Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/58

 days. A State Constitution was framed,—a model of its kind. A memorial was also adopted by the convention, and each document was signed by all the members present. The memorial was addressed to the Supreme Government of Texas, and set forth reasons why Texas should become one of the States of Mexico. It was urged that Texas, as a State of the Confederacy, could establish her rights to land promised previously by the General Government, and also negotiate treaties with the hostile Indian tribes. On the Indian territory encroachments had been made. And subsequently to these wrongs against the Indians, the Mexican soldiers stationed at Nacogdoches, Velasco, and Anahuse had come to an open rupture with the colonists in the summer of 1832, caused by the difference between Bustamente and Santa Anna. Bustamente undertook to subvert the Constitution of 1824, in which he was supported by the military stationed throughout Texas. Santa Anna announced himself as the friend and supporter of the Constitution. In the civil revolution which began in Mexico and spread into Texas, the colonists sided with Santa Anna, and expelled the military despotism to whose usurpations, without murmuring, up to that time they had submitted. The colonists did not doubt that their Constitution would be received with favor, and ratified by the Federal authorities. Stephen F. Austin, Wm. H. Wharton, president of the convention, and James B. Miller were appointed commissioners to bear the Constitution and memorial to the Federal authorities of Mexico.

Stephen F. Austin went alone to the City of Mexico. Very little encouragement was given to his mission, although he was received with some formality. The only reason which could have been urged against ratifying the Constitution was that Santa Anna also had resolved on establishing a military despotism.

Great pains had been taken to construct a Constitution acceptable to the Federal Government. Under the Constitution of 1824, in organizing States the provinces of Texas and Cohahuila were formed into one State, reserving the right to Texas to constitute herself a separate State whenever her population was sufficient to justify the measure. The policy pursued toward Texas, both by Cohahuila and the Federal Government, made it necessary for her to become a distinct State as soon as possible. Her territory had been given away in large tracts, under the pretext of raising funds to aid Mexico in defending her frontiers from the Indians. Not a dollar had ever been appropriated to that object. Whenever troops were stationed in Texas they were sent to towns near the seaboard, where there was slight danger of hostile attacks from the savages. But another point could be gained: the support of the Government, otherwise not likely to be given, might be extorted in the face of a military force overawing