment for a separate State, and sent on commits
sloncrs, with a constitution TO Washington, ask
ing for admission into this Union as an indepen-
dent State, and in so doing, they have acted under
the suggestions, countenance and authority Of the
civil and military Governor, appointed by the
Federal Government. know the Governor, Col.
Monroe. personally, and esteem him highly. He
is Il soder-he obcys orders am well acquainted
with him. AS a soldier, he does not act from, his
own suggestions, especially in civil matters, but
obeys orders and he receives orders only from the
power that appointed him, and that power resides
in Washington city. These orders emanate from
the White Houee, through the War Department.
1t is alien to our institutions; II liz abhorrent to
our American feelings; it is gross indgnity To our
State to maintain n military government acting
under the orders Of the Federal Executive, within
the limits Of sovereign State, and in open oppo-
stion to the constituted authorities Of the State,
and all Ibis in time Of profound peace. Why, gen
tlemen, it is but little short of war waged by the
General Government with the regular army
against one Of the States Of this Confederacy.
Gentlemen, grave contingency is thus presen-
ted to u.s. no, it is not contingency, il is n mo-
menous issue-a crisis for this State.
Will the reat Of the Union sanction this high
handed attempt to rob us Of portion Of our ter
rItoy; will the citizens Of the other States stand
quietly by and see this State dismembered by
fraud and violence know they will not; know
the American people it IL not so that we have
known our fellow-citizens Of other States. But
they must be informed and enlightened as to the
facts; and whatever others do or do not, we will
not set down in apathy. We will do our duty
Why, every plan Of compromise that has been Of
fered in Congress, c,ntemplates two conditions as
essential to the severance of the Santa Fe District,
and it's erections into distinct territory; one is
the payment to Texas Of an indemnity; the other
is our consent to the proposed dismembermen, -