Telegraph and Texas Register (San Felipe de Austin [i.e. San Felipe], Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 1, Ed. 1, Saturday, October 10, 1835 Page: 7 of 8
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.gered by the measures and projects of the
Bustamante administration. On this prin-
ciple the people of Texas supported, gene
ral Santa Ana to defend the Constitution of
1824, and the federal system. This gene-
ral was enthusiastically supported Tjy every
Hberal and free Mexican, and by the friends
of the federal system in every parfof the
nation. With this suppoit he triumphed.
He became the man of the people the
protector of the federal system the oracle
of public opinion the arbiter of the na-
tion' political destinies. How has lie used
this power, thus acquired? Let the' milita-
ry despotism now enthroned in Mexico up-
on the ruins of the federal system let the
friends of this system, who are now groaning
in prisons or wandering in exile let the Con-
stitution of 1824, which still raises its dying
voice frombeneath the feet of military usurpations-let
the free and impartial in Mexico
and in the whole civilized world give the re-
ply? They all say, he used it to destroy
what he avowed he had taken up arms to
project j he used the federal party as hlind
instruments to destroy the federal system ;
litfabandoned his federal friends avIio had
given him power, and united jivith the mili-
tary, ecclesiastical and central party, against
whom he took up arms in 1832. This same
party is now governing in Mexico, and they
say to the people of Texas, in the language
of friendship and persuasion in that of
sugar-plums and honeyjhaX in the new Con-
stitution, or central government that is
organizing in Mexico, guarantees shall
1be given to the petfjllfc of Texas, their
rights shall be protected and secured, and
they are told that the government expects
from their " docility" a submission to all the
reforms and alterations that may be agreed to
by the majority of the nation. See the offi-
cial letter of the Minister of Relations, a
translation of which is published at the end
of this paper, numbered 1. But whoJ com-
pose, and what is this majority of the na-
tion spoken of by the minister, and how
are these reforms to be effected ? It is com-
posed of the same military power before
spoken of, who have assumed the voice of
the nation, and have suppressed, by military
influence, the free expression of public opi-
nion; and the reforms are to be effected by
unconstitutional means; a sufficient proof of
winch is, that the present Congress in Mex-
ico, which 'was elected with constitutional
powers alone, have, by their own act, de-
clared themselves to be invested with the
powers of a national convention, to frame a
new constitution, or reform that of 1824 as
they think? proper.
-What is here meant by "reforming" the
Constitution of 1824, may be clearly de-
duced by the "reform" of the militia made
by this same general Congress. This "re-
form" reduced the militia of the States to
one militia-man for every five hundred in-
habitants, and disarmed all the rest. The
people of Zacatecas resisted this iniquitous
law, but were unfortunate, and compelled,
for the time being, to submit to the military
power of the reformers : so that, in fact,
" reform" means destruction.
From this condensed view of the past let
every impartial man judge for himself what
degree1 of faith or credit ought to be
given to the professionsrof the present go-
vernment of Mexico, and ask himself whe
ther a subtle poison may not be concealed
in the sugar-plums, or. a sting in the honey,
that is now offered to the " docile," people
of Texas.
But, in addition to this general view of
matters, information of the most positive
and unquestionable character is in the pos-
session of this Committee, that every possi-
ble effort is making by the government in
Mexico to raise troops,' money, and re-
sources to fit out an expedition 'an army of
invasion against Texas. Infantry, aitillery,
and cavalry have been ordered from San-Luis
Potosi, Saltillo, and Tamaulipas ; and all
the disposable infantry at Campeche has
also been ordered on to Texas by water, as
it was supposed they would stand the cli-
mate better than other troops. Magazines
of arms and ammunition are forming at
Matamoras, Goliad, and Bexar, and the
old barracks and fortifications at the latter
place are repairing to receive a large force.
In short, the common talk' all over Mexico
among the military, is the invasion of Texas.
Now, if the present government of Mex-
ico is sincere in its professions of liberal
guarantees for Texas, why all this prepara-
tion for a military invasion ? Why has gen-
eral Cos marched with, all thefcdisposable
force at Matamoras (about four hundred
men) to Bexar, where he now is, accoiding
to last accounts? Can it be that the go-
vernment, in its fatherly care for Texas,
fears that there are servile slaves in this
countrywho will oppose liberal guarantees?
Or is it that the promised guarantees, are
only a cover and a- false show, to quiet
Texas until the general Government is pre
pared to give to it a military government.
It is well known to all that the reforms
spoken of by the minister, and now being
made in Mexico, contemplate the abolition
of the whole federal system, the establish-
ment of a central or consolidated govern-
ment; which is to absorb and swallow up
all the powers and authorities of the nation :
militarrcommandancies will supply the place
of the state governments, and the vested
rights of Texas under the Constitution and
law of May 7, 1824, are to be disregarded
and violated.
Ought, or can, or will the people of Te-
xas submit to all this ? Let each man study
the subject, and answer for himself. If he
will submit, let him go to the military power
and prostrate himself. If he will not sub-
mit, let him give his answer from the mouth
of his rifle!
In regard to the present movements of
the military, the letter from Gonzales, and
extracts from other letters of unquestiona-
ble faith, numbered 2. will inform the pub-
lic. By these letters the people of Texas
are informed that their fellow-citizens at
Gonzales have been attached the uar has com-
menced! They will also perceive that gen-
eral Cos has arrived with a reinforcement
of troops, and is preparing for a campaign
of extermination against the people of
Texas.
The head quarters of the army or the
people for the present is at Gonzales. It
is already respectable in numbers, and in-
vincible in spirit.
This Committee exhorts every citizen
who is yet at home, to march as soon as
possible to the assistance of his countrymen
now in the field. The campaign is opened.
Z Xiiin- . Al
ere " t i
Texas must be freed from military desjjitRNf J j"f t1
before it is closed. & f S-K.fi
S. F. AUSTIN ;W)
' " Chairman of 1he ConfmtiitfF J
of the Jurisdiction of Am-p
San Felipe de Austin. October 3, 1835. . Jfh -j
NO. 1. ' U-"'
Extract of an official letter from the Min?$pj S
of Interior Relations of Mexico, tiffke $Bh-t f
nicipalityof Gonzales. Q' ,
"When the general Congress takjes mfp
consideration the reforms' of 'the .Co'nsij.tu-
tion which have been requested unanimously "
by almost all the towns of the Republic,
that august assembly will Tjear in mind i&v
wants of the inhabitants of Texas, for the a
purpose of providing a remedy; and I0
government Avill very cheerfully co-opei ale ,
m that object, by making the proposition
which may most conduce to so Iau3Sbleuj j
end, reckoning always on the goodea0
and docility of the colonists 'who, on adopt-
ing this for their country, 'subjected "thpm-
seives to tne alterations mat, respecting tnt
institutions, the majority of the nation may
think fit to agree uponj which disposition
the government is decided on supporting b
fulfilment of its duty, as it is, also, of pr1-
tecting all the inhabitants of the Republic,
lovers of order, and of punishing those v hi
foment sedition. 4
signed "BONILLA."
Dated Mexico, August 5, 1835
NO. 2.
" Gonzales, September, 30, 183-5
Fellow-citizens of San Felipe a?h
La Baca, A detachment of the Mexican
forces from Bejar, amounting to about ci-
hundred and fifty men, are encamped opp
site us : ,we expect an attack momentarily.
Yesterday we were but eighteen strong, to-
day one hundred and fifty, and forcescu.1-
tinually arriving. We wish all the aid and
despatch, that is possible to give us, that wo
may take up soon our line of march for B.-
jar, and drive from our country all . thr
Mexican forces. Give us all, the aid ds-
despatch that is possible.
Respectfully, yours, '
Captain ALBERT MARTIN,
R. M. COLEMAPC
J. H. MOORE.
Extracts from a letter, written by a gentlenuu
of unquestionable veracity, dated La Bo.
ca, October 1, 1835.
"The Alcalde of Goliad was struck er
whipped in the street by an officer, for not
being able to get the carts ready as soon n
he wanted them, to transport the arms &v
to Bexar. A Mexican from Victoria' was
also insulted, as being one of the valientes n.
Guadalupe ; the soldiers saying that it wour i
be only a shoit time until they visited u-,
and helped themselves to what cash and
other things we had. The new officer
ay ho came with the arms, said that, as sool
as general Cos should reach Bexar, it wouk'
be the signal of march for San Felipe dt
Austin."
"Cos is about to pass on to Bejar. -, H
has a guard of thirty men with him, and the
Morelos battalion of lancers is close at hi
heels. Cos has about $60,000 in specie
for the purpose of paying off the troops'
He informed the Alcafde of the Nueces
that he intended to overrun Texas, and es-
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Baker & Bordens. Telegraph and Texas Register (San Felipe de Austin [i.e. San Felipe], Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 1, Ed. 1, Saturday, October 10, 1835, newspaper, October 10, 1835; San Felipe de Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth47872/m1/7/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.