account of the splendid triumph of the principles of the Constitution over those of tyranny and dcpotism: you have nobly established in this, the country of your adoption, the principles of your patriot fathers of 1776, and have thus far observed your obligations to support the republican federative government of Mexico. Your situation at this moment is peculiarly interesting to the world: all admire your valor; all liberalists coincide with you in the correctness of the principles you have avowed; and illumina- tions in hamlet and house testify the joy experienced by your success. Your future course is now the object of their attention; and they attentively watch your movements for the purpose of determining whether or not you have been governed by the selfish desire of promoting your own individual views, and robbing Mexico of her lands; or been influenced by the high, and laudable, and patriotic feelings, inducing a peril of life and property in defence of liberty and the Constitution of 1824. Up to this period you have avowed the determination of adhering to the republican principles of the Constitution, under the tri-coloured flag of republican Mexico you fought the battles of Texas, and amid the shouts of "Liberty and the Constitution," victoriously you planted it on the battlements of San Antonio. In the hour of your danger, and during the uncertain issue of the contest, you appealed to the liberals of Mexico. You avowed as your creed, opposition to the central plan of government, but a faithful observance of your oaths to support the republican federative system. Will you, fellow citizen, redeem that pledge? Will you still adhere to your oaths? will you aid and sustain the liberals of the Interior, who, influenced by your appeals and by your gallant bearing, have also staked life and property in support of liberty, and who look imploringly and confidingly to you to sustain them in this the hour of trouble and need? Had the question been addressed lo Washington and Hancock and Adams-to Patrick Henry, Jefferson and Franklin, and the whole host of revolu- tionary worthies-the answer wo~Id have been u~anim_ous-in the affirmative; and in the hour of Victory and security, w1lh uplifted hands before high heaven, ~oul_d hav~ reit~rated over again the ·olemn and binding obhgat1on. Will their dcsccn<lants, whilst same s . 1 · · · venerating their names and profes~1~g t 1e1r prme1plcs, give a different answer? Will you, fcllow-c1t1~ens ~f Texas, c_omprornit ti . and your honor, and your ultimate security, by 80 your oa 1s •
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