Tl1e First Republic of Te:ras
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the Provisional Junta. Of the six men selected, only two had foreign names, Hale and Louis Massicolt. Shaler maintained that Massicolt was French, and that, consequently, only one member was picked from the American contingent. The American agent in Natchitoches called the selection of the Junta "nothing more than an absurd revolutionary farce." 19 Tlze Consti.tution. The most important task confronting the junta was the writing of a constitution. Try as they would, they could but draw from their own inadequate experience. The political system outlined in this curious document is that of the Spanish monarchy with some modifica- tions. The supreme power was ·vested in an executive, who was to be called president-protector. He was to be aided in the exercise of power by a junta. This body was to meet once a week with the president-protector and was made subject to him in all matters. If there had been any doubt about the determination of Gutierrez and his colleagues to maintain Texas free from United States influence and disclaim that it was a part of Louisiana, the first article of the Constitution was designed to remove that doubt. It affirmed that Texas was "inviolably joined" to the Republic of Mexico, of which it was an integral part. As to religion, the Roman Catholic was established by law. The exercise of personal liberty and the enjoyment of the right of private property were proclaimed, but were sadly hedged by limitations traceable to the Spanish regime. The framers of the Constitution, however, took due cognizance of the debt which the new Republic owed to liberty-loving volunteers. Article XVII bound the new Republic to honor all obligations contracted by Gutierrez in its name. In accord with this provision, volunteers from the United States and other nations were informed that those who had served a minimum of six months were entitled to one league square of land. A land office was opened for them to file their claims. Before the end of the month actual grants were made to those who filed petitions.' 0 The Constitution was completed on April 17. The next day Gutierrez sent copies of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to Shaler. He then busied himself writing proclamations. One he ad- dressed to "Freemen of All Nations," inviting them to come to settle in Texas "as rich as Mexico in gold and silver." the others were addressed to the people of Mexico for distribution along the Rio Grande and the 39 Shaler to Monroe, Natchitoches, May I 4, I 8 I 3, Stat, Department Records, N.A.W. 40 TiUes to lands granted by the first Republic of Texas through its Land Office in San Antonio may be examined in the archives kept in the Texas State Library. Kathryn Garrett, "The First Constitution of Texas," Tl,e Quart11rl1, XL, 305-308.
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