1544
Al\IBRICAN IDSTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
stood, will be satisfactory to all. It was signed on the part of the Indians by Doctor Hunter and Richard Fields as the representa- tives of twenty three nations and by several other chiefs for their particular tribes. Thus, fellow citizens! have we explained the causes and motives, that have influenced us to rally around the standard of liberty and Independence, as well as the attitude, in which we now stand. We have not yet made a formal Declara.tion of our Independence, and are only waiting for you to participate with us in this important and glorious cause. • We propose, that you and the people of every district in this province should each .appoint two Delegates to meet at this place on the first .Monday in February next, to draw up a Declaration of Independence, and to organize a Government, founded upon the fundamental principles of the unalienable rights of man. ,,ve make this proposal under the most implicit confidence, that you feel as we c.lo, and that you are no longer willing to risk your properties, ?OUr liberties and your lives under the tyrannic sway of a .Military Des- potism. Fellow citizens! '7\'e need not here recapitulate the lawless and repeated outrages, that too many of our citizens have had to endure. We were enticed from our native country under the promise of im- portant advantages to our families, and by a guarantee of our rights and liberties. vVe have been basely deceived ·in all these promises, and we know not now, that we have a valid title to one foot of land in the province of Texas. Lands have been granted and taken away at the mere will and pleasure of a corrupt and prejudiced Governor without any regard to the forms of justice or the rights of the Judicial Department of this Government. Our slaves have been attempted to be taken from us, and even the most favorable issue of that subject, as is now anticipated, would be the ruin of our country and of our every hope and prospect in it.-Military despotism has been substituted for that liberty which was promised as our shield and protection. Our citizens have without notice of a charge against them, been seized by a brutal soldiery, bound hand and foot and dragged into exile or incarcerated in their dungeons at the will of a petty tyrant, and all these things sanctioned by the Government under which we live. Great Goel! Can you a.ny longer hesitate, fellow citizens! what to do? Did our fathers, who ure now no more, hesitate, what to do, when they were oppressed? No, their blood ran in willing torrents upon the altar of liberty, when their rights were invaded. Shall their sons do less? Forbid it Allmighty God! I! ,V11a.t have we to fear in such a contest? What have we to hope from such a corrupt arid perfidious Government as
Powered by FlippingBook