TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
108
I have argued the Texian question, I trust, as an American ought to argue it. For the information of your readers I have collected the following facts. The chief epochs of the Mexican re.olution, are hriefly as follow· The Plan of Jguala, led to the declaration of Independence of South America, and placed Iturbide at the head of the Government in 1822. He was driven away; and a federal republic in imitation of the U. States, was established in 182-1: the first Congress under this fed- eral Union took place in 1826 at Gauda.loupe Victoria. The first disturbarice was owing to the political character of the free-mason societies, the EscosESES and the YoRKINOS; and a j[ e] al- ousy of }fr. Poitnsett for the decided part he took in favour of the latter. This began with Montano at Otlumba in 1827. It was con- tinued in 1828 by Col. Rinero. Then came on the revolt of Nicholas Bra.vo, the Vice President of the Republic, and an arbettor of the EscossEs against the Y0RKIN0S. He was put down by Gu.errere. Podraza was then elected as President of the Federal Republic by two votes. Santa Anna arose about this time, and kept up a military op- position, till he procured the forcible expulsion from Mexico, and the plunder of all the native Spaniards. In 1830 Bustamente Vice President, and Sanui Anna., were at war: the result was, that after continued military revolts and disturbances Sa11ta Anna overturned the Federal Republic in :May 18:l~. In April 183-l-, he cl rove away the Congress; and in 1835 he banished the Vice Presirlent Gomez Farias, and established himself, first as President ad interim, and then dictator in fact of a consolidated central despotism, which he held till his defeat and capture. In these proceedings it is not to be concealed, that Santa Anna had many native South Amer- icans his abettI>rs in Texas; but no one will believe that the American settlers, attached as we all are to a federative Republic, would join a part,v bent on establishing a Central Despotism, in opposition to that under the faith of whic:h they settled in Texas. The first settlement made bY Col. S. T. Austin was on the Brazos in l821 : his original grant was confirmed by the federative Republican, government of 1824. All his, and the. other subsequent grants to various speculations, contractors,· or Empressa.rios, are under the au- thority of the federatiw Republic. They cover the whole fac-e of the cou11tr.,· from N ueres to the Red River, and from the Gulf to the moun- tains. )lost of them are 110w held by American speculators in onr ~ea. port towns a11d at Washington: but be they held by whomsoever, these c:ontrnc:ts were sanctioned by, and made uuder the authority, and founcled on the existence of the Federative Republic which Santa Anna o,·erthrew bY militan· forc-e. And it may be worth while here to sug- 1,!e::=t, that ai1y c:outrac-t with Coahuiln or· Texa:;. not acknowledired and spef•iall_v sam·tio11eil b~· the general Go,·ernment. is rnirl. Nor can any Anwri<-an now briuir )lexic·an or Trxnn Sc:rip, but with a rea:::onahle proliahilit_\" that he purc:ha:::rs an atten1lant law :-uit, if thi:; confirma- tion he ,rn11tin:r. The minor g-ric•ran1·e:-: uf an atTPlll))t to e,;tnl,Ji~h a Tariff &,· .• it i,; not worth whill' to <lwL•II upon. Tlw l,!ran<l, the leading fe>,1ture or the arrrument is thr right of the 'l'exnw; to come under u federatin• RP- ~ 4
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