were not the ads of the people, nor is Texas responsible for them. They were, as l before observed, the natural consequences of the revolutionary stale of the Mexican nation: and Texas certainly did not originate the revolution, neither have the people, as a p/ople, participated in it. The consciences and hand of the Tcxians are free from censure, and clean. The revolution in Mexico is drawing to a close. The object if to change the form of government, destroy the federal conslih1lion of 1824, and establish a central or consolidated government. The slates arc lo be converted into provinces. Whether the people of Texas ought or ought not to agree lo this change, and relinquish all or a part of their conslilutional and vested rights under the constitution of J 824, is a question of the most vital importance; one Lhal calJs for the deliberate consideration of the people, and can only be decided by them, fairly convened for the purpose. As a citizen of Texas I have no other right, and pretend lo no other. In the report which I consider it my duty lo make to my constituents, I intend to give my views on the present situation of the country, and especially as to the constitutional and natural rights of Texas, and will, therefore, at this time, merely touch this subject. Under the Spanish government, Texas was a scparnle and distinct local organization. It was one of the unities that composed the general mass of the nation, and as such participated in the war of the revolution, and was represented in the cons.tituent congress, so far from destroying this unity, expressly recognized and confirmed it by the law of May 7th, 1824, which united Texas with Coahuila provisionally, under the especial guarantee of being made a state of the Mexican confederation, as soon as it po$Scssccl the necessary elements. Thal law and the federal constitution gave to Texas a specific political existence, and vested in its inhabitants special and defincl rights, which can only be relinquished by the people of Texas, acting for themselves as a unity, and not as a part of Coahuila, for the reason that the union with Coahuila, was limited, and only, gave power lo the slate of Coahuila and Texas lo govern Texas for the lime being, Lui always subject lo the vested rights of Texas. The stale, I herefore cannot relinquish tho&' vested rio-hts, hy agreeing lo the change of government, or hy anv 0 • • other act, unless expressly authorized by the people of Tt·xas to do so; neither can the general government of i\lexico lt-"allv r- •
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