observed between governments, would, no doubt, induce the gov- ernment of the United States to decline admitting us into the Union. What, then, would be our situation? An independent people composed of about 60,000 inhabitants, deeply in debt, and not a dollar in the treasury: engaged in a war with Mexico to last probably our lifetime: for, by a declaration of independence, we array against us the whole force of the Mexican nation. And should we be so fortunate as to sustain ourselves as a free and independent nation, what would be our condition? We would have the waste lands of Texas, which we would have to give away, to induce emigration, and as bounty to volunteers, and would be saddled with a debt of millions of dollars. And what revenue would we have lo pay it with? Nothing but the inconsiderable duties to be collected al our ports, and heavy direct taxes. Already it is estimated that the expense of the war is five hundred thou- sand dollars. In one year from this time, under a declaration of independence, it wilJ amount lo millions; and Texas, contemptible abroad for her poverty and weakness, will al once become the prey of internal faction and misrule. A standing army must be constantly kept up, foreign relations attended to, and ten million of dollars, annually, would be required to defray the expense: and from what source, in the name of heaven! could we derive the .means? The idea is madness, and the argume11 t in favor of such a course, must be opposed to the sober conviction of every mind. By the organization of a state government, based on the constitution of 1824, we unite to us the liberal party; we inspire them with confidence, and for the fu lure, exercise an important influence: we have their ports open to our cotton and produce of every kind, free of duty; we restore the constitution; we have the national government to pay the expenses of the present war; wc have peace al home, and rid ourselves of the enormous expense of a standing army, and, in alJ proba_bility, ese~pc "A Cae~ar and h_is people." Under such a state of_ thmgs we w1ll_ go on lo_ mcrcase m 0 rnlation and wealth, and will at once be 111 the cnJ~yment of it 1 ~t prosperity which our abundant natural resources give us the means of possessing. . A · d c, 1 dc•nl government would, wt.: adrml,. he better n 111 cp , I . I I . I · . ·md interest of those w 10 rmg I l w 111 power: suited lo t 1e gcmus ' d · I d ff' , . d cnts honors, an lit es, an o · ices, and ·t I olds out as m ucem ' k 1· 1·1· · b · I 1 h •n the ordinary ran ·s o I c, rt rmgs salaries; bu l to 1 osc 1
420
Powered by FlippingBook