The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-03-06

From Tuesdays Daily Herald.I
THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.
To-day, MARCH SECOND, 1878, is the
thirty-ninth anniversary OF the inde-
pendence of Texas. This day one
wear ago, the legislature declared the
second of March and the twenty-iirst
of April (San Jacinto day. to be "FeX-
"as holidays, and all the exemptions
"and requirements usual on legal holi-
"days may be observed on these days
AS proper reminder of the day, and
for the information of the thousands
who have emigrated to the state of
late years, we present our readers with
the
DECLARATION OF TEXAS INDBPEND-
ENCE, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED
MARCH SECOND, 1886.
When government has ceased to
protect the lives, liberty and property
of people, from whom its legitimate
powers are derived, and for the ad-
Vancement of whose happiness 1t was
instituted and so far from being II
guarantee for their inestimable and
inalienable rights, b ecOmes all instru-
ment in the hands of evil rulers for
their oppression
When the federal republican consti-
tuition of their country, which they
have sworn to support, 10 longer has
a substantial existence, and the whole
nature OF their government has been
forcibly changed, without their con-
sent from Il restricted federative re-
public, composed OF sovereign states,
to a consolidated central military des-
potism, in which every interest Is dis
regarded, but that of the army and the
priesthood, both the eternal enemies
of civil liberty, the ever ready minions
of power and the usual Instruments of
tyrants-
When, long after the spirit of the
constitution has departed, moderation
is at length so far lost by those in pow
er that even the sem blance of freedom
is removed, and the forms themselves
of the constitution discontinued, and
so far from their petitions and remon-
strances being regarded, the agents
who bear them are thrown into dun
geons, and mercenary armies sent
forth to Ell force new government up
Oh them at the point of the bayonet-
When, in consequence of such acts
of maifeasance and abduction ON the
part of the government, anarchy pre-
walls, and civil society is dissolved into
its original elements-in such crisis,
the first law of nature, the right ofself-
preservation, the inherent and mall
enable right of the people to appeal to
just principles and take their political
affairs into their own hands in extreme
cases, enjoins it as Il right towards
themselves, aud Il sacred obligation to
their posterity to abolish such govern
ment and create another in it's stead, cal
culated to rescue them from impending
dangers, and to secure their welfare
and happiness.
Nations. as well as Individuals, are
amenable for their acts to the general
opinion of mankind. statement OF
a part OF our grievances is therefore
submitted to an impartial world, in
justification of the hazardous but una
vOidable step now takelI, of severing
our connection with the Mexican peo-
pie, and assuming an independent at
titude among the nations OF the earth.
The Mexican government, ny lts
colonization laws, invited and induced
the Anglo-American population OF
Texas to coloniZe its wilderness, under
the pledged faith of a written consti-
tuition, and that they should continue
to enjoy that constitutional liberty aiid
republican government to which they
had been habituated im{ esland OF
their birth-the Unitedssbtates oi
America.
In this expectation they have been
cruelty disappointed, inasmuch as The
Mexican nation has acqui.sced IN the
late changes made in the government
by General Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna, who, having overturned the
constitution of his country, now oilers
to us the cruel alternatives, either 10
abandon our homes, acquired 10y so
many privations, or submit to the most
intolerablc of all tyranny, the COM
bined despotism or the sword ami
the priesthood.
It has sacrificed our welfare to the
state of Coahuila, 10y which Our inter
ests have been continually depressed
through Jealous and partial course Of
legislation. carried on at far distant
seat of government, 10y IA hostile major
ity. i'm an unknown tongue, and this
too Notwithstanding we have petition
III.
tablishment of separate state govern
n,ept and in accordance with the pro-
visions of the national constitution,
presented to the general congress re-
publican constitution, which was,
without Just cause, contemptuously re-
jected.
1t incarcerated in a dungeon for a
long time, one of our citizens, for no
other cause but jealous endeavor to
procure the acceptance of our constitu-
lion, and the establishment of a state
government
II has failed and rpiusedlto secure, on
a Arm i5.sis, the right of trial by jury,
that palladium ofcivil liberty, only
safe guarantee for the life, liberty and
property Of the citizen.
II has failed to establish any Juhlic
system ofeducatioii, although pHi-se--,d
Of almost lloundless r.sourt-s. tthe laih-
lie domaipl, and although II J. a" 'iNi-
ON In political srience iiiat, unless Pc,
ple are educated and enlightened, il Is
idle to expect the continuance of civil
liberty, or the capacity for self-govern-
menf.
IL has suffered the military COM
manders stationed among Us to exer-
else arbitrary acts of oppression and
tyranny, thus trampIiug upon the most
sacred rights Of the citizen and renief-
ing the military superior to the civil
power.
III has dissolved, by force Of arms,
the state congress Of Coahuila ana
Texas, and Obliged eur representative.
TO f7y for their lives from the seat of
government, thus depriging US Of the