years, without enjoying the rights of trial, agreeable lo law. Your constilulional executive has been deposed by the bayonets of a mercenary soldiery while your Stale Congress has been dissolved by violence, and ils members, either fled, or were arrested by the military force of lhe country. The federation has been dissolved, the Constilulion declared al an end, and centralism has been established. Amidst all these trying visissiludes, you remained loyal lo the duly of citizens, with a hope that liberty would not perish in lhe Republic of Mexico. But while you were fondly cherishing this hope, the Dictator required the surrender of the arms of the civic militia, that he might be enabled to establish upon the ruins of the constitution, a system of policy which would forever enslave the people of Mexico. Zacalecas, unwilling to yield her sovereign rights to the demand which struck at the root of all liberty, refused to disarm her citizens of her private arms. Ill fated slate! her powers as well as her wealth aroused the ambition of Santa Anna, and excited his cupidity. Her citizens became the first victims of his cruelly, while her wealth was sacrificed in payment for the butchery of her citizens. The success of the usurper determined him in exacting from the people of Texas, submission to the central form of government; and lo enforce his plan of despotism, he dispatched a military force to invade the colonies and exact the arms of the inhabitants. The citizens refused the demand, and the invading force was increased. The question then was, shall we resist the oppression and live free, or violate our oaths, and bear a despot's stripes? The citizens of Texas rallied to the defense of their constitutional rights. They have met four to one, and, by their chivalry and courage, they have vanquished the enemy, with a gallantry and spirit which is characteristic of the justice of our cause. The army of the people is now before Bejar, besieging the central army within its walls. Though called together at a moment, the citizens of Texas, unprovided as they were in the necessary munitions of war and supplies for an army, have maintained a siege of months. Always patient and untiring in their patriotism and zeal, in the cause of liberty, they have borne every vicissitude of season and every incident of the soldier, with a contempt of peril which reflects immortal honors on the members of the army of the people.
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