coming more and more convinced from year to yeal', of the importance of interposing a barrier between themselves and their hostile neighbors, at length acceded to the proposals of Austin and others to col- onize the country with foreigners. As a consideration for bringing in and settling, at their own expense, within prescribed limits of time and place, a certain number of families, the government agreed to giYe them a certain number of leagues of land, called 'premium leagues.' Not many· yem·s aftc1·wal'd, was adopted the con- stitution which the late usul'per has abolished. By th.is constitution personal liberty is guaranteed to all individuals of whatever color, grade or condition. In the arrangement of State governments, it was pro- vided that Texas, after having acquired a specified population, should itself become a state, on the same footing with others. But, until then, it was to be annexed to the state of Coahuila, and both together be called the 'State of Coahuila and Texas.' In the contest for preeminence between Bustamente and Santa Anna, the people of Texas came out in favor of Santa Anna and the constitution. They fought several battles with thtl minions of Bustamente, one at .Annahuac, one at La Bahia, and one at Velasco; at which last place Col. Ugartachie was made prisoner, the same who was taken in the pl'escnt war at Bexn.
173
/
I
Powered by FlippingBook