USA > Texas > A new history of Texas; being a narration of the adventures of the author in Texas, and a description of the soil, climate, productions, minerals, tons [!], bays, harbours, rivers, institutions, and manners and customs of the inhabitants of that country; together with the principal incidents of fifteen years revolution in Mexico; and embracing a condensed statement of interesting events in Texas, from the first European settlement in 1692, down to the present time: and a history of the Mexican war > Part 16
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The following lines which I have somewhere seen ap- plied to Kidd, a celebrated Pirate, and circumstances in Texas render them not inappropriate to persons there, and particularly so in respect to two of the Empresarios (Edwards and Zavalla.)
. There is many a one who oft his heard the name of Robert Kidd, Who cannot tell perhaps a word of him, or what he did ; And though I never saw the man, I lived in his day, And I'll tell you how his guilt began, And to what it led the way.
From the earliest American settlement in Texas, garri- sons were hept up and supported by the Mexican govern-
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ment from her own troops, to preserve the lives and pro- perty of the colonists without any expense whatever to the settlers, and between the soldiers and citizens all was harmony until the unhappy affair of 1827, at Nacogdoches, growing out of the dishonourable conduct of Edwards, one of the Empresarios, for colonizing the country. This affair created a great sensation in Mexico ; and it was a current rumour, that many citizens of the United States were deeply involved in setting on foot an enterprize for the subjugation of the Mexican Republic ; and without being in possession of such conclusive proof as would au- thorize me to endorse this rumor I am yet of the opinion from certain facts, that it contained much more truth than poetry. At all events the conduct of Edwards was re- prehensable in the extreme, and must be so considered by every mind which is not entirely lost to every sense of moral honesty.
Edwards had obtained a grant for a large body of land on precisely the same terms as explained in the foregoing summary of the colonization laws ; and without perform- ing a single act contemplated by the government, issued land scrip and sold it to any and every person who would buy. The purchasers were numerous, and eventually de- tected the fraud, and very properly petitioned the gov- ernment for redress, at the same time giving the informa- tion that the troops in garrison might be wanted to put down a strong party that Edwards was supposed to be the leader of.
It is proper to state here. that no Emprasario's title was incomplete for any part of a grant until one hundred fami- lies were located on the same, and every hundred entitled the proprietor to an additional quantity of land ; but no parts of one hundred could draw land from the Emprasa- rios, nor could he for them obtain it from the government
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until the even nundred was complete. When this was done, any of the parties could transfer their lands to citi- zens but not to aliens ; and whenever this has been at- tempted it was not only a fraud upon the government but also upon those who were made to believe such titles were good.
In the case of Edwards, the grant was of course revok- ed and he being countenanced somewhere he raised the standard of revolt, and soon rallied around it a consider- able force, principally Americans and Indians ; but the approach of a detachment of the Mexican Army cooled their courage, Edwards fled from the country and his forces dispersed without firing a gun.
In order to a proper understanding of the passing events of the day, it should be constantly borne in mind, that civil war with all its horrors was now raging in Mexi- co, but not in any way detremental to the interests of the Texans, they being entirely exempt from all participation in the party strifes, and were relieved from contributing in any way towards the support of either. Far remov- ed from the scene of conflict. they were permitted under each dominant party in turn to pursue their avocations in peace and tranquility and under this benevolent system they were fast subduing the wilds and making them blossom as the rose. Cultivated fields teeming with bountiful har- vests were richly rewarding the labors of the colonists, and every commodity found a ready market at a high price by the increased demands growing out of the troubles in other parts of Mexico.
Nothing important perplexed the mass of the settlers, but the exactions and general disregard of their obliga- tions by the Empresarios, and of their happy situation many of the settlers seem to have been well aware. Many of them had, in the language of the lamented Wirt, when
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speaking of Blannerhassett, fled from the storms of their own country, to find quiet in another-were grateful for the liberal boon bestowed on them by the Mexican gov- ernment and were statisfied, but somewhere there was an invisible power beyond the throne: which, like an evil genius, delighting in troubled water, was concocting schemes of conquest-fame-land-lucre and blood-and this Argus-eyed and evil demon, like Satan of old, was pointing to all the surrounding country, and conjuring up temptations which man-weak, fallible man, can seldom withstand. It was soon perceived and well understood at the Capitol, that there was a party in Texas connected with those who had no claims upon the government, who were becoming restive, and only waited for a plausi- ble pretext to seize the reins of government, and with them the public treasure and domain ; and they well knew that the adventure of Edwards was only a spark escaping from a smothered fire, which they vainly sought to extinguish by kindness, and by depriving the disaffect- ed of all probable means of exciting in their favour sym- pathies abroad, upon which it was correctly supposed in any emergency they would mainly rely.
Motives of policy then, as well as humanity, doubtless dictated measures respecting Texas ; for it is not to be supposed that the different Mexican authorities were so pure as to decline all modes of retahation ; but the circum- stances and energies of public affairs suggested the ex- pediency of conciliating the growing discontents in Texas : and accordingly, almost every imaginary grievance was removed almost as soon as made known.
This compelled the revolutionists to work by stealth, which they did successfully ; first by a complete organi- zation of the elements of discord in the country, and
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these bodies had their appointed places to rendezvous, and in secret conclave interchange opinions while the rest of the inhabitants were asleep, and each man went forth from these meetings with his particular duties to perform: and while some dealt out in broken doses the nauseous drug of strife and contention at home, others were ap- pointed to wholesale the commodities of the joint compa- ny in different parts of the United States, and make re- turns of what particular articles were in demand. The decrees respecting slavery, and particularly that of 1829, together with the pretended burdens of the Catholic Reli- gion, were found to be subjects upon which there was but little diversity of opinion, in a country like ours. And when this was fairly ascertained, the next opposition to the Mexican government was disclosed in the shape of an humble petition, which if translated into its true intent and meaning, would run about as follows:
We, your most dutiful and loving citizens, being too proud to work, and too parsimonious to hire, do most earnestly request that we may be permitted to kidnap and enslave for life, others; and we would prefer the privilege of owning those of a different colour from our- selves, to the end that gentlemen may be distinguished from those in servitude by appearance, that none can mistake who possess the gift of sight, viz: we want ne- groes, and as for the blind who cannot see us, we care notliing about them. Now as good citizens and descen- dants of those who hate the sight of a negro as much as they do a Catholic Priest, we will take the liberty of sta- ting that if you do not allow us the privilege of holding in perpetual bondage the offspring of these African de- scendants of Cain-and further if you do not allow us liberty of worshipping our Creator agreerable to the dic- tates of aur most tender consciences, we will at least have
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two pretexts for rebellion. our solemn oaths to the contra- ry notwithstanding. This petition was answered by a revocation of the decree of 1829, and at last one of the most fruitful pretexts removed.
The reader should here be reminded, that there is no analogy between the legality of slave-holding in the Uni- ted States and Texas. All the slaves that were introduc- ed into the country previous to 1829, or at any rate be- tween '23 and '20, were imported in contravention of law; the Mexican government in the first stages of its existence having discountenanced the system, which is plain from the decree of 1823, and made doubly plain by the laws of 1827, and '29, afterwards ; which last to answer the end in view, was absolutely necessary, all the former laws on the subject having been evaded and treated with contemptuous ridicule.
Whatever then may be said in favor of the toleration of slavery in the United States, such pretexts are palpa- bly untenable in defence of Texas. The Mexican gov- ernment certainly did possess the most clear and undenia- ble right to refuse to sin in the outset, while the only question in the United States should be respecting the most expedient measures to rid us of an evil entailed by our ancestors before the birth day of our Independence as a nation ; and of course, long before the birth of the present national government, whose powers were deriv- ed from slave holding as well as non-slaveholding states, many of whom now deny the right of the general govern- ment all legislation respecting their local or domestic in- stitutions.
Whether this interpretation of the relative powers of the general and State governments will in the least promote the interests of the whole, is a question which time will decide ; but had I the power and necessary influence, I
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would decide it now, fearing, as I do, that these conflict- ing jurisdictions may some day work out mischief for my native and beloved country --
We are not worst at once-the course of evil, Begins so slow, and from such small cause, An infant's hand might arrest it ; But let the stream get deeper-and philosophy, Aye, and religion too, will often strive in vain, To turn the headlong torrent. .
It has been shown that the Mexican government at an early period of her history, when framing laws expressly to facilitate the settlement of the then province of Texas, reserved to herself the right to prohibit, at any future pe- riod, the introduction of the citizens or subjects of any foreign country ; and this right was exercised on ti :: 6th of April, 1830, declaring the further emigration to Texas of what she called North Americans, unlawful, after the quotas stipulated by the Empresarios were full. What- ever may be said of the inhospitality of such law, and however much it may resemble an invitation from a neigh- bor to stay at home and not intrude into his sanctum, none can certainly deny, that the Mexican republic, as well as a private individual, possessed the right of choos- ing her messmates ; and when disagreeable company was expected, to decide between the alternatives of expelling such from her domain, or sending them a complementary card to stay where they were.
This position being altogether tenable, the only reme- dy was, as is usual in similar cases, to fly into a pet and call the exercise of an undoubted right a down right af- front ; and then without any impartial reflection on the subject, proceed to seek immediate redress, or what is infinitely worse, cherish a deadly hostility while waiting for an opportunity to strike a blow that will without
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much risk of life or limb fully gratify every feeling of an ungenerous revenge.
I own it is mortifying to the manly pride of an Ameri- can, to be told that he or his fellow citizens are unwel- come guests at any board ; but the same honorable im- pulse of feeling should teach him, that in national, as well as individual cases, there may be weighty reasons for avoiding a close communion with particular persons, and that each may, without just causes of offence to any, select such guests as are agreeable to themselves.
But what can be said in favor of those who in con- tempt of the common courtesies of life, intrude upon the hospitalities of others, and then forsooth seize upon prop- erty to which they have not the colour of a claim, and attempt to dispossess the occupants, and degrade them in the eyes of all the rest of the world.
That such or similar occurrance, did actually transpire in Texas, is indeed a very disagreeable truth; but that any large portion of the inhabitants are now, or have been, at any previous time, composed of such characters, is un- true ; and the whole of this species of conduct may be traced to a combination of land speculators and smugglers of merchandise and negroes who did not scruple to allure ignorant and well meaning men into the country, for the express purpose of aiding them in evading the constitu- tion and laws they had sworn to support ; and eventual- ly to take forcible possession of a country whose govern- ment had bestowed on them a home where many had found wealth and an asylum in time of extreme need.
In support of these assertions, I will now adduce the proof :
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Extract from a petition numerously signed and forward- ed to the City of Mexico in 1832, having for its object the organization of a separate State Government for Texas. (See public documents in the Department of State.)
Our misfortunes pervade the whole country, operate upon the whole population, and are as diversified in char- acter as our public interests and necessities are vari- ous ; and we are perfectly sensible that a portion of our population, composed of Anglo Americans, have been greatly calumniated before the Mexican government ; our grievences do not so much result from any positive mis- feasance on the part of the state authorities, as from the absence of those influences which are necessary to fulfill the ends of society. But independent of these general truths there are some impressive reasons why the peace and happiness of Texas demand a local government. Con- stituting a remote frontier of the Mexican Republic, and bordering on a powerful nation, whose population in jux- taposition to ours, is notoriously profligate and lawless, we require in a peculiar sense, the application of such laws as are necessary, not only for the preservation of good order, the protection of property, and the redress of personal wrongs; but also, such as are essential to the prevention of illicit commerce-to the security of public revenues, and to the avoidance of collision with the authorities of our neighboring Republic of the United States.
Americans who had entered the country in contraven- tion of the federal law of the 6th of April, 1830, and were claiming and surveying land as Emigrants, without possessing the shadow of a title, but who, under the
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guidance of such of the Empresarios as Lorenzo De Valla and others, were acting in total disregard and con- tempt of law and right ; were arrested and seven of them imprisoned with their self-created land commissioner, by order of Colonel Bradburn, commandant at Anahuac. This gentleman had been long stationed in the country and was a close observer of passing events ; and the gov- ernment reposing entire confidence in him, clothed him with powers, which, under different circumstances, would have been improper ; but in the actual condition of things, was rendered necessary, and as is too often the case, he perhaps did on some occasions exercise his authority with a severity and uncharitable feeling that reflects no credit upon him, either as a public officer or as a man.
I believe that no man or set of men are always precise- ly right or strictly wrong ; and all experience proves, that in times of political excitement, all parties are apt to reach extremes, and in order to show the evil effects of such inconsiderate proceedings, it will be sufficient for the pre- sent, to allude to a high handed measure of this Mexican officer, which excited the general indignation of the in- habitants of Texas, and rendered the doings of the war party extremely plausible.
He had detected a treasonable correspondence between certain of the Emprasarios and the Aynutamientos of Lib -. erty and in place of resorting to the civil authorities he sent files of Mexican sokliers to arrest the members, as well as a gang of smugglers, and those citizens of the United States who were illegally surveying the Mexican lands : these two last description of offenders. were secured and im- prisoned in the fort at Anahuac, and the leading members of the Aynutamientos made good their escape, and retired to Austin's colony for protection. Again he assumed the
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authority of annulling the proceedings of this corpo- rate body of citizens, and on an attempt by the inhabi- tants of the department of Liberty to hold a new elec- tion, he dispersed the electors at the point of the bayo- net.
Of this species of military despotism, the good citizens of Texas had much right to complain, and the sympathy thus excited in favor of otherwise criminal inhabitants and foreigners, became so general, that for a time their wrongs were lost sight of ; all eyes being turned towards the illegal conduct of Bradburn, being as it certainly was, what no American citizen, who deserves the name, will ever tamely submit to.
Here were fine materials on which the Emprasarios through their committees of vigilance and correspondence could operate, and accordingly on the 28th of June, 1832. a promiscuous assemblage of citizens appeared before Anahuac, made an unexpected attack upon the garrison and liberated all the prisoners and retired peaceably to their homes. According to a concerted arrangement the war materials had been concentrated at two other points. with an intention of expelling the Mexican troops from the country while the popular feeling was against them : and the attacks on Velasco and Nacogdoches were most bloody. At Velasco both parties fought with determine;} valour, and the Mexican garrison compelled to surrender after losing more than half their men. The white flag fluttered in the breeze from the ramparts ; the Texans were about to enter the fort in triumph, when at this crit- ical moment, the gallant Mexican commander, Ugan- trachea, infused renewed courage through his little band who renewed the action with redoubled vigour, when Ug- anteachea, with a courage bordering on rashness, ascended the wall grasping the flag staff and tearing the white em
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blem of peace into a thousand pieces, he firmly planted the Mexican banner and stood unprotected while shouting victory or death to his followers. The Texans ceased firing; awe and astonishment vibrated through their frames ; their national character, as native Americans, resumed its sway, and in respect for a hero, they re- tired from the garrison, which might have been theirs, had the contest been prolonged. At Nacogdoches the Texans were more successful. Although Pedras, the commandant at that post, battled manfully for four hours against double his force, losing 20 men killed, and 30 wounded, while killing 16 and wounding 4 of the assail- ants, his ammunition was at length exhausted, and he was compelled to surrender.
The news of these disturbances was soon in Mexico, and Gen. Santa Anna, now in the ascendant, despatched Col. Mexia to the seat of war, with five vessels and four hundred men to quell the insurrection. This squadron sailed from Brassos Santiago on the 13th of July, and anchored off the Brassos river in Texas on the 16th, and on the 17th Col. Mexia addressed an official letter to the Alcalde (Jno. Austin) acquainting him with the object of his visit and requested an explanation of recent events in writing, without unnecessary delay. This was prompt- ly furnished and was doubtless written under the supervi- sion of Gen. Austin, who, while at Montelovia, as the Texan representative in the State legislature, had receiv- ed intelligence respecting the ferment and consequent battles, and had now returned to his home on board of Col. Mexia's ship, for the express purpose of effecting some amicable settlement of the whole allair. tien. Austin had complied most scrupulously with his engage- ment, both with the government and people, and had uni-
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formly discountenanced the machinations of other Emprasa- rios and deprecated a rupture with the government as the greatest calamity ; and he now assumed the friendly of- fice of mediator between the contending parties ; and of the manner the difficulty was met, the following extracts from the Alcalde's answer, and resolutions drawn up and passed at a public meeting at Brassoria will be suffi- cient.
Extract from the Alcalde's answer to Col. Meria.
The cause, of the present disturbances are plain to every person who resides in Texas, or is informed of the events that have transpired here since the year 1830 ; but as those causes have never been laid before the Mexican people. it is necessary and proper that it should now be done, in mitigation of the course taken by a portion of the inhab- itants, and as also explanatory of the reasons that in- pel the inhabitants of this colony to adhere to the plan of Vera Cruz, of which General Santa Anna is the au- thor.
Col. Bradburn in the month of May last, imprisoned seven persons, who claimed the rights of citizens, and at- tempted to arrest Geo. M. Patrick, the first Rigador and acting Alcalde of Anahuac. and James Lindsey and an- other Rigador of that Liberty. who in consequence left : these respective places and fled to Austin's colony for pro- tection. These acts of despotism occurring when a party in Texas were longing for new opportunities to excite hatred against all the Mexican authorities, added to the abusive language in which Col. Bradburn indulges towards the citizens generally, exhausted the patience of a num- ber who took up aus and marched to Anahuac to retu.n
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all prisoners whom Bradburn had confined. Such were the causes and the only ones which produced the attacks complained of.
Extracts from a preamble and resolutions adopted at a pub- lic meeting of citizens and soldiers at Brassoria, on the 18th of July, 1832.
On the 6th of January, the heroic city of Vera Cruz pronounced in favor of the distinguished patriot, Gen. Don Lopez De Santa Anna, and we being convinced that the last hope of liberty and the principles of the repre- sentative democratic federal system depend on the success of the liberal party of which Santa Anna is the leader, the citizens and soldiers present, unanimously adhere to the plan of Vera Cruz and adopt the following resolu- tions.
Resolved, That we view with feelings of the deepest in- terest and solicitude, the firm and manly resistance which is made by the highly talented and distinguished chieftain, Gen. Santa Anna, to the numberless encroachments and . infractions which have been made by the present admin- istration (Bustamente) upon the Constitution and laws of our adopted and beloved country.
Resolved, That as freemen devoted to a correct inter- pretation and enforcement of the Constitution and laws according to their true spirit, we pledge our lives and for- tunes in support of the same, and of the distinguished leader who is now fighting so gallantly in defence of civil liberty. .
Resolved, That the people of Texas be invited to co- operate with us in support of the principles incorporated in support of the foregoing, and that it was the Santa Anna forces, and not a faction of rebeis that have battled
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against military dispotism in this part of the Mexican Re- public.
It is somewhat amusing to perceive with what tact and facility the war party (aided as they were on this occa- sion by those sincerely desirous of peace) availed them- selves of a fortunate movement at Vera Cruz, and other parts of Mexico, by shouting hosannas to Santa Anna ; and as a proof of the cause of this and the insincerity of many of those who had so recently butchered the Mexican soldiers, events of rapid occurrance afterwards .
afford abundant evidence.
The fact is, a favorable opportunity for attack had oc- curred before arrangements for such purpose were con- plete, and not being sustained by public opinion after the liberation of the prisoners incarcerated by the would-be despot, Bradburn, the war party very prudently went with the current on the arrival of Col. Mexa, and gladly gave in their adhesion for a time to the rising sun of their distingushed Don Lopez De Santa Anna, who was soon to be branded with every epithet which falsehood and malig- nity could invent.
When the Mexican fleet stared them in the face, the Texans for war remembered that on their way to the imaginary temple of their own creation a dark thick grove had been penetrated which was consecrated to a deity known by the name of Treason, and after arriving at the gate, their eyes rested on an inscription signifying this to be the door of Purjury. Again they were greeted with several figures: these were Sedition, with a trumpet in her hand, and Rapine in the garb of a hunter. Ambition, Envy, and Disgrace were all represented under proper emblems ; and last in the group a statue was observed which was known by the name of Rumor. This was ap- parently whispering to a little dwarf of an idiot, the very
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