Houston v1

WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1835

316

your State Congress has been dissolved by violence, and its mem- bers, either fled, or were arrested by the military force of the country. The federation has been dissolved, the Constitution declared at an end, and centralism has been established 8 • Amidst all these trying visissitudes, you remained loyal to the duty of citizens, with a hope that liberty would not perish in the Re- public of Mexico. But while you were fondly cherishing this hope, the Dictator required the surrender of the arms of the civic militia°, that he might be enabled to establish upon the ruins of the constitution, a system of policy which would forever en- slave the people of Mexico. Zacatecas, unwilling to yield her sovereign rights to the demand which struck at the root of all liberty, refused to disarm her citizens of her private arms. Ill fated state! her powers as well as her wealth aroused the am- bition of Santa Anna, and excited his cupidity. Her citizens became the first victims of his cruelty, while her wealth was sacrificed in payment for the butchery of her citizens. The success of the usurper determined him in exacting from the people of Texas, submission to the central form of govern- ment; and to enforce his plan of despotism, he dispatched a mili- tary force to invade the colonies and exact the arms of the in- habitants. The citizens refused the demand, and the invadin~ force was increased 10 • The question then was, shall we resist the oppression and live free, or violate our oaths, and bear a despot's stripes? The citizens of Texas rallied to the defense of their constitutional rights. They have met four to one, and, by their chivalry and courage, they have vanquished the enemy, with a gallantry and spirit which is characteristic of the justice of our cause. The army of the people is now before Bejar, besieging the central army within its walls. Though called together at a mo- ment, the citizens of Texas, unprovided as they were in the necessary munitions of war and supplies for an army, have main- tained a siege of months. Always patient and untiring in their patriotism and zeal, in the cause of liberty, they have borne every vicissitud.e of season and every incident of the soldier, with a contempt of peril which reflects immortal honors on the members of the ai·my of the people. Sine~ .our army has been in the field, a consultation of the people, by their representatives, has met, and established a pro- visional government 11 • This course has grown out of the emer- gencies of the country; the army has claimed its peculiar care.