Page:Don Erasmo Seguin.djvu/10

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tyranny of Santa Anna was held at San Antonio, October 13, 1834 and at that time and place Don Erasmo Seguin issued a call for a Constitutional Convention for November 15, 1834, but owing to the limited notice the people failed to respond.

Let it never be forgotten that when diplomacy failed, when the despot Santa Anna marched into Texas at the head of his servile minions, and when the colonists were in confusion, that it was under the Green, White and Red flag bearing upon its folds the numerals "1824", the Constitutional Flag of Mexico, the flag that Don Erasmo Seguin had helped to make, that the immortal Travis, Crockett, Bonham, Bowie and tiheir inspired co-patriots defended the Alamo from whose sacked and ruined walls there rose the sacrificial smoke of their burning bodies that led the Texans on to victory and independence at San Jacinto!

Upon the fall of the Alamo Don Erasmo and the members of his family were compelled to abandon their hitherto peaceful acres which had pastured the hard-ridden and weary horses of the soldiers of Texas and furnished cattle for the nourishment of their brave riders and seek safety in flight towards the army of Sam Houston. Following San Jacinto they returned to find their splendid ranch pillaged of much that they had valued.

Don Erasmo Seguin died at his home in what is now Wilson County in 1857 mourned by those who had come in contact with his engaging personality and revered by those who knew of his service to his country.

Many men, native born and adopted sons, served Texas faithfully during the perilous days of her early history and among the grandest of them all Don Erasmo Seguin is an outstanding figure for it was he who thrice rendered preeminent service to the government which he helped to create!

He was the Commissioner who at the direction of the Spanish Governor welcomed and conducted the American Colonists into Texas; he was the Deputy from Texas to the National Congress which formulated the first Constitution of the Republic of Mexico; and it was he who from San Antonio de Bexar—the birthplace of Texas Independence—issued the summons for the First Constitutional Convention to be called in Texas!

It is believed that his now unmarked grave lies not in the "El Canipo Santo" which was later located near the road, but close by the banks of the San Antonio River, and it might be said that the wild winds of a winter day as they blow through the leafless branches of the willow trees sound a mournful Requiem for the soul of the departed dead; but let all loyal and grateful Texans rather say that the soft breezes of the springtime as they gently stir the waving inesquite grass growing over his final resting place, and the glad songs of the wild bird's, are a grand and exquisite Te Deum of praise for the useful and glorious life of service and the untarnished reputation of one who made no bounteous a contribution to the creation of a Sovereign State!