USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume I > Part 18
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This proclamation was printed in English and Spanish and circu- lated. The summary just given is from the Spanish copy in the Aus- tin papers. Ugartechea forwarded a copy to General Cos on July 15, and one can easily imagine his opinion of the professed loyalty to the constitution. The somewhat highflown. bombastic style of the address was aimed at the Coahuilans, but it is likely that they, too. resented the hint of assistance from the United States and the boasted invincibility of the Texans.
The English of D. B. Edward, a queer old pedant who published in 1836 his history of Texas, is frequently beyond comprehension ; but so far as it is possible to interpret his account of this incident, it seems that some of the radicals who attended the meeting of June 22, assembled later on the same day, with the political chief in the chair. and adopted resolutions authorizing volunteers to expel Tenorio's gar- rison from Anahuac before the arrival of the expected reinforcements.
William Barrett Travis immediately began the formation of a vol- unteer company, and in San Felipe and Harrisburg thirty men signed an agreement to meet at Lynch's ferry and march against the garri son. Ten of these failed to start on the expedition, and three of the Harrisburg contingent withdrew at Vince's Bayou ; but by the addi- tion of eight men from Lynchburg and Spilman's Island the party was again increased to twenty-five. A halt was made at Clopper's Point, and an election held, the result of which made Travis captain, Retson Morris, first lieutenant, and Ashmore Edwards, second lieutenant. The captain then appointed John W. Moore orderly sergeant.
The sloop Ohio, belonging to David Harris, had been chartered at Harrisburg. and in this they all now embarked and proceeded
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toward Anahuac. When within about half a mile of the shore, the sloop was grounded, and Captain Travis ordered a shot to be fired, by way of warning, from the small cannon which they had on board, mounted on a pair of sawmill truck wheels. The gun was then placed in one of the small boats, and they all rowed ashore, where Travis was met by a note from Tenorio asking the purpose of his visit. Travis replied that he had come to receive the surrender of the garrison. Tenorio asked that he be allowed till the next morning for consideration ; but Travis informed him that he could have only one hour, and then, without waiting for the expiration of that, since it was growing dark, ordered an advance. But the Mexicans had made use of the delay to flee to the woods, and the Texans found the fort deserted. Travis soon received a message from Tenorio, how- ever, asking for an interview on the river bank; and this being granted him, he held a council and decided, by his own account, "in view of the difficulty and uselessness of making a defense, that a capitulation should be made."
On the next morning (June 30) the terms of the surrender were arranged. Twelve soldiers were to be allowed to retain their arms, as a protection against the Indians in their march toward Bexar, and the Mexican officers pledged themselves not to take up arms again against Texas. Captain Harris says there were forty-four Mexicans in the garrison, and that the Texan force had been increased by several accessions at Anahuac to about thirty. Travis, writing to Henry Smith about a week after the capitulation, says, "I received sixty-four stands of arms (muskets and bayonets)."
The Mexicans and the Texans returned together in the Ohio to Harrisburg, which they reached in time for a barbecue on the fourth of July. One may well imagine that Tenorio was rather glad than otherwise to be relieved of his trying duties at Anahuac; for, at the barbecue, he is said to have "walked among the people, shaking hands with the men and acting as if he was the hero of the occasion."
By July 17, Tenorio had reached San Felipe ; but being very kindly received by the authorities there,-Wily Martin having superseded J. B. Miller as political chief-he remained some seven weeks in the hope that Ugartechea would send him horses and money with which to complete his journey to San Antonio. He arrived at Bexar about September 8.
The attack on Anahuac was condemned generally throughout Texas, except by the most radical of the war party, which was still comparatively small. Town after town adopted resolutions of pro. test against the precipitate action of a few rash men which might involve the province in serious trouble. Travis, indeed, found the general sentiment against him so strong that for several weeks he published a card in The Texas Republican asking the people to sus- pend judgment upon him until he could publish an explanation and justification of his act. This was tardily written on September 1 and forwarded to his friend Henry Smith for publication, but Smith appar- ently thought best to withhold it from the press. The original is now in the Lamar Papers in the state library. It reads as follows :
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' "To the Public:
"The undersigned published a card some time since, stating that he would give the public his motives in engaging in the expe- dition to Anahuac which resulted in the capture of the garrison of that place on the 30th of June last. Circumstances beyond my control have hitherto prevented me from redeeming the pledge therein given. I will now do so in a few words.
"I refer the public to the following documents to show what were my motives in that affair. At the time I started to Ana- huac, it seemed to be the unanimous opinion of the people here that that place should be reduced. The citizens about Galveston Bay, who had formed a volunteer company for the purpose, sent to this place for aid. The political chief approved the plan and presided at a meeting of about 200 persons who adopted the reso- lutions which appear below.
"Being highly excited by the circumstances then stated, I volunteered in that expedition, with no other motives than of patriotism and a wish to aid my suffering countrymen in the embarrassing strait to which they were likely to be reduced by military tyranny. I was casually elected the commander of the expedition, without soliciting the appointment. I discharged what I conceived to be my duty to my country to the best of my ability. Time alone will show whether the step was correct or not. And time will show that when the country is in danger that I will show myself as patriotic and ready to serve her as those who to save themselves have disavowed the act and denounced me to the usurping military.
"W. Barrett Travis."
"San Felipe, September 1st, 1835."
The documents that Travis intended to publish with this statement were no doubt the proceedings of the meeting that authorized the attack; but they have never been found.
The attack on Tenorio convinced the government even more strongly than before of the importance of hastening troops to Texas. The people were firmly opposed to the establishment of a strong military force in Texas, and to prove their loyalty passed resolutions in numerous local meetings condemning the attack on Anahuac. And in general their condemnation was sincere. The government had no intention of suspending the military movement to Texas, but Ugar- techea and Cos took advantage of the pacific tone of these resolutions to demand the surrender of the leaders of the war party for military trial. The people refused, and to the Mexican mind this was good evidence of the revolutionary intentions of the colonists. The attack on Anahuac was an important step in the development of distrust and misunderstanding that led to the revolution.
CHAPTER XII THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN CONSERVATIVES AND THE WAR PARTY
By the arrest of the governor and dissolution of the legislature Texas was left virtually without a government. What was best to be done under existing circumstances was the all absorbing question. But few, if any, thought for a moment of submitting to the usurpation and tyranny of Santa Anna. While some favored immediate resist- ance, others favored a temporising policy, by which time would be gained, and preparations made for the worst. Texas was without a treasury and the appliances of war. It was proposed to raise a force and rescue the governor but it failed. The people were indignant at the course of the late legislature; they were also grieved and alarmed at the fate of Zacatecas.
Previous to these occurrences, however, a meeting of the citizens of Mina, now Bastrop, had assembled on May 17 and appointed a com- mittee of safety, composed of Edward Burleson, D. C. Barrett, John McGehee, B. Manlove, and Samuel Wolfenberger. Wolfenberger was the chairman of the meeting, and John W. Bunton secretary. This action was made necessary by the frequent inroads of the Indians on the settlements of the Colorado, and not in view of a conflict with Mexico. The example of the citizens of the municipality of Mina was soon followed by all the municipalities.
The political chief's proclamation of June 21 urging an expedi- tion to rescue the governor was the occasion of a number of public meetings. The first of these was held at Columbia on June 23. The proclamation had reached that place on the 22nd, and a private letter from Henry Austin to James F. Perry written on the 23rd gives some of the intimate history of what followed. He says :
"An attempt has been made here today to involve us in an immediate revolution by sending troops forthwith in obedience to a call by the chief of police to fight the federal forces-a report and resolutions were produced cut and dried in caucus last night, compromitting us at once-I moved as an amendment-that the further consideration of the subject matter before the meeting should be postponed until the great body of the people of this municipality could be convened to express their sentiments as to the expediency of a measure involving the security of the rights. and property and the safety and lives of the families of the peo- ple; this was not admitted by the agitators as an amendment, when it was determined to put the report and resolutions to vote first and then take the vote upon my motion; on division two- thirds were against their report. They then without taking a vote upon my motion so modified their resolutions as to effect the same purpose, which, being agreed to, they appointed a commit- tee to draft a report and resolutions to be proposed to the meeting on Sunday. It was proposed to add me and R. Williams. I declined to aid in forestalling the sentiments of the people, wish-
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ing the meeting on Sunday to be left free to appoint their own committee, and the people will reject their report on that ground if it be put to them. You and Pleasant McNeil must be here * *
* every one who can give a vote, for the cast is to be made
which will lose or win all our hopes in Texas." * *
The subsequent Columbia meeting of June 28 was important because it became the model for several other municipalities, some of which endorsed its resolutions en bloc. With the hope, no doubt, of influencing this meeting an alarmist article was published in The Texas Republican of June 27. Despite this effort to stampede it, the meeting on the next day was conservative, and while advising defen- sive preparations urged strict adherence to the laws and constitution of the nation. Col. W. D. C. Hall was called to the chair and Byrd B. Waller elected secretary. Messrs. John A. Wharton, W. D. C. Hall, H. Smith, J. F. Perry, J. H. Bell, S. Whiting, G. B. Mckinstry, W. C. White, P. B. McNeel, F. Bingham, J. A. Phelps, Edwin Waller, E. Andrews, J. P. Caldwell, and E. G. Head were unanimously chosen to prepare a report and resolutions unanimously adopted as follows :
"Your committee view with the deepest regret and greatest alarm the present political situation in Texas, and recommend to this meeting, and their fellow-citizens generally, union, mod- eration, organization, and a strict adherence to the laws and con- stitution of the land. Your committee protest against the acts and conduct of any set of individuals (less than a majority) calcu- lated to involve the citizens of Texas in a conflict with the federal government of Mexico, and particularly protest against the pro- ceedings of those persons at Anahuac who gave the collector of customs, Don José Gonzalez a series of resolutions declaring that they would not obey the revenue laws of Mexico. They denounce such persons as foreigners, and disclaim all par- ticipation in the act whatever. Your committee further de- clare that they are the faithful and loyal citizens of Mexico, and that they are disposed and desirous to discharge their duty as such and that it is their wish and interest to remain attached to the federal government of Mexico. Your committee recommend to the political chief the adoption of the most prompt and ener- getic measures to chastise the savages that have lately com- mitted depredations on our frontier citizens; and beg leave to present the following resolutions :
"Resolved, That inasmuch as Texas is left in a state of anar- chy, and without governor, vice-governor, or council, that we recognize the political chief as the highest executive office, and that we earnestly recommend an immediate organization of the militia for the protection of the frontier, and that he suspend further orders until the whole people are consulted, and also that he recommend a similar course to the chiefs of the other depart- ments of Texas.
"Resolved. That the political chief be requested to correspond with the other chiefs of departments in Texas, and request them to co-operate with him in electing three deputies from each juris-
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diction of their several departments to meet the chiefs of depart- ments in public council, with full powers to form for Texas a provisional government, on the principles of the constitution, during the reign of anarchy in the state, and that they meet as soon as circumstances will possibly permit.
"Resolved, That a committee of five be chosen to wait on the political chief with the views of this meeting, and that they remain a permanent committee of vigilance, correspondence, and safety.
"Resolved, That the political chief be requested to address the executive of the federal government of Mexico, representing to him the peacable and loyal disposition of the citizens of Texas, and their great desire to remain attached to the federal govern- ment.
"Resolved, That the political chief be requested to address the citizens of this department, commanding them to adhere strictly to the laws and constitution of the land.
"Resolved, That we will support the political chief in the dis- charge of all constitutional duties.
"Resolved, That the chairman of the meeting be requested to address a letter to the political chief, enclosing him a copy of the proceedings of this meeting.
"Messrs. W. D. C. Hall, J. A. Wharton, W. H. Jack, J. G. McNeel, and G. B. Mckinstry were chosen by the meeting the committee of vigilance, correspondence and safety, and to wait on the political chief with the views of this meeting."
On July 4 the district of Lavaca adopted these Columbia resolu- tions, and appointed a committee of "vigilance and correspondence" consisting of William Millican, John Alley, Samuel Rogers, Elijah Stapp, Francis F. Wells, and Sam A. White. Its duties were "to use all possible exertions to obtain any intelligence which may have any bearing on the well being of Texas, and communicate the same to the political chief and inhabitants of the precinct."
A meeting at Mina on the same day declared "that we feel an entire confidence in the constitution and laws of our adopted country, and will at all times sustain the legal authorities in the exercise of their constitutional duties." The next day the committee of safety and correspondence, after approving the Columbia resolutions, issued an address to the ayuntamientos of the department of Brazos giving its views of the alarming situation. The citizens of Mina, it said :
"After the maturest deliberation came to the conclusion that there was certainly some reason to expect a movement of the government forces towards the colonies, and the greatest diffi- culty was to divine the precise object and intention of that advance. But they are aware that it would be the blindest credu- lity to believe, to its full extent, the idle exaggerations that have for some time past agitated the public mind. They forbear to express any opinion whatever as to the immediate cause that wrought the present excitement, but deplore the evils that may result from the schisms which have taken place in consequence ;
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they feel, and deeply feel, the necessity that there is for the exist- ence of some medium through which public opinion can be ascer- tained and wielded with effect against the irregularities of those whose disregard to the laws of the country has destroyed the mutual confidence as well as the mutual respect between them and their fellow-citizens of the Mexican republic, inasmuch as the misconduct of a few designing men is attributed to the whole community, and construed into disaffection to the general gov- ernment. They are by no means of opinion, while making their own feelings their standard, that the whole of Texas generally cherish a hostile disposition to Mexicans or to the Mexican gov- ernment when administered on its constitutional principles. They are voluntarily citizens of the same republic; have sworn to sup- port the same constitution, and are by inclination and interest, as well as the most solemn obligation, bound to cherish and sus- tain the liberal and free institutions of this republic."
To meet the situation the committee could think of "no better mode of meeting the exigencies of the times than by an assemblage of delegates from each municipality, at San Felipe, or some other central place, whose duty it shall be to act in council for the people, and in concert with the executive power still existing in Texas, in providing for the general welfare of a misrepresented but a deter- mined people." And the co-operation of the ayuntamientos was asked in bringing about such a meeting.
On July 7 a meeting at Gonzales was addressed by Mr. Edward Gritten, who declared that he was familiar with the purposes of the government in regard to Texas, and said that they were favorable. He earnestly recommended "quietude, obedience, and submission to the authorities of the nation," and after deliberate discussion the meeting adopted conservative resolutions avowing loyalty to the gov- ernment :
"1st. On motion of Mr. Mitchell it was resolved that we protest against the sale of 400 leagues of our lands, as an act of corruption in all parties concerned, and we will not support such men nor measures, but on the contrary aid the government in maintaining the integrity of the constitution and laws of the Mexican nation.
"2nd. On motion of Mr. Masson, it was resolved that we pro- test against those acts which tend to a resistance to the revenue laws of the government, and sincerely invite the supreme execu- tive to carry them into effect,-suggesting at the same time a modification of those laws, in order that the duties shall all be collected ; we believe reasonable duties received by collectors understanding both languages, without favour or collusive arrangement would be cheerfully submitted to by the merchants, -but in contrary case we pledge ourselves to aid the federal government in their collection. We further suggest, that a court with admiralty jurisdiction to hold its sessions in Texas would greatly facilitate the object of collecting those duties, while at
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the same time it would relieve Texas from the embarrassment of tedious foreign suits.
"3rd. On motion of Mr. John Fisher it was resolved that we protest against any provisional government or organization con- trary to the true intent and meaning of the constitution and laws tending to estrange the jurisdiction of Texas from that of Coahuila as established by the constitutional act, unless the fed- eral congress shall sanction the separation, and the loyalty and patriotism of the citizens of Texas shall challenge this benefit for us at their hands ; and every act and deed, tending to interrupt the harmony and good understanding existing between Texas and the federal government, deserve the marked disapprobation and contempt of every friend of constitutional order in the country.
"4th. On motion of E. Mitchell, Esq., it was resolved that we have full confidence in the favorable disposition of his excellency the president and the general congress towards Texas, and we believe that when the wants of Texas are fully made known to them they will be provided for.
"5th. On the suggestion of the chairman, it was resolved that the course pursued by the citizens of Texas when called on by the governor of the state to move against the federal troops, with offers of reward to those who should obey the order, in refusing to leave Texas to interfere in the quarrels of the republic, if duly considered, furnish conclusive proof of the loyalty of the inhabitants of Texas towards the nation, and their unwillingness to become embroiled with them."
A subsequent meeting of the ayuntamiento and citizens of Gon- zales on July 19 explained that these resolutions were based on a firm belief in "the good faith of the general government towards Texas, and its strict observance of the laws and constitution of the United Mexican States." So long as the actions of the government justified this faith in its integrity, the people of Gonzales would continue their "unqualified allegiance," as expressed in the resolutions, but "if it be discovered that the numerous reports are correct, that the govern- ment contemplates a formidable invasion of the rights and properties of the citizens of Texas, they hereby declare for themselves resistance to such measures a virtue." At the same time the ayuntamiento was authorized to organize the militia and prevent the approach of spies ; and it was agreed to send delegates to San Felipe on August 1 to confer with the political chief and delegates from other municipalities.
On July 11 the ayuntamiento of Columbia, of which Asa Brigham was alcalde and president and W. H. Sledge was secretary, appointed a committee of five to represent the municipality at a meeting which was to be held at San Felipe on the 14th. They were instructed to "Take such measures as to open a correspondence with the authorities (either civil or military) of the federal government of Mexico, particularly to the ayuntamiento of this department and political chiefs of other departments of Texas, and adopt such other measures as they may think best calculated to promote the
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welfare of Texas, always bearing in mind that we earnestly desire peace-they will further bear in mind that we are satisfied that the present commotion cannot be quieted, nor any lasting good obtained except by a commutation of all the people of Texas in general council, which they will earnestly endeavor to bring about with the utmost expedition ; also that we deem it necessary that the most prompt steps be taken to procure peace provided it can be obtained. They will correspond with this body from time to time as they may think necessary-and if practicable a major- ity of their number will remain in the capital of this department until some definite plan is adopted."
The San Felipe meeting of the 14th, after calling Major Jesse Bartlett to the chair and choosing Thomas R. Jackson, secretary, appointed a committee of five to draft resolutions. This committee consisted of Mar- tin Allen, J. Urban, John Rice Jones, Joshua Fletcher, and C. B. Stewart ; and its resolutions, which were in a conservative tone, were unanimously adopted :
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"1. Resolved, that this meeting view with the deepest regret the excitement which it is believed has been percipitately produced in these colonies, and that the meeting disapprobates all hostile proceed- ings which may have been made for offensive operations against the government.
"2. Resolved, that this meeting earnestly desire peace and tran- quility, and that it recommend to the people a quiet submission to the constitution, laws, and proper authorities of the country.
"3. Resolved, that owing to the alarming situation of the col- onies, it is necessary that the colonists organize and be prepared for defensive operations.
"4. Resolved, that this meeting recommend unanimity and con- cert of action to their fellow-citizens on this highly important occasion.
"5. Resolved, that the affairs of Texas have approached a crisis which requires a consultation of all her citizens in their representa- tive capacity and that we therefore recommend a meeting of the same in general council.
"6. Resolved, that a committee of three be elected to confer with the committee from Columbia and other committees with full power to call a meeting of all the citizens of Texas in their repre- sentative capacity in general council, and to adopt such other meas- ures as they deem best calculated to promote the general interest of Texas.
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