Constitution, and to put down its enemies: you can do nothing else, and any other course would be a violation of the most sacred and solemn obligation into which man can enter. Should, however, our fond expectations not be rcali;r,ed; should centralism, in the balance of the 'Republic, finally triumph, and fix its chains and its blighting effects on the other stales, Texas, faithful to the principles in which her citizens have been educated, will resist its encroachments on her, and without revolution, and without a declaration, will rest on her original sovereignty, and, agreeably lo the constitution, her natural and national rights, will remain a free and independent people, and will bf! so considered by all liberal nations, and will thus secure her independence without giving to either Mexicans or other nation, the least ground of complaint. Ilut you are told that it is your interest to become a free and independent people; and you are told that a rise in the value of your lands is of more importance lo you than your oaths and obligations; than your honor at home, and character ahroad. Fellow-citizens, we will suffer the answer lo this suggestion to be strictly given by yourselves: we hurry over it in silence: we leave it to your own hearts to give the rejection to such a bribe. Again, you are told, that by a declaration of independence, you can become attached lo the government of the United States. Have you any assurance that you could be so attached? Have the officers of the United Stales' government given you so to understand, or has any fact transpired to lead to such a conclusion? None. Then lo act on a belief of that sort would be dangerous in the extreme; for if the United States did not take us under its protection, all admit that our situation would he critical. But let us refer for one moment lo the previous history of that government, and judge for ourselves as to the probablt- result. Interference with the tcrrilor)' of foreign nations, and all entangling alliances it has ever been the policy of the United States lo avoid. When Mr. Jefferson purchased Louisiana, it prnduced the most tremendous excitement, and amounted almost lo a ::iC\'erance of the Union. The constitutional power of the government to acquire foreign lerri Lory, has ever been denied by the republican party, and it is not probable that any great change has taken plate on that subject. The manufacturing interest, it is well known. is opposed lo the acquisition of territory to the South; and these things, taken in consideration with the good faith that should be
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