WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1835
318
against constitutional liberty. We will enjoy our birth-right, or perish in its defense. The services of five thousand volunteers will be accepted. By the first of March next, we must meet the enemy with an army worthy of our cause, and which will reflect honor upon freemen. Our habitations must be defended; the sanctity of our hearths and firesides must be preserved from pollution. Liberal Mexi- cans will unite with us. Our countrymen in the field have pre- sented an example worthy of imitation. Generous and brave hearts from a land of freedom have joined our standard before Bejar. They have, by their heroism and valour, called forth the admiration of their comrades in arms, and have reflected addi- tional honor on the land of their birth. Let the brave rally to our standard. Sam Houston, Commander in Chief of the Army. By order, George·w. Poe, Acting Adjutant- General 1 Sam Houston Letters, Texas State Library. Texian and Emigrant's Guide, January 2, 1836 (among miscellaneous files of old newspapers, The University of Texas Library). Johnson-Barker, Texas and Texans, I, 321. Morphis, History of Texas, 126-131. This copy has been taken from John- son-Barker, Texas and Texans; it was checked with the letter at the State Library and the Texian and Emigrant's Guide CO'P'IJ• All give the same report. There is a slight variation in paragraph division, and in punctuation. 2 The Mexican Constitution of 1824. 3 Anastacio Bustamante was one of the leaders who won the independence of Mexico. In 1829 he became the vice-president of Mexico, Vicente Guer- rero being president. By 1830, through one of the perennial Mexican revo- tions, he had usurped the power and was governing in the capacity of a president, although he did not bear the title. He was able to hold this control until 1832, at which time he became the victim of another revolu- tion, and was ousted from his office and exiled by the victorious Santa Anna. In 1837 he was recalled from exile to operate against Texas, and in 1840 was elected president of Mexico for a term of eight ·years. Of this term he served less than four years, when, for a second time, he was over- thrown by Santa Anna and again sent into exile. Bustamante's idea of government was that of a pure military despotism and he was a master in the political trickery that was practiced in Mexico during the early years of that nation's independence. He died at San Miguel de Alende in 1851. See G. L. Rives, The United State and Mexico, I, 176, 180-181, 204- 459 passim. H. I. Priestley, ·The Mexican Nation, passim. Thrall, A Pic- to1·ial History of Texas, 519. 4 Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (February 21, 1792-June 21, 1876) was President-Dictator of Mexico in 1835 and led the invading Mexican armies to Texas in 1836, but met·his defeat at San Jacinto battlefield, April 21, ]836. For biographical sketches of this man see Ramon Martinez Caro, Verdadera Idea de la Primera Campana de Tejas y Sucesos Occurridos
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