USA > Texas > The history of the republic of Texas, from the discovery of the country to the present time; and the cause of her separation from the republic of Mexico > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
75
ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE.
own citizens, while they left those of Texas more than free to the colonists, and had just called upon them in good faith to add their strength to that constitutional party, which, by so doing, would finally prevail, and which did prevail ?" The war party, however, though few in number, "were talented and systematised : closely connected and indefatigable in their endeavours to infuse suspicions against the general government, and commit their country without the possibility of a recall."
To retard the awful tendency of the false re- presentation and rebellious spirit of these dema- gogues, the grand central committee of Texas, which was formed in November, 1834, and met at Columbia expressly for that purpose, issued an address, boldly denying all the charges brought against the Mexican Government, as may be seen from the following extracts :-
" Allow us to ask you, as men, as husbands, as fathers, if you are prepared heedlessly to rush forward in a cause, the termina- tion of which may involve your country of adoption in all the horrors of civil war? Are you prepared to plunge yourselves and your country into revolution, imbrue your hands in the blood of your brethren, and finally to be expelled from the land, to which we are so much attached by the strongest of ties ? If you ate, the plan suggested, and we have too much reason to frar, our worst anticipations will be realized !
" But from the information which we have, and which can be relied upon with confidence, we assure you that the feelings of the federal government, particularly those of the president, are of the most favourable character towards Texas. We are assured of this fact by our representative, Colonel Austin, and
------
76
ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE.
the advice which he most earnestly presses upon us, is to be peaceful and quiet, and to adopt as our motto, 'The Constitution and Laws, State and Federal.'
" From the state government, too, we have surely received favours the most liberal, and boons the most free ; in fact, what has been for our particular benefit, which we have asked, and they have not granted, which is in their power to give ? It has established the trial by jury ; it has organised a court especially for Texas, and if it does not answer the desired end, and make us contented, it is not the fault of the legislature.
"We ask you again, in the spirit of candour, has the govern- ment ever asked any thing unreasonable of Texas ? If she has, we must, before God and our country, say, we know it not. Again, for your experimental knowledge shall bear us out, has she ever burdened you with taxes, or the performance of arduous, expensive, or perilous duties ? Nay, has Texas ever borne any part of the expenses of sustaining the government, that protects her citizens, their lives, their liberty, and their property, either in legislation or in war ?
" When have the people of Texas called upon the govern- ment for any law to their advantage, or for the repeal of any law by which they were aggrieved, and what their requests have been complied with ?"
In the second paragraph of the address from which these extracts are taken, Colonel Austin is mentioned as the representative of the general committee; that would lead one almost to believe that the framers of the address were merely lend- ing themselves to Austin's plans of escape from the dungeons of a prison ; however, it set forth the truth in such glaring colours, that it could not fail to restore peace to the colony, which it did for a short time; but it did not do away with the
STATE LEGISLATURE OF COAHUILA AND TEXAS. 77
land-jobbing of that period, which was the ground- work of all the troubles that befel the colonists, and is thus described by Mr. Edwards :-
" A committee of land speculators, whose plans were well laid, and whose funds were completely organised, presented themselves before this-by the people of Texas' never-to-be-forgotten legis- Jature-which immediately passed a decree to sell the vacant lands of Texas, and otherwise arranged it to be done as soon as bidders should present themselves.
"Of course they were there -- and purchased this already-sur- veyed land, of 411 leagues, for 30,000 dollars in hand, to the government, or 72 dollars, 99 cents per league. But we shall allow their travelling expenses in conjunction with those by- bribes, to such members of the legislature as were in partnership with them, to raise the whole amount expended in this nefarious transaction, to 40,000 dollars, or 96 dollars 35 cents per league ; by bringing this exorbitant price within the grasp of every man's mind, allow me to say two cents and three-fourths mills per English acre."
Thus " the house," (i. e. the state legislature of Coahuila and Texas,) continues Mr. Edwards, "went on for a time gloriously ; decree after de- cree was passed and signed by a corrupt governor" (Viesca); and thus, in all probability, would that honourable body have continued up to this day ; but while this was going on in Texas (1834) a revolt occurred in Zacatecas, under Garcia, in the month of April, who had prepared a large militia force, formidable only in point of numbers and appearance, to support the independence of that state, and his pretensions to the re-establishment
78
DEFEAT OF GARCIA.
of the federal system in defiance of the majority of the nation.
To quell this insurrection Santa Anna collected a considerable body of troops, mostly regulars, and quitted the capital to command them in person, leaving the executive provisionally to Barragan, as vice-president.
Whilst on the march towards Zacatecas, Santa Anna despatched orders to General Cos, the military commandant of Coahuila and Texas, to require the immediate dissolution of the state legislature at Monclova, in obedience to the decrees of the sovereign general congress; and in case of refusal, to dissolve it by force.
Santa Anna then attacked Garcia, and having succeeded in putting him and his followers to flight, a governor for the department of Zacatecas was appointed by him provisionally. Viesca, the go- vernor of the state of Coahuila and Texas, on hearing of the defeat of Garcia, and dreading the chastisement he so richly deserved for his fraudu- lent proceedings, called on each department of Texas to supply one hundred men for the ostensi- ble purpose of protecting the colonists from the depredations of the Indians, but which were really meant to oppose the centralists. General Cos, who had not a sufficient force to justify his- attempting to enforce obedience to the decree for the dissolution of the unconstitutional acting legislature, therefore marched to Saltillo, where
-
79
ARREST OF VIESCA.
the people were all in favour of Santa Anna's centralisation. Here Cos received the necessary reinforcement, and hastened back to his former position, Monclova; but Viesca no sooner heard of his approach than he packed up the archives of. the state, with which he was about to abscond to Texas, as the colonists had previously pledged themselves to protect him; however, before he reached his Anglo-American partisans, he was arrested, and committed to gaol. This the "war party" deemed a flagrant outrage, and Viesca's rescue was therefore resolved upon, while Musquiz was appointed to fill the office of governor pro tem.
Viesca was arrested on the 4th of June, and a few days after was released by the colonists, who had again taken up arms at Nagodoches, where they succeeded, as also at Anahuac, in disarming the Mexican troops, and commenced imprisoning the collectors of the custom-house, whom they falsely accused of exacting money, (meaning the established import duties,) not only from strangers, but also from the colonists.
Immediately after the defeat of Garcia, Santa Anna returned to the city of Mexico in this month (June). Congress having prepared the central con- stitution, it received the sanction of Santa Anna, was duly proclaimed, and well received by all the departments (the contending parties being now per- fectly tranquillised through the able and energetic measures of that extraordinary man, Santa Anna,
-
.
80
PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL COS.
who was at once the military leader and universe and patriotic pacificator of his country) excerc Texas, which was in a state of open rebellion, the showing not only the necessity of consolidating the executive power of the nation, but requiring a large military force to keep the colonists in subjection.
In July a large body of troops was despatched :> Texas, under Don Domingo de Ugartechea, priz- cipal commandant of Coahuila and Texas. His entry into Texas was prefaced by the following official proclamation of General Cos :-
"THE BRIGADIER-GENERAL MARTIN PERFECTO DE COS,
"Commanding-General and Inspector of the Eastern Interior States.
" In the name of the President of the Republic, I make it knovz to all and every one of the inhabitants of the three departments of Texas, that whenever, under any pretext whatever, or throusi a badly conceived zeal in favour of the individuals who har: acted as authorities in the State, and have been deposed by :: : resolution of the sovereign general Congress, any should atterrir to disturb the public peace, that the inevitable consequences i the war will bear upon them and their property, inasmuch as they do not wish to improve the advantages afforded then ty ther situation, which places them beyond the uncertainties that have agitated the people of the centre of the Republic.
" If the Mexican government has cheerfully lavished upon the new settlers all its worthiness of regard, it will likewise know boy to repress, with strong arm, all those who, forgetting their duses to the nation which has adopted them as her children. are post- ing forward with a desire to live at their own option, without ary subjection to the laws. Wishing, therefore, to avoid the conft-
S1
DECLARATION OF THE PEACE PARTY IN TEXAS.
sion which would result from the excitement of some bad citizens, I make the present declaration, with the determination of carry- ing it into effect
" MARTIN PERFECTO DE COS. " Matamoros, July 5th, 1835."
This proclamation was quickly responded to by a declaration from the "peace party" in Texas ; and I give the following extracts from this document, as published by an able and modern authority :-
" We, the representatives of the people, duly elected and appointed by them, to learn, try, weigh, and resolve upon the cause and effect, which have produced evils unbearable, in the breast of every citizen who wishes his own welfare and his country's to be inseparable.
" Our constituents, learning that the Congress of the state * had, during its session of this present year, acted improperly-con- trary to the rights of states, and in direct opposition to the consti- tution of the Mexican confederation-being corrupted from the line of legislative duties, by the undue influence of a few foreigners and others, they became amenable to the laws made and provided .- Therefore, were they treated by the government of the nation according to their deserts.
" Those who had escaped, for the time being, just correction and punishment-threw themselves into the midst of our tranquil community; disorganized the system, by overthrowing confidence and hope-like the scorching blast of the Sirrocco winds, carrying destruction, grief and dismay, into the peaceful dwellings of every loyal, virtuous, and contented family. If checked in their de- signs of compromising the people, or detected in their falsehoods
' Meaning the state of Coahuila and Texas.
G
82
DECLARATION OF THE PEACE PARTY IN TEXAS.
resorted to in order to cover the guilt of their proceedings-perse- verance was their motto, and fertility of invention their cha- racteristic; so that by the flexible nature of their sinuosity, they were enabled to give to the country of Texas an unparalleled shock throughout all its members.
"To give this shock consistency and name, the governor called upon each department of the state for one hundred men, armed and equipped, to sustain him and a cile congress, that have bar- tered our public lands for a mere song-but he found, that in calling upon us, ' he had reckoned without his host.' It was too much for us to risk (if it was not too much for him to ask) our blood, to sustain those who had wantonly squandered our lands. It will be recollected, that the advocates of a state government have even contended that the public lands would sustain, for the first ten years, the expenses of a state government. What will be our situation when deprived of this land ? There will be found but one set of men in all Texas who would support such mea- sures, and those are the very men who purchased the land.
" The law of the 14th of March past is looked upon by the people with horror and indignation ; it is looked upon as the death-blow to this rising country. In violation of the general constitution and laws of the nation-in violation of good faith, and the most sacred guarantees -- Congress has trampled upon the rights of the people and the government, in selling four hundred and eleven leagues of land at private sale, and at a shameful sa- crifice, thereby creating a monopoly-thereby entirely ruining the future prospects of our country, contrary to law, and contrary to the true interests of every citizen in Texas ! Therefore --
"Resolved, -- That we protest against the late sale of our lands in the late congress of Coahuila and Texas, and view it as an act of corruption in all parties concerned ; and that we will not sustain such men and measures-but, on the contrary, aid the . general government in maintaining the integrity of the constitu- tion and laws of the Mexican nation.
" Resolved,-That we recommend and promote by every means, a general union of sentiment among ourselves, moderation,
2
2
S3
DECLARATION OF THE PEACE PARTY INTEXAS.
organization, and a strict adherence to the laws and constitution of the land ; meanwhile protesting against the conduct and acts of any set of individuals (less than a majority) calculated to involve the citizens of Texas in a conflict with the federal government.
" Resolved, -- That we shall, if required, assist the government of our country against those persons who will not obey the revenue laws of Mexico, and that we will particularly assist in bringing to condign punishment those individuals who have, with malice afore-thought and rebellious intentions, insulted the national flag of the confederation at Anahuac, denouncing said individuals or persons as foreigners, and disclaiming all participation in their acts whatsoever.
" Resolved,-That we sincerely invite the supreme executive to carry the revenue laws into effect, suggesting at the same time a modification of these laws, in order that the duties shall all be collected. We believe that reasonable duties, collected by col- lectors understanding both languages, without favour or collusive management, would be cheerfully submitted to by the merchants ; but, in a contrary case, we pledge ourselves to aid the federal authorities in their collections.
"Resolved,-That we furthermore suggest to our federal executive, that a court of admiralty jurisdiction, to hold its sit- tings in Texas, would greatly facilitate the object of collecting those duties; while, at the same time, it would relieve Texas from the embarrassment of tedious foreign suits.
" Resolved, -- That we wish to be considered as the faithful and legal citizens of Mexico, and that we are disposed and desirous to discharge our duties as such ; and that it is our wish and interest to remain attached to the federal compact : humbly sustaining our position until the federal congress shall admit us to the rights of a separate state -or till the loyalty and patriotism of the inhabitants of Texas shall challenge this comfort at their hands.
" Resolved,-That every act or deed, tending to interrupt the harmony and good understanding of the federal government and G 2
84
PROCLAMATION OF THE MEXICAN CHIEFS.
Texas, by whomsoever made, deserves the marked disapprobation and contempt of every friend of good order and constitutional regularity in the country-therefore, we pledge ourselves, our property, our honour, and our lives, to abide by and fulfil, as becomes the determined resolves of freemen, all and every duty required of them as such, by their own free will and. consent ! "Signed, &c."
This declaration, which speaks so loudly of the loyalty of its framers towards the federal govern- ment, it should be remarked, was passed by the representatives of the people, when it was notori- ously known, throughout the country, that federal- ism was done away with and centralism established, de facto, many months before the meeting of these representatives.
General Ugartechea, who had by this time taken up his quarters at San Antonio de Bejar, on hearing of what was going forward, and, as if doubtful of the sincerity of the representatives of the people, issued the following proclamation :--
" Principal Commandancy of Coahuila and Texas,
" Charged by the Commandant-General with the preservation of the state of public tranquillity, in fulfilment of my duty, I can do no less than address you, as interested in so important an object, upon which depends the happiness of the inhabitants of the department, in order that you may make every effort for dis- sipating the alarms occasioned by false information, communi- cated by unquiet and revolutionary characters, who, resentful at not being able to carry into effect their depraved intentions of dilapidating the lands of Texas, wish to make the inhabitants believe the Supreme Government is going to send forces to despoi! proprietors of the possessions which they have acquired by a
S5
PROCLAMATION OF THE MEXICAN CHIEFS.
tille, without any other object on the part of those perverse men than to prosper by means of a revolution.
" In order, therefore, that you may succeed in tranquillizing the mind, and dissipating the falsehoods which have been spread for the purpose of compromising the colonists, you can show them this communication, and also manifest to them that they have nothing to fear from the introduction of troops, as this measure would have no other object than that of placing them as detach- ments at the ports, to prevent the smuggling trade-which is carried ou with impunity by adventurers-and likewise to prevent the incursions of the Indians, who, when they are not chastised, become every day more insolent, and too frequently commit hostilities.
" Nor have we ever thought of trampling upon the rights law- fully acquired by the colonists, who ought not to doubt that the Supreme Government will attend to their representations; and will, at the same time, omit no means of accomplishing the grand object of the welfare of all and each one of the inhabitants of that interesting part of the republic.
" At the same time I do no less than expect, that you will, by virtue of your office, prevent the enemies of order from circu- lasting reports, forged for the purpose of compromising the incau- tiou. : and if there be any person or persons in the department, where minds of pernicious counsel are occupied in disturbing tranquillity, and whose actions are conducted to the injury of their country, you will forthwith proceed to restrain and correct, by the power which your office creates ; bringing them to just punishment, according to the constitution and laws of your country. On this occasion I have to offer you the protestations of my particular consideration and regard. God and Liberty.
" DOMINGO DE UGARTECHEA. " Bezar, July 15th, 1835."
This proclamation of the Mexican general, and
ء
86
GENERAL COS JOINS UGARTECHEA.
" the declaration of the representatives of the peo- ple," were promulgated on the same day, and thus the former served at once to test the sincerity of the latter, which the reader will, ere long, be fully able to appreciate.
From the date of Ugartechea's proclamation nothing of importance transpired until about the middle of the ensuing month, when the Mexican authorities ordered the arrest of Zavala, a Mexican, who had been duly charged with treason. His arrest, however, was resisted by the colonists; con- sequently orders were immediately forwarded to General Cos to march into Texas, to support Ugar- techea. General Cos, who was stationed at Mata- moros, accordingly embarked for Texas with 400 men, and landed at Copano early in the month of September, when " every voice," says Mrs. Holley, " was raised, without hesitation, for war;" all, for- sooth, because the Mexican authorities, in the dis- charge of their duty, ordered a renegade Mexican citizen to be arrested on a charge of treason against the republic of Mexico; but the fact is, that the long-looked-for moment had arrived at last. Ge- neral Austin, (late Colonel Austin,) who made his escape from prison in the month of July, had now reached Texas, and instantly became the rallying- point of the colonists. On the 23rd of September the general put himself at the head of 700 Texans, at Brazoria, and marched immediately to attack Ugartechea at San Antonio, without
S7
THE TEXANS ACT ON THE OFFENSIVE.
waiting to know the result of the sitting of " the general consultation of all Texas," which had been publicly called for by " the Committee of Safety" some time before, and which had been elected by the colonists previous to Austin's re-ap- pearance in Texas. All, however, being now ready on the part of the rebels-the Mexican flag having been insulted -- every entreaty being totally disre- garded-every contract between the Mexican na- tion and the colonists being broken, war was in- cvitable ; Austin therefore raised the war-whoop. " Committed-once more committed-my friends," he cried, " in the sight of Heaven and men ! Down with those rag-poles, more like scarecrows in a po- tato-patch, than flags of honourable resistance- have you forgotten the Fredonian fir-pole of Na- cogdoches, which was danced round by the face- tious liberty-men, until its bark flew off, and with the last peeling they had to fly themselves ?"
Notwithstanding all this bravado, the Texans waited for something like " a substantial excuse " for their taking up arms before they attempted to act on the offensive, and this excuse was soon found.
On the 3rd of October, in this year, the Mexican government issued a proclamation, containing a decree of the general congress for effecting certain changes as corollaries, to the adoption of the central system, as follows :
88
CENTRALISM CONFIRMED BY PROCLAMATION.
" OFFICE OF THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE, INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
" His Excellency the President pro tem. of the Mexican United States, to the Inhabitants of the Republic. Know ye, that the General Congress has decreed the following :
" ART. 1. The present Governors of the States shall continue, notwithstanding the time fixed by the Constitution may have expired, but shall be dependent for their continuance in the exer- cise of their attributes upon the supreme government of the nation.
"ART. 2. The Legislatures shall immediately cease to exercise their legislative functions; but before dissolving (and those which may be in recess meeting for the purpose) they shall appoint a department council, composed for the present of five individuals, chosen either within or without their own body, to act as a coun- cil to the governor ; and in case of a vacancy in that office, they shall propose to the Supreme General Government three persons, possessing the qualifications hitherto required ; and until an ap- pointment be made, the gubernatorial powers shall be exercised by the first on the list, who is not an ecclesiastic.
"ART. 3. In those states where the Legislature cannot be as- sembled within eight days, the ayuntamiento * of the capital shall act in its place, only for the purpose of clecting the five indivi- duals of the department council.
" ART. 4. All the judges and tribunals of the states, and the administration of justice, shall continue as hitherto, until the organic law relative to this branch be formed. The responsi- bilities of the functionaries which could only be investigated before Congress, shall be referred to and concluded before the supreme court of the nation.
* The ayuntamientos are the municipal bodies, or corporations of cities, and are similar to the mayor and council, or corporations of the cities in the United States.
89
THIE TEXANS COMMENCE HOSTILITIES.
" ART. 5. All the subaltern officers of the state shall also con- tinute for the present, (the places which are vacant, or which may be vacated, not to be filled,) but they, as well as the offices, revenues and branches under their charge, remain subject to, and at the disposal of, the Supreme Government of the nation, by means of their respective governors.
" City of Mexico, October 3, 1835.
" MIGUEL BARRAGAN, President pro tem.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.