repaired by our men, and we are now in abundance. We shall grind plenty of meal in advance for those that are coming. In fine, the Anglo-American spirit appears in everything we do―quick, intelligent, and comprehensive; and while such men are fighting for their rights, they may possibly be overpowered by numbers, but, if whipped, they won't stay whipped."

Expresses were forwarded by Stephen Austin to the people of the eastern municipalities, urging them to join their friends in the Department of the Brazos, who were animated by one spirit for the common purpose of taking Bexar, and driving all the military out of Texas before the close of the campaign." Arms and ammunition," said Austin, are needed; we have more men than guns. Could not some muskets be forwarded from the other side of the Sabine? This Committee will contribute, and is responsible that the people here will do the same, to pay a full proportion of the expense. This is all-important: a few waggon-loads of muskets and ammunition would be of the utmost service at this time. Could not volunteers also be had from the United States? Our cause is one that merits the moral and physical aid of a free and magnanimous people, and those who now step forward may confidently expect that Texas will reward their services."

While the colonists were actively engaged in preparations for the defence of their rights under the Federal Constitution of 1824, measures for annulling that compact were advancing to maturity in Mexico. In July, the General Congress met in the capital and resolved itself into a Constituent Con

gress, with power to effect organic reforms. It decreed by a large majority that a central form of government should be adopted, and appointed a committee to report a Constitution. The committee reported that there should be a Supreme Chief to rule the nation, who should be elected for eight years, and be re-eligible for life-that the Senate should be composed of twelve members-six generals and six bishops, to be appointed by the Chief— that the Representative Chamber should be elected by persons owning a certain amount of property; and that the States should be called Departments, to be governed by a military commandant and a bishop. On the 3rd of October, 1835, the acting President of Mexico, General Barragan, issued the following decree, which abolished the legislative powers of the several States and established a Central Republic.

[Decree of the 3rd October, 1835.]

66

Office of the First Secretary of
State, Interior Department.

"His Excellency the President pro tem. of the Mexican United States to the Inhabitants of the Republic. Know ye, that the General Congress has decreed the following: "ART. 1. The present governors of the States shall continue, notwithstanding the time fixed by the Constitution. may have expired; but shall be dependent for their continuance in the exercise of their attributes upon the Supreme Government of the nation.

"ART. 2. The legislatures shall immediately cease to exercise their legislative functions: but before dissolving, (and those which may be in recess meeting for the purpose,) they shall appoint a Department Council, composed, for the present, of five individuals, chosen either within or without their own body, to act as a council to the governor; and in case of a vacancy in that office, they shall propose to

the Supreme General government three persons possessing the qualifications hitherto required: and until an appointment be made, the gubernatorial powers shall be exercised by the first on the list who is not an ecclesiastic.

"ART. 3. In those States where the legislature cannot be assembled within eight days, the Ayuntamiento of the capital shall act in its place, only for the purpose of electing the five individuals of the Department Council.

"ART. 4. All the judges and tribunals of the States, and the administration of justice, shall continue as hitherto, until the organic law relative to this branch be formed. The responsibilities of the functionaries which could only be investigated before Congress, shall be referred to, and concluded before the Supreme Court of the nation.

ART. 5. All the subaltern officers of the State shall also continue for the present (the places which are vacant, or which may be vacated, not to be filled), but they, as well as the officers, revenues, and branches under their charge, remain subject to, and at the disposal of, the Supreme Government of the nation, by means of the respective Governors.

"Palace of the Federal Government in Mexico, Oct. 3rd, 1835.

"MIGUEL BARRAGAN,

"A. D. MANUEL DIEZ DE BONILLA."

This decree was regarded by the Anglo-Americans as a monstrous perversion of power, destructive of all their hopes of good local government. Their State Legislature being dispersed, it conferred the right of appointing a governor and council, with enlarged authority, on the petty corporation of Monclova. The case would have been similar had the Congress of the United States of the North passed an act authorising the corporation of Albany (in the absence of the State Legislature) to nominate a Council of Government for the State of New York, which

was henceforth to be deprived of its administrative privileges, and to become a Department of a consolidated government, like the Departments of France. The decree was opposed by constitutional protests and armed resistance, by the Federalists of Guadalaxara, Oaxaca, and other Mexican States, but Santa Anna and the soldiery succeeded in putting down these insulated popular movements. The last divi

sion of the Republic to be coerced was Texas, which, destitute of numerical strength, regular troops and pecuniary resources, resolved to battle for its guaranteed rights against the government of a nation possessing a population of nine millions.

"Like our fathers of the Revolution," said the Colonists, "we have sworn to live free or die-like our fathers of 1776, we have pledged to each other our lives, fortunes, and sacred honors-and have vowed to drive every Mexican soldier beyond the Rio Grande, or whiten the plains with our bones."*

Address of the General Council to the People of Texas. -San Felipe de Austin, October 23, 1835.

VOL. II.

I

CHAPTER X.

Texan preparations for Defence-Advice of Zavala-Appointment of a General Council-Offensive operations of the ColonistsCapture of Goliad · Milam - Advance of the main Army under Stephen Austin to Bexar-Battle of the ConceptionAmerican rencounter with Texan Indians-The Bowie KnifeMeeting of the General Consultation of Texas-Election of a Provisional Government-The Grass Fight-Affair at Lepantitlan Stephen Austin's retirement from the Army, and Report to the Provisional Government-Call of a new Convention.

ONCE embarked in the contest with the military innovators of Mexico, the Texans were indefatigable in preparations for defence. In the Department of Nacogdoches resolutions were passed for raising an armed levy, and Samuel Houston, who was appointed general of the Department, announced that liberal bounties of land would be given to all volunteers who should join his standard" with a good rifle and one hundred rounds of ammunition." The volunteers of the Department were requested forthwith to organise under the direction of the Committee of Vigilance and Safety, in companies of fifty men each, who were to elect their officers and report to head-quarters, unless ordered on special service. Meetings favourable to the cause of the Texans were held at Natchitoches and New Orleans; and, at the latter place, a committee was appointed to communicate with the Provisional Government of Texas, and procure supplies of men and money. Through its en