Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/708

 678 TEXAS was appointed a commissioner to the United States. San Antonio do Bexar was taken on Dec. 10, after being cannonaded for six days. By this victory the entire armed Mexican force was driven out of Texas. On the 20th a " Declaration of Independence " was issued at Goliad by Capt. Philip Dimitt and others there. Santa Anna set out with an army of 7,600 men, well provided with artillery, ammu- nition, and stores. On Feb. 23, 1836, he in- vested the Alamo, a strong fort near San An- tonio, which was garrisoned at this time by 140 men under command of W. B. Travis, and 32 more subsequently forced their way through the Mexicans into it. Santa Anna with 4,000 men bombarded it for 11 days, and finally carried it by storm. On March 6 the whole garrison were put to the sword, and but three persons, a woman, a child, and a servant, were spared. The Mexican loss was 1,600. On March 1 a convention assembled at Washington on the Brazos, and on the 2d issued a declaration of independence ; on the 16th a provisional president (David G. Buriiet) and other officers were elected, and a constitution was adopted, which was signed on the 17th. Meanwhile Gen. Houston found it necessary on the approach of Santa Anna to evacuate Gonzales. The tragedy of the Alamo, the murder of Col. Fannin's com- mand in cold blood at Goliad, March 27, 1836, by Santa Anna's order, in violation of the terms of surrender (see FANXIN, JAMES W.), and the successive defeats of the Texan troops, produced a temporary panic. This was in- creased by the continued retreat of Gen. Hous- ton, who fell back first to the Colorado, then to the Brazos, and finally to the San Jacinto, his design being to scatter and divide the Mex- ican force, in which he was eminently success- ful. The alarm soon passed away, and having collected a force of about 800 troops, he gave battle on April 21 to the Mexican forces which had pursued them, of about twice the number, and defeated them completely, killing 630, wounding 208, and taking 730 prisoners; among the latter (though not captured till the next day) was the Mexican president, who had commanded in person. The Mexicans were at once demoralized, and retreated rapidly west- ward in disorder. Santa Anna was held a prisoner, but the war was practically ended ; and though the Mexican government made several attempts to fit out other armies to re- conquer Texas, and refused to acknowledge its independence, their forces did not again in- vade the country. Gen. Houston, who had been wounded in the battle of San Jacinto, and had resigned his command of the army, was elected president in September, J836, and on Oct. 22 was inaugurated. The first con- gress of the republic assembled about the same time, the constitution having been adopted in the election of September. In March, 1837, the United States acknowledged the indepen- dence of Texas. In 1838 Mirabeau B. Lamar succeeded Gen. Houston as president. Repeat- ed incursions were made by the Comanches and other Indian tribes ; and in 1840 the Texans pur- sued them after one of their forays, penetrated into their country, and inflicted summary and severe punishment. In 1839 the independence of the republic was acknowledged by France, and in 1840 by England, Holland, and Bel- gium. But while thus recognized by leading powers as independent, her financial condition was every month becoming more deplorable. In September, 1841, Gen. Houston was again elected president. In 1841 and 1842 the Mex- ican government sent several marauding expe- ditions into Texas, and in the latter year San Antonio was twice captured and plundered. The Texans attempted reprisals by two ill- judged expeditions, neither under the direction of the government, the first in 1841 to Santa F6, the second in 1842 to Mier in the state of Tamaulipas. Both were unsuccessful, and many of the Texans were taken prisoners by the Mexicans and executed. In the spring of 1843 a third expedition, intended to intercept the Mexican traders to Santa Fe, was fitted out by private parties, but with the approba- tion of the government, which also proved a failure. The same year, on the remonstrance of the British charg6 d'affaires to Mexico, Santa Anna informed Gen. Houston that he would agree to an armistice, and commission- ers were appointed. While the negotiations were pending, President Tyler made proposi- tions to the president of Texas for her annex- ation to the United States, which after a time were favorably received, and a treaty was made looking to annexation. This treaty was completed and signed by the Texan commis- sioners and Mr. Calhoun, secretary of state, April 12, 1844, but was rejected by the United States senate' on June 8. The agitation of this subject greatly irritated Mexico, and caused her to terminate the armistice and threaten the renewal of hostilities; it also displeased Great Britain and France, who desired to see Texas under an English or joint protectorate, without slavery, and free from the influence of the United States. In December, 1844, Dr. Anson Jones was inaugurated president of the republic. Its revenues were now increas- ing, and its population growing with great rapidity, and the threats of war from Mexico were rendered powerless by her weakness and dissensions. The only disturbances within the boundaries of Texas were the conflicts be- tween the "regulators" and the "modera- tors" in Shelby and adjacent counties. These were finally put down by armed force. Joint resolutions providing for the annexation of Texas passed the United States house of rep- resentatives by a vote of 120 to 98, Jan 25, 1845, and the senate by a vote of 27 to 25 on Feb. 27, with an amendment, which was concurred in by the house the next day by a vote of 132 to 76. On March 1 these reso- lutions were approved by President Tyler.