the slave-holding interest.[1] It is needless to say that Mexico's humane and enlightened policy was rendered nugatory by that interest. The southern slave laws became firmly implanted.[2]
The execution of the decree of April 6, 1830, with its attendant coercive measures,[3] including imprisonment of citizens, superadded to Texan sympathy with the movement in favor of federalism in Mexico, gave rise to an uninterrupted series of partial revolts at different settlements, which daily increased the insubordination of the colonists and their animosity toward the powers placed over them by the Mexican government. Garrisons were assailed and destroyed, or compelled to surrender; and at the end of 1831 a sort of provisional government had been set up.[4]
The liberal party having soon after been restored to power in Mexico, these movements did not for a time lead to serious consequences. There was a lull in the troubles of Texas. But the Texans had not changed their views as to the desirability of having a government separate from that of Coahuila. A council[5] was held at San Felipe, the head town of Austin's colony, and a constitution adopted for the state of
- ↑ Teran had been also directed to liberate every slave found in Texas.
- ↑ In 1841 the government of Texas expelled from its territory the free colored people. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 516.
- ↑ The 11th article struck a deadly blow at civilization enterprises. In some cases, like that of the 'compañía de tierras de Tejas y Bahía de Galveston,' whose assignèes were Americans, heavy pecuniary losses were inflicted, and Mexico was afterward called upon to settle them. Curtis' Letter to Col Mejía, in Suarez y Navarro, Hist. Méx., 315–19; Kennedy's Texas, ii. 76.
- ↑ An adventurer named John Austin went from town to town inciting the people to proclaim the independence of Texas, and arms were brought from New York and New Orleans. In 1832 the garrisons at Anáhuac and Velasco were captured. A few weeks afterward a Texan force, said to be 250 men, after being assured of the neutrality of the Cherokees and Shawnees, marched against the garrison at Nacogdoches, set down at 375 men, and demanded of its commander, Colonel Piedras, either an unconditional surrender or the proclamation of federalism, together with support of the Mexican constitution of 1824; compliance being refused, a fight ensued, ending in Piedra's utter defeat. Swisher's Am. Sketch Book, vi. no. 5, 375-83; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 262; Baker's Texas, 36-7; Kennedy's Texas, ii. 5-7. Moffitt, an agent of the United States in Texas, is said to have placed the action against Piedras in 1827. Thompson's Recoll. Mex., 174.
- ↑ Presided over by William H. Wharton. Among its members were Stephen F. Austin, Samuel Houston, David G. Burnet, J. B. Miller, and Branch T. Archer.
