The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-09
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
FORTY SEVENTH ANNIVER-
SARY OF THE DECLARA.
TION OF TEXAS IN
DEPENDENCE.

synOptical Proceedings OF the
First General Convention, and
Full Text of the sDecIara-
tion,'' with Names OF
the Signers.
This is Texas Independence Day.
Forty-six years ago, the infant republic
of Texas threw off the yoke of Mexican
tyranny and declared herself free and
independent. Her independence was
achieved on the battlefield of San
Jacinto, April 81, 1886, and the Lone
Star of Texas, the brightest star that ever
emblazoned any flag, shone with re-
splendant etfulgence upon free and
happy people. The causes which led
Texas to take the step she did are famil-
lar to all readers of history, but a glance
at some of the events which preceded the
declaration of independence may not be
uninteresting.
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF TEXAS.
The provisional government of Texas
was established November 13, 1885,
which consisted of a governor, lieuten-
ant governor, and general council,
which was elected from the convention,
and the governor and lieutenant governor
were also elected from that body, Henry
Smith being the first provisional gov
ernor.
After prescribing the duties of the
governor and lieutenant governor, the
| general council was empowered to devise
ways and means, to advise and assist the
governor in the discharge of his func-
tions, and to pass no laws ex-
cept as in their opinion the emergency
of the country required, ever keeping
in view the army in the field, and the
means necessary for its comfort and
support. The council was directed to
pursue the most effective and energetic
measures to rid the country of her ere
mics, and place her in the best possible
state of defense.
Ample powers and authority were del.
egated to the governor and general coun-
Gil of the provisional government of
Texas to carry into full effect the pro-
visions and resolutions adopted by the
Consultation of the Chosen Delegates
of all Texss in General Convention as
sembled for the creation, establishment
and regulation of said provisional gov
ernment."
Following were the members of the
FIRST GENERAL CONVENTION.
Municipality Of Austin-Wyly Mar
tin, r. Jones, Jesse BHrnham, William
A1enifee.
of San Augustine-A. Houston, VIM.
N. Sigler, A. E. G. johnson, A Horton,
A. G. Kellogg.
Of GonzGSs-Wm. s. Fisher, ]. D.
Clements, George w. Davis, James
Hodges, VIM. W. Arlington, Benjamin
Fuqua.
Of CoZum6ia-Henry Smith, John A.
Wharton, Edwin Waller, John S. d.
Byron.
of Washington-Philip Coe, E. Col
lard, Jesse Grimes, Asa Mitchell, Asa
Hoxey.
Of Nesca-Samuel J. Allen, A. G.
Perry, A. G. W. Pierson, Alexander
Thompson, James W. Parker.
Of Ndc0gdOcles - Samuel Houston,
James w. Robinson, VIM. Whitaker,
David Parker, VIM. N. Sigler.
Of MinG-D. G. Barrett, j. s. Lester,
r. NJ. Williamson. .aal -
| Of Li6erty-Henry Millard, B. Woods,
A. B. Hardin. -
Of fHarriS6ury-Lorenzo de Zavalla, G.
G. Dyer, John W. Moore, NJ. W. Smith,
David B. Macomb, George NJ Patrick.
Of Beoil-S. H. Everitt, John Bevil,
Wyatt Hanks.
Of Jefferson Claiborne West.
Of MatG9orda- r. Royal, Charles
Wilson.
Oh Tenehaw-Martin Farmer.
Following the establishment of the
provisional government was Fannin's
massacre and the fall of the Alamo, and
the retreat of Houston's small army to
the San Jacinto river. During this time,
the heart of the people was being
aroused, and q convention of delegates
was called, which assembled at Wash
ington, on the Brazos, and on the second
day of March, 1885, adopted and pro
mulgated the following
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
When a government has ceased to
protect the lives, liberty and property OF
the people, from whom its legitimate
powers are derived, and for the advance
ment OF whose happiness it was insti
tuted and so far from being a gusran
tee for their inestimable and inalienable
rights, becomes an instrument in the
hands of evil rulers for their oppression
when the federal republican constitu
tion OF their country, which they have
sworn to support, no longer has a sub
stantial existence, and the whole nature
of their government has been forcibly
changed from a restricted federation re
public, composed of sovereign states, TO Q
consolidated central military despotism
in which every interest is disregarded bu
that of the army and the priesthood, botI
the eternal enemies of civil liberty, the
ever-ready minions of power, and tht
usual instruments of tyrants. When
long after the spirit Of the constitution
has departed, moderation is at length 81
far lost by those in power that even thu
semblance of freedom is removed, anC
the forms themselves of the constitution
discontinued, and so far from their peti
tions and remonstrances being regarded
the agents who bear them are thrown
into dungeons, and mercenary armies
sent forth to enforce a new governmen
upon them at the point of the bayonet.
When, in consequence of such acts o
malfeasance and abduction on the part o
the government, anarchy prevails ant
civil society is dissolved into ii
original elements, in such q crisis
the first law of nature, the right of sell
preservation, the inherent and inaliens
! BILE right of the people to appeal to frs
J principles, and take their political affair
in their own hands in extreme cases, er
: joins it as right towards themselves
and sacred obligation to their posterity
, to abolish such government, and Great
, another in its stead, calculated to rescu
! them from impending dangers, and TO 81
cure their welfare and happiness.
Nations, as well as individuals, ar
: amenable for their acts to the publ
|, opinion of mankind. A statement @
:. our grievances is therefore submitte
: to an impartial world, in iul
: tification of the hazardous but unavolC
: able step now taken, of severing our pc
@ litical connection with the Mexican pee
e pie, and assuming an independent att
8 tude among the nations of the earth.
The Mexican government, by its colo
a nization laws, invited and induce
the Anglo-American population Of Texs
to colonize its wilderness under th
pledged faith of a written constitution
that they should continue to enjoy thu
r constitutional liberty and republica
q goverrment to which they had bee
= habituated in the land of their birth-th
United States of America.
In this expectation they have been CT
. ely disappointed, inasmuch as the Mex
can nation has acquiesced to the La