Post by Allen Wiener on Jul 11, 2008 8:37:24 GMT -5
While I was going through some microfilm as part of my Crockett research, I came upon the following stories regarding events in Texas. Such stories were common in newspapers of the period and show that Americans, including Crockett, were aware of the political issues bubbling up in Texas. The first story relates to operations by Filisola to break up the illegal contraband trade, which must have grown up in an attempt to avoid Mexican customs duties.
AW
From the Southern Statesman, Jackson, Tennessee, June 8, 1833 (reprinted from the Daily Gazette)
“Trouble in Texas
This province has been for many years a sort of “middle ground,” in which were congregated together, as well for unlawful as for lawful purposes, all kindred tongues from every corner of the earth. Their annoyance and disregard of the laws of the country have at length become so great and injurious that the Mexican Government has determined either to dislodge or subject them to more perfect obedience. Accordingly we learned from the New-York Mercantile Advertiser, on the authority of a letter from Matamoras, dated the 22d ult, that during the previous week four vessels had arrived at the place from Vera Cruz, with about three hundred and fifty men, and a number of officers for the purpose above named. The Commander, Gen. Filisola, was daily expected from Montgomery, with about twelve hundred men and eight pieces of artillery, cutlers (cutters?) are to be fitted out to blockade the ports of Matagorda and Brazoria. It is said that Gen. Filisola, (who is an Italian by birth) will try conciliatory measures before he proceeds to force. The Colonists are divided amongst themselves and in a state of anarchy. A most injurious contraband trade is carried on by them by land, to the Northern States and provinces through the Indian territory, which it will be the principal aim of the General to put a stop to.”
The same edition reported that the residents of Texas had drafted a state constitution in April, 1833, which would have made Texas a separate state. This is an indication of the colonists' determination to separate from Coahuila, which the Mexican government opposed, feeling that Texas was already too far from their control (as per the customs issue, above). Articles 24-31 of the proposed state constitution also were reprinted.
“From the Nashville Republican
Texas -- We are indebted to a friend for a copy of the Constitution of the State of Texas made in general convention, in the town of San Felipe de Austin, in April last. Setting out with the declaration that “We, the people of Taxas (sic), being capable of figuring as a State in the manner contemplated in the second article of the Decree of the General Congress of the Nation, of the 7th May, 1824, do ordain the following Constitution, and do mutually agree with each other, to form ourselves into a Free and Independent State of the Mexican Confederacy, by the name of Texas,” the Convention proceeded to lay down, under the head of “General Provisions,” certain fundamental principles, which, for the most part, are literally copied from our Declaration of Rights, the latter with one or two omissions and some verbal alterations having been incorporated entire in the former.”
AW
From the Southern Statesman, Jackson, Tennessee, June 8, 1833 (reprinted from the Daily Gazette)
“Trouble in Texas
This province has been for many years a sort of “middle ground,” in which were congregated together, as well for unlawful as for lawful purposes, all kindred tongues from every corner of the earth. Their annoyance and disregard of the laws of the country have at length become so great and injurious that the Mexican Government has determined either to dislodge or subject them to more perfect obedience. Accordingly we learned from the New-York Mercantile Advertiser, on the authority of a letter from Matamoras, dated the 22d ult, that during the previous week four vessels had arrived at the place from Vera Cruz, with about three hundred and fifty men, and a number of officers for the purpose above named. The Commander, Gen. Filisola, was daily expected from Montgomery, with about twelve hundred men and eight pieces of artillery, cutlers (cutters?) are to be fitted out to blockade the ports of Matagorda and Brazoria. It is said that Gen. Filisola, (who is an Italian by birth) will try conciliatory measures before he proceeds to force. The Colonists are divided amongst themselves and in a state of anarchy. A most injurious contraband trade is carried on by them by land, to the Northern States and provinces through the Indian territory, which it will be the principal aim of the General to put a stop to.”
The same edition reported that the residents of Texas had drafted a state constitution in April, 1833, which would have made Texas a separate state. This is an indication of the colonists' determination to separate from Coahuila, which the Mexican government opposed, feeling that Texas was already too far from their control (as per the customs issue, above). Articles 24-31 of the proposed state constitution also were reprinted.
“From the Nashville Republican
Texas -- We are indebted to a friend for a copy of the Constitution of the State of Texas made in general convention, in the town of San Felipe de Austin, in April last. Setting out with the declaration that “We, the people of Taxas (sic), being capable of figuring as a State in the manner contemplated in the second article of the Decree of the General Congress of the Nation, of the 7th May, 1824, do ordain the following Constitution, and do mutually agree with each other, to form ourselves into a Free and Independent State of the Mexican Confederacy, by the name of Texas,” the Convention proceeded to lay down, under the head of “General Provisions,” certain fundamental principles, which, for the most part, are literally copied from our Declaration of Rights, the latter with one or two omissions and some verbal alterations having been incorporated entire in the former.”