2'0!)
PAPERS OF Mrn,\BE,\U BuoNAPAR.TE LAMAR
admit of any other reforms of the constitution than such as are subjected to the ccnrse which it require~," and in regard to the disbanding of the Civic l\:lilitia, .the rnme leg-islature declares- The Civic Militia in all the republic are· reduced or more properly speaking, the only bulwark of Liberty, and the rights of the community are destroyed. The General Gov<'rnment which should pnt its attention to the revoluticns of the South, prepares an expedition of troops against a pacific state, such as is Zacatecas, that has given so many days of Glory to the Nation, by brideling arbitrary power and abuses. -The commander General of the Internal States of the East, inter- vening in the Interior administration of the State of Coahuila and Texas, in the most scandalous manner even to the dictating of orders to prevent Laws, made by the Legislature, being complied with, moving the troops from the places which they guard on the frontier, and where they a·re necessary to protect the inhabitants from the barbarous Indians, and is bringing them towards this capital in order without doubt to suppre$s the supreme authorities. 'l'he General Government to whom this body has applied to curtail these abuses, and advances ·of the Military authority, preserve ~ profound silence in this delicate affair, so that every, thing indicates the dangerous road we are traveling in, and which, shou}d there not be every degree, of reflection, prudenee, and mildness of pr-0cedure, we shall again be involved in all the disasters of 'a civil war and the misfortunes consequent upon it even more afflicting and terrifying, than any which· have preceded.'' To compel obedience and reduce these states to submission, Santa Anna on the 18th day of April last marched from the city of Mexico at the head ~f. six thou.sand men. I-iis first attack was on the gallant, patriotic and Republican state of Zaccatec·as whose citizens be defeated in battle, and making prisoner . the Governor, and dispersing the -congress, garrisons the whole country with strong garrisons; the same fate is nearly sustained by Durango, and from being a free and sovereign state, she is reduced under the power of the Dictator to a military garrison. While this state of things were go1ng on in Zaca- tccas and Durango, General Cos was ordered to put down the authori- ties of Coahuila ;md Texas. The governor sent an otder to all the Departments of the state for the l\1ilitia to turn out to sustain the state authorities, but not receiving sufficient aid, he attempted to escape with the public archives to Texas, in order there to re-establish the government and where he expected to be sustained by a people who have ever been free and who be con 1 6-dently expected would rally to sustain the constitution they had sworn to support, and the public officers they had elected. In. his flight however he was arested by the military under the order of General Cos, and· has been sent a prisoner to Monterray. Not only has he been arrested but also some of ,th[e] members of congress; the others harv]ing fled for safety to the mountain[s.] The militia of Ocahuila have been [dis-] banded and have surrendered up th[eir] arms to the Government and that whole country is now a military garrison. All the states have suecu[mbe)d to the power of the (l\1i1i]tary [and] as Texas is the only spot unconquered, Santa Ana is marching his troops here 14-Llbrary.
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