568
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
expuesto en los montes a In inclemencia de la estacion y a los peligros de indios brabos y fieros, y desde entonces he sentido todos las mortificaciones, malogramientos y disgustos concometantes insepa- rables y ciertos a los que tengan la desgracia de hallarse en la clase dependientes al Gob. 0 en esta Corte- ESTEVAN F. AUSTIN
•AUSTIN TO JUNTA lNSTITUYENTE
REFLECTIONS ADDRESSED TO THF. JUNTA INSTITUYENTE 1 The objects of the war which has raged within the limits of this extended Empire, since the ever memorable and glorious cry which was raised in Dolores,2 in favor of the rights of Man, and the inde- pendence of Anahuac, has undoubtedly been the happiness of U1e Mexican people. Unfortunately, the arbitrary power of Spain, a power founded in its origin in usurpation dessolation and blood, and continued by injustice and oppression, to [by] intrigue and corrup- tion, prolonged the struggle for independence untill the Hero of Iguala I devised a plan, which uniting all interests and a.11 parties effected the long desired emancipation in a few months. All that then remained -to complete the happiness of the Mexi- :an people, was the establishment of a system of Government, which ;vould efl:'ectually secure to them and their p0sterity, the rich reward of so many years of toil, so many sacrifices and the . . . [A line is lost here.] Although the Empire has been absolutely independent for t"wo years, this great and paramount object of all their labours remains yet uncompleted. This delay in the organization and consolidation of the Government, if unavoidable is one of the greatest misfortunes that could have befallen the nation; short of the total loss of its in- dependence; and if it has been produced by intrigue, corruption, force, ambition, or any other means tending to blind the people, or usurp their rights for the purpose of individual agrandisement and the establishment of despotic power; it is a crime which merits the execra- tion of every honest man, and the vengence of the injured and insulted nation. The most pernicious concequences have already resulted from this illtimed procrastination the nation has even approximated to the very brink of ruin. civil war threatens us with all its horrors; it is even proclaimed, and unless speedily checked, may spread like a desolating . . [A line is lost here.] to a sta.:te of ruin and • Whether this document, In translation, wae ever presented to the .Junta Is not known. More probably Austin merely gave It to some member of the Junta 'l\·lth whom he was on confidential terms. • • The declaration ot revolution by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, September 16, 1810. • The Emperor, Iturbide.
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