History of the Revolution in Texas, Particularly of the War of 1835 & '36; Together With the Latest Geographical, Topographical, and Statistical Accounts of the Country, From the Most Authentic Sources. Also, an Appendix. Page: 47 of 227

REVOLUTION IN TEXAS.

35

Mexico was in a very uncertain, weak, and disorganized
state, and that the period seemed remote when
it should be in more healthy and vigorous action.
However, the letter of Austin proved a misfortune to himself,
if not to Texas. Addressed to the Ayuntamiento of
Bexar, it was there opened and immediately sent back to
Mexico. Austin, who in the mean time had departed
from the capital, was pursued and overtaken at Sal.
tillo, six hundred miles distant, conducted back to
Mexico as a prisoner, and cast as a criminal into a
dungeon of the Inquisition, where he was kept three
months without books, writing materials, communica.
tion with friends, or even a statement of charges against
him. His constitutional rights were thus violated; the
people of Texas were outraged in tha treatment of their
commissioner, besides that their hurmble and just peti.
tions had been disregarded. The effect of the intelligence
of these things in Texas may well be conceived:
its interests had been neglected-they were now abandoned;
the people had been oppressed-they were now
insulted. The result was increased and general irritation
of feeling, and the formation of a party which
vowed eternal separation from Mexico, and which never
relaxed its efforts until Independence was declared.
That determined spirit of the Anglo.American race,
which has been the bulwark of Liberty, which has hurled
oppression from its strong-holds, and which cannot
exist but with freedom, was now roused, and, imperi.
ous in its wrath, as mild in its mercy,-persevering in
the pursuit of its object, as omnipotent in grasping it,may
doubtless have been carried to some extremes in
manner and in measures. And hence it probably waa