962
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
State Govt A number of the others were in favor of saying to the Legislature of Coahuila and Texas, that if the seat of Govt. was not removed to this place, Texas would then separate- This meeting adjourned after 12 oclock at night, to meet the next evening At the meeting on the fifth the only question to be decided was the manner of memorializing the state Govt for a removal of the seat of Govt, as had been agreed to on the 4th the late law of the state legis- lature regulating the "right of petitioning " was examined, and construed to mean that neither the Ayuntamiento nor the citizens in mass could petition, and that the memorial must only be signed by three persons at most in the name of the people This construc- tion I contended was erroneous The law says that, none but the supreme powers of the state can represent the will of the people, and prohibits corporations or public meetings, or individuals from taking it upon themselves to say what is the will of the people etc (See the law in alcalde records) The true meaning of this is, as I think, that no corporation or persons can petition in the name of the people, without first consulting them, by calling them together How- ever it was decided that the law prohibited the Ayto from petition- ing or from calling the people together to petition, and that only three persons could petition The next question was, who would do it1 Only one man (Balmac~da) was willing to sign as one of the three, so that the meeting broke up without doing anything or coming to any definitive conclusion I believe that if the state Govt is granted the people here will be well satisfied, but I do not believe they will take any part whatever in favor or against the measure. I consid- ered it my duty to use every exertion to procure their co-operation, and have done so. The most that can be expected is, that they will not oppose it The fact is, that the movement last summer against this place, from the colony has produced a much deeper impression than I was aware of untill now it has neutralized many who before that were openly warm friends and it bas made some decided enemies to the colonists Don Erasmo Seguin cannot go on the mission, I a.m convinced that no unfriendly feelings deter him-but his .private affairs will not permit his leaving home. Nothing was done, of course, as to the appointment of another to go in his place. The reports about new disturbances in the interior, and that Gen 1 Filisola had returned with the troops that were ordered to Texas, are all incorrect and unfounded The Gen 1 arrived at Mata- moras on the 24th ult 0 as we learn by letters recd. here last nigh~. Santa Anna was elected president and Gomez Farias vice pres1• dent by large majorities and they have entered upon their respective offices All is quiet, so far as I can judge from Genl Filisola's com-
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