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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
free. well ordered, enlightened Christian rountry, that hordes have gone forth in open day to perpetrate this mighty wrong." This is mere rhapsody, founded neither in injustice nor fact, as we shall show, and show conclusively. Although ol(l Spain claimed Texas, as she did Florida, Louisiana, and great part of certain possessions now the undisputed part of the United States, yet Spain never held Texas-ne,·er exercised a juris- diction over it- never viewed it in any other light than a wild, unculti- vated waste, lying east of the Rio del Norte, and ruled by various tribes of Indians. It is co~}plained, and made a most serious charge, that we Americans aided in the unjust and dishonest conquest of Texas from Mexico, yet the ReYert'nd Mr. Channing has not ach·erted to the fact that the ~lexicans invited the Americans to come to their aid in wresting Mexico from Spain, and we did aid them, and very essentially, in that war of Independence. In 1810, the Spanish Post at Baton Rouge was attacked by Amer- icans, under Gen. Thomas, nncl subdued. When the :Mexican patriots asked assistance of Americans against Spain, Col. Ross with 500 Amer- icans, went into Texas, captm\?cl Goliad, and also 1500 Spaniards. In 1812, Ross, in co-operation with the patriot General Toledo, routed the whole Spanish army of 4,000 men, and this led to the completion of the revolution which declared 1Icxico independent. It will be seen, therefore, that citizens of the United States repaired to Texas, and took up arms in favor of the patriots and against Spain; and now let us see what the conduct of these :i\Ccxican patriots was towards their friends and allies, whom they ha<l im-ite<l to fight their battles, and, as a rewarcl, to take up their residence in the land they had assisted to conquer. When the patriots succeeded in wresting the country from Spain, which was in 1822, General Iturbide, the republican c:hief, proc·laimec.l a monarchy, and him$elf Emperor. This was the honest commence- ment of a republic for which Ameri('a11 ('itizcns hacl fought.- When Don Augustin the First ascended the thr011e, he founcl that Texas was just as much lllHl('r the dominion of ~lexic·o 11s Canada now ii- u1Hler the control of the United States. N,ot 011h- was 'l'exns under the com- mand of powerful Loclies of Indians. Lt1t"those Indians were so uu- meroui-, so warlike and so formidable, that they had organized armies actually to invade ?llt•xico. ancl. n,, offer,: could snhdne them-no prop- ositions kerp them tranquil; they i"O harassed the borders of l\Iexico am] its rnlcrs, that great apprehensions were felt for the security, of the new rrpuhlic. 111 thi:-: cxtrPmity, the idea presented itself to the Emperor, that hy plnc·ini.r that krritor_,· in the power of emigrants, the fodians in timr wuulcl he sul,d11t•d. anti the :Mexican frontier saved. A law was passc,l. guarantering the protection of Mexico to all set- tler", in illl'ir liht'rty. propl•rty a11,l tiYil rights, and under this guar- antre :111 immense 11m11hPr or .-\mNil·an citizens settled in Trxas, anti unuer grrnt ,.:utrrring::; all!I prirntions, sucrccdccl in subduing the In- 1lia11:-, ·,-ult irntin,!! lhL·ir la11d:-. 1•,.:h1hli:-hi11[! a Lcgi:,laturc anil no,·ern- lll<'lll of tlu·ir own. awl al'ti11;_!" alrnu,.:t in cn•ry re,.:pet"t as an i)l()PJ>?nd- •·111 1•n•:;,• r. \I C' .\it ·n _!!art' thl'lll a 1·om1try. ir till'_\· (•onlcl (·011![\IC'I' it lrom the Jpdi1111,.:. 1111d thP_r did 1·111Hllll'I' it. lt11rhirlP wn:-: di'po,.:cd 1111d put ro th•aih, 1111(1 Yidoria Plt'de,l Prc•,.:i1.lt•11t.- He rulctl l'our years, am1d"t
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