The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911 Page: 45
348 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Reminiscences of Henry Smith.
fast to the mast head, with Constitution in large capitals marked
upon it, so that it could not be mistaken. Proper representations
having been made to the Government, things went on smoothly for
a time. the Government found that though we were young and
feeble, still we would not easily submit to imposition and abuse
how specious soever might be the pretexts. Our remonstrances,
though courteous and respectful, were bold manly and spirited,
and calculated from our bold and dignified manner, to show to the
Mexican Nation, that our constitutional and vested rights should
not be infringed with impunity and that if we were not respected
by them, that we at least respected ourselves as freemen
The Congress of the State of Coahuila and Texas had now
divided the country west of the Trinity into two jurisdictions and
Brazoria was made the capital of the lower one, and in [18]33 I
was elected the Alcalde for that jurisdiction. This was an office of
high trust and responsibility, and rendered more particularly so
owing to our great distance from the seat of Government of the
state which was then located at Monclova and the Political Chief
for the Department of Texas was located at the Town of San An-
tonio de Bexar. The jurisdiction over which I was elected to pre-
side was a commercial one, and business of great importance and
involving large amounts were daily to be adjudicated and settled.
The entire want of laws and precedents, rendered the discharge
of the duties of that office one of ardent solicitude. I feel proud
however to say that my administration, though one of arduous
labor and solicitude, received from my fellow citizens that ascent
of universal approbation, which is ever grateful to the feelings of
a man who felt the responsibilities of the trust reposed and dis-
charged his incumbent duties with an honest zeal commensurate
with his abilities
I will remark here that immediately after Texas was rid of the
military and before the excitement had entirely subsided, Texas
considering herself as possessing all the prerequisites required by
the Federal Constitution to form a state Government, had deter-
mined to be separated from Coahuila, who had ever treated the
colonies like a stepmother, and form a separate state Government.
Primary meetings were called committees raised and a convention
of all Texas met at San Felipe and framed a constitution. I was
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911, periodical, 1911; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101054/m1/53/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.