The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 180
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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180
Texas Historical Association Quarterly
all the colonists and to destroy all confidence in constitutional
protection, and all natural rights of our citizens.1
Therefore the colonists were fighting to preserve their consti-
tutional rights, "to put down the usurped power which has
trampled them under foot," and to restore to full operation the
constitution and laws. In this they were not the aggressors, for
"it is our duty to defend our inalienable rights against all who
attempt to subvert our Liberties, although citizens of the same
country." This portion of Barrett's paper is rambling, and con-
tains some repetitions, but the declaration for the constitution is
unequivocal. "We declare and resolve to support the constitution
of 1824," and for this purpose the people wanted to "unite with the
friends of Liberty among Mexican fellow citizens in the same
glorious object." Barrett advised the calling of a second Consul-
tation at a later date, and in the meantime urged the formation
of a provisional government "with certain and defined powers."
If he suspected that a more radical policy might become neces-
sary, it is only revealed in an invitation to the inhabitants of the
Department of Bexar to participate in the support of a provi-
sional government "until circumstances require further action.'"2
Barrett's plan was entirely in harmony with Austin's ideas of
what ought to be done, and it seems to have had considerable in-
.fuence in shaping the declaration.
Williamson's draft is interesting as the blunt statement of a
man who favored a declaration of independence, but tried to tone
down the expression of his real feelings to meet the wishes of a
squeamish majority. Starting with the premise that the Texans
are "Anglo Americans," "a free born and reflecting people," who
"believe that all government originates with, and resides in the
people," and that they entered the territory of Mexico under a
constitution which guaranteed such government, the writer declares
that "without their privity or Consent That Only form of Govern-
ment known and acknowledged by them has been changed"; there-
'It is interesting to compare with this enumeration of abuses the
"Facts" "submitted to a candid world" by the American Declaration of
Independence.
2Copy. Archives of the State Department of Texas, Records, Vol. 3,
pp. 16-17.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912, periodical, 1912; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101056/m1/185/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.