Mcxica11s. This army determined upon the conquest of Mexico, and ruulcd and cul Lo pieces 3,000 men near San Antonio. A rcinforccmenl of 4,000 Mexicans assaulted Bexar in the absence of the American generals; but the lroops resolved lo acl themselves, and defeated Lhe assailants wilh Lhc loss of only three men. In 1812, General Toledo, who had rcvolled from Lhc Spanish Guvernmcnl, look command of San Antonio, and, with Ross's force of 400 and 300 Indians, roulcd anolhcr Mexican army of 4,000 men. These cvcnls led lo the general revolution which separated Mexico from Spain; and ever since Lhen, whenever the Texans have been engaged, eilhcr wilh the l\lexicans to establish a republic, or againsl Lhem lo defend il, they have almosl invariably prevailed. Nolwilhslanding all Lhese examples of success, and the improved condition of Texas, which seem lo justify her declara• Lion of ability lo establish and maintain her independence, Lhcre are many circumslances which, in the mind of an impartial observer, would authorize Lhc suspension of that belief unlil after Lhc issue of Lhe next campaign. The independence of a nation may be considered, 1st in relation Lo her ability lo defend herself againsl the Governmcnl from which she has withdrawn; 2dly, in regard to the pcrformancc of those obligalions, which as a separalenalion, she has since undertaken; 3dly, wilh respecl to her means of complying with such parls of Lrcalies made by Lhc molhcr country with foreign powers, as would be sought Lo be enforced against her; and, 4thly, as Lo her ability to defend herself againsl such demands, upon Lhc plea that a scparalesovereignly repudiates all liability not under• laken by Lhc Stale in its independent character. The firsl and fourlh views embrace Lhe physical or military condition of the cuunlry, and the second and Lhird only the civil obligalions. If we judge Lhe prospective affairs of Texas by those that have already occurcd, and can count upon a continuance of the sympathi1~s and migration of her brethren from Lhe United Stales of Lhe norlh, she will accomplish the first category of those inquiries, and be ahlc lo dcfond herself against any farther invasion by Mexico. She will escape Lhc penalty of the 4th condition, l.wcause none of the lrt~ali1·s with Mexico with ford~n pow,~~
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