Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 107

                                
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.

treat impracticable, resigned the command to Major Medina, who declared for
Santa Anna and the Constitution, and surrendered to his co-patriots without
further opposition. Col. Piedras, and all such as chose to leave, were sent to
Tampico. The force of the Mexicans was about four hundred men. Their loss
was forty-one killed and about as many wounded. The volunteers bad three
killed and five wounded. When the Texians entered Nacogdoches on the 2d of
August, 1832, there was, close at hand, a troop of sixty Cherokees, under the
leading of ' the Bowl,' well mounted and fully equipped, awaiting, with the
characteristic instinct of Indians, the issue of the first trial at arms. Had the
colonists been repulsed, they would, beyond all reasonable doubt, have joined
in the pursuit. It might have afforded them a grateful opportunity to exhibit
the bleeding scalps of our citizens, as acceptable trophies, and demand for
guerdon, titles to the large territory they had long coveted and pretended to
claim, but had occupied only by a constrained suffrance. *
In the autumn of 1832, after the surrender of Col. Piedras, Texas enjoyed a
transient repose. The State authorities had fully adopted the plan of Vera
Cruz, restoring the Constitution of 1824, and Texas rejoiced in the constructive
approval of her resistance to its overthrow. Halcyon days seemed to spread
their enchantments before her. All was tranquil within; immigration on the
increase; and hope beguiled the distant future of any dread of change. But
human calculations of coming events are generally fallacious. In the compound
organization of the State Legislature, Coahuila had ten delegates and Texas
two--a disparity which subjected the latter to an uncontrollable domination. In
the executive department the colonists had no representative. That the law-
makers of Coahuila should contemplate the growing prosperity of her co-partner
with a jealousy not unmixed with envy, was natural. That they should wish to
impede a progress they could not imitate, was, perhaps, equally consistent. The
first essay for that purpose, was made pending the late disturbances, by repealing
on the 28th of April, 1832, the Slate Colonization Law of 1825, and the substi-
tution of one founded on the odious decree of exclusion of the 6th of April,
1830. By the new law, empresario contracts were not to be made with any other
than Mexicans and foreigners not interdicted li that law. This was bringing home
to the business and bosoms of the colonists an abominable measure, which they
had regarded as impotent and impracticable, so long as it wore only the authori-
ty of a decree by the remote usurper, Bustamente. That their own State gov-
ernment should recognize and enforcemit, was a harsh admonition, which made
them feel they were a small minority writhing in the clutches of an unprincipled
and reckless majority. They turned their thoughts to devices for relief. The
turbid current of events precluded any immediate action, they intending only a
peaceful and constitutional remedy. In March, 1833, they elected delegates to
meet in convention to petition the federal government for a dissolution of the
union with Coahuila, and the institution of a separate State government for
Texas. The Convention met at San Felipe. on the 1st of April, ensuing. Wm.
H. Wharton was elected President. Committees were appointed, one to frame a
Constitution for the projected State, and another to draw up a memorial to the
general Congress, setting forth the reasons and the necessities which constrained
the people of Texas to ask a dissolution of the unequal and onerous association.
Gen. Sam Houston was appointed Chairman of the first, and David G. Burnet of
the other. The latter prepared and reported an appropriate document, which
was unanimously received. A republican constitution was also reported by the
former, and after some wrangling, was fully adopted. Three Commissioners,
Stephen F. Austin, Wm. H. Wharton and James B. Miller, were chosen to present
the doings of the Convention to the Supreme Government. Austin alone pro-
ceeded on the mission.
Soon after the Convention had adjourned, Austin commenced his journey, and
on his arrival at the Capital, found the recently subsided waters of political
strife again in commotion. The remnant of Pedraza's term of office having ex-
pired, he was succeeded by Santa Anna, in March, 1833, Gomez Farias being
elected- Vice-President, both celebrated as the victorious champions of the down-
trodden Constitution. Santa Anna had achieved an exalted reputation as a war-
rior, a statesman, and a patriot. He now began to develop his real character-
tor. Yoakum strives to avoid this conclusion. He was a new cover in Texas, and, according to the
testimony of living and eye wtneses, was led into error in several instances. Vol. I, p. 99.

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