The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-04-28

everywhere to the production of sys-
tenn. So here there is necessary
cooperation among possessors OF
power to retain vice and stupidity
i'll every department., and ignorance
among every portion of the people
Our readers would be tired and in
dignant were we to attempt detail
of the evils which Arispe's work SO
fully exposes. 1t is sufficient just
to say, that as all power among them
partakes of the military character
all offices are filled with that class
captains of companies being perpet.
ual judges, the lieutenants sole rige-
dOreS, and the sergeants attorneys
general; with the original provision
that the expense of these employ
ments shall follow the course pro-
vided by military ordinances. Thus
sergeant or corporal may become
judge in the absence of their supe-
riors.. This is generally the case Il
not otherwise ordered by the Cover
nors, which very seldom happens"
The next quotation l shall make
on this subject is single extract
from letter written by Gen. Santa
Anna, of Mexico, to the Emperor
Iturbide, on the 9th of December.
1928, in which he refers to the polit-
ical condition Of that country. lie
says: ... ...r ..... ...H.
"The provinces, the towns, the peo.
pie cry aloud for their freedom, and
they say that you have broken your
Oaths of Iguala, and that of Cordova
have trampled upon the laws and
whatever is most sacred TO society
that you have filled the kingdom with
misfortunes, obstructed commerce
paralyZed agriculture, and have not
encouraged working the mines; that
you have unjustly prosecuted mem
bers of Congress, banished some, inn
prisoning others, so as to reduce il
to what is called a juntd conStUyente,
composed of few favorites; that
they yield to your views and form q
constitution that will enslave this
continent"
That this condition Of things was
not materially changed up to the
Texas from Mexico will be seen us
we go OH.
In a letter written TO President
Jackson ON the 18th of Februa-
ry, 1888, by Gen. Sam Houston, the
heroic leader of the armies of Texas
the brave commander at the battle
of San Jacinto, twice the wise and
patriotic president of the Republic
of Texas, and for thirteen years a
distinguished member of the United
States Senate, said, speaking OF
the people of Texas: .. .
"They- are now without laws to
govern or protect them. Mexico is
involved in civil war. The federal
constitution has never been in op-
GRAFTON. The government is essen
TALLY despotic, and must be for years
to come. The rulers are not honest
and the people have not intelli-
gence." ."
On the return of Stephen F. Aus
tin to Texas from Mexico, where he
had gone on official duty for the
people, and where he had been de.
tanned for more than two years in
cruel Imprisonment, finding the dis.
turbed condition of the country, he
addressed the people at tBrazoria, on
the 9th of September, 1885. In that
address he said:
81 fully hoped to find Texas al
peace and in tranquility, but regret
to find it in commotion-all disor-
ganized, all anarchy, and threatened
with Immediate hostilities. This
state of things is deeply lamented.
1t is the natural and in
evitable consequence of the revolu-
ton which has spread all over Mex
leo. and of the imprudent and i'm
polite measures of both the general
and state governments with respect
to Texas. The people here are not
to blame, and can not justly be CEN
sured. They are farmers, cultiva-
tors of the soil, and are pacific from
interest. from occupation and from
inclination"
Further on he adds:
"The revolution in Mexico is draw
ing to a close. The object is to
change the form of government, de-
stroy the constitution of 1924 and to
establish central consolidated gov
ernment, the states to be converted
into provinces"
In view of the wrongs and griev-
ances brought to view in the fore
going extracts, and of many others.
including the decree of the Mexican
Conkress requiring the disarming of
the people of Zacatecas and OF OF
Coahuilla and Texas, the people
found it necessary 10 take their lib
critics into their own keeping, and 10
call convention of delegates, which
assembled at Washington, on the
Brazos, on the 1st of March, 1886;
and OH the next day solemnly de-
clared the political connection be-
tween Mexico and Texas severed,
and that Texas was free and indc-
pendent republic, This event was
doubtless FASTENED and the determi-
nation of the people of Texas to be
free intensified by the holy sacrifice
to liberty by the brave defenders of
the Alamo, Travis, Bowie, BOnham,
Crockett and their associates, of
whom it has been said, "Thermop-
ole had her messenger of defeat, but
the Alamo had none;" by the brutal
butchery of Col. Fannin and his
command at Goliad, in violation of
the terms of their surrender. and in
disregard of the usages of civilized
war, and by the cruel murder of
Major Ward and of Capt. King and
his men.
Bad government and anarchy hav-
ing eliminated in the overthrow of
government in Mex
leo, and the cruel policy, of Santa
Anna, the Mexican dictator, to dis
arm and massacre the American set
tiers in Texas, or drive them out of
the country, having been fully de-
veloped, like brave and earnest men
who had enjoyed the blessings. of
civil and religious liberty in their
fatherland, and who meant to main
tain these inestimable blessings for
and their descendants in
the land of their adoption, at what
ever cost of blood and suffering and
treasure, they began preparations
for the impending and unequal con-
test. The Texans were then estimat-
ed to number about thirty thou
sands souls, without an army, or a |
navy, or military supplies, or organi-
zation. The Mexicans numbered |
seven or eight millions, with an army |
and navy, welded by the single will
of a dictator, who was also an able |
general and cruel despot. With |
such odds against them, these veter-
ans before us and their brave asso-
ciates determined to offer their liy es |
on the altar of their country, to Sc
cure their liberties, the honor of
heir race. and for the nrotection of |