Biv 27 1835 to Jan 13 1835 - PTR, Vol. 3

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have the right to protest & do any thing else as they think proper against the over throw of Lhe Constitution I will cort the las.5 close of the Constitution "The Articles of Lhis Constitution and Lhe Constitutional Act, which establishes the Liberty and independence of Lhe Mexican Nation, its Religion, form of Government, Liberty of the press, and division of the Supreme Powers of the Federation, and of Lhe Slates, can never be reformed." Notwithstanding, Lhe above decliration of the Constitution the lass Congress declared an acl, that they had the right of ollering the Constitution and actualy pas.5ed a law vesting in Santa Anna all power. In fact they have !aide a side Lhe Peoples Constitution and now Santa Anna, the Dictators, his will is the law. By Lhose whom I shall hereafter designate the submis.5ive men of Texas who contend Lhal Texas has no voyce in protesting against the unlawful distruction of the Constitution, I ask, if she has not a right to protest, who has-The Constitution garinlees to each state a form of a state Government-lo regulate their own internal affairs as thal instrimenl is now no more it !eves the People of Texas free to act for themselves. The compact betwen the People the Govt. being distroyed and t:rampeled on by the Usurper, they have unquestionably, as a sivilized community a right of selecting their own mode of action The Congress and Lhe President are nothing more than the agents of Lhe People and the extent of their powers to Legislate is defined by the Constitution. It is true, in the 165th. [?] close of the Constitution: it says: "Congress a lone can resolve the doubt, which may occur about the meaning or understanding of the Articles of this Constitution and of the Constitutional act." But the last close 171 shews evidently what they cou 'cl not do. "The Supreme powers of the Federation, and of Lhe States, can never be refromed" This last close then; prove that their ware fundirnental bases that Congress cou'd nol be a judge of, alter, resolves doubts or to do any thing like destroy it except with the concenl of the people and as Texas is a conlcgrial parl she has a lawfull righl to protest to call on her Agenls to replace the agreement made between them. And if they will nol-Texas has a lawful! right-lo with draw from the community of Lhc Stales quietly and peaceably. And: if the Usurper dares lo send troops here without the consent of Texas it wou'd he a declaration of War. Texas in that case certainly wou'd

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