437
Texas on tlze Eve of the Jlfexican Revoltttion
people of America a just and proportional representation in the Cortes. If such was the case, Sonora, Coahuila, Texas, and New Mexico were, likewise, entitled to select their own representatives. To deprive them of this right was to deprive the inhabitants of these four provinces of their just representation in the C ortes. 13 The protest was heeded and representatives were elected to represent Durango, Sonora, New Mexico, and Coahuila and Texas. But this belated concession did not suffice to avert the spread of the revolution to the Interior Provinces. Hidalgo and his confederates soon turned their eyes to the distant outposts of Texas in the hope of securing aid from the successful Democracy to the north. Before long the leaders of the rebellion dispatched an emissary to the United States by way of Texas. Hidalgo and his companions, unaware of their fate and that of their sympathizers in the Interior Provinces, themselves soon after- wards sought refuge in the north. They were betrayed and returned to Monclova and Chihuahua for trial and execution. January, 1811, saw Governor Salcedo faced with open rebellion. Although he was overthrown and put in chains, he was, however, restored to office before the end of the year. The Mexican Revolution had, mean- while, spread to Texas, and Texas was not to stop short of complete independence from Spain. The struggle was soon to be renewed against Mexico. But the history of the struggle for independence first from Spain and later from Mexico will be developed in the subsequent volume.
73 Transmittal of Decree of January 22, I 809, by the viceroy, April I 2, I 809; Opinion of the A11ditor, May Io, I 809. Nacogdoches Archives, Vol. XV, pp. 6-8.
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