March 2nd, 1836 The declaration of Texas independence text :
When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.
When the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood, both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, the everready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants.
When, long after the spirit of the constitution has departed, moderation is at length so far lost by those in power, that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms themselves of the constitution discontinued, and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons, and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet.
When, in consequence of such acts of malfeasance and abdication on the part of the government, anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved into its original elements. In such a crisis, the first law of nature, the right of self-preservation, the inherent and inalienable rights of the people to appeal to first principles, and take their political affairs into their own hands in extreme cases, enjoins it as a right towards themselves, and a sacred obligation to their posterity, to abolish such government, and create another in its stead, calculated to rescue them from impending dangers, and to secure their future welfare and happiness.
Nations, as well as individuals, are amenable for their acts to the public opinion of mankind. A statement of a part of our grievances is therefore submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous but unavoidable step now taken, of severing our political connection with the Mexican people, and assuming an independent attitude among the nations of the earth.
The Mexican government, by its colonization laws, invited and induced the Anglo-American population of Texas to colonize its wilderness under the pledged faith of a written constitution, that they should continue to enjoy that constitutional liberty and republican government to which they had been habituated in the land of their birth, the United States of America.
In this expectation they have been cruelly disappointed, inasmuch as the Mexican nation has acquiesced in the late changes made in the government by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who having overturned the constitution of his country, now offers us the cruel alternative, either to abandon our homes, acquired by so many privations, or submit to the most intolerable of all tyranny, the combined despotism of the sword and the priesthood.
It has sacrificed our welfare to the state of Coahuila, by which our interests have been continually depressed through a jealous and partial course of legislation, carried on at a far distant seat of government, by a hostile majority, in an unknown tongue, and this too, notwithstanding we have petitioned in the humblest terms for the establishment of a separate state government, and have, in accordance with the provisions of the national constitution, presented to the general Congress a republican constitution, which was, without just cause, contemptuously rejected.
It incarcerated in a dungeon, for a long time, one of our citizens, for no other cause but a zealous endeavor to procure the acceptance of our constitution, and the establishment of a state government.
It has failed and refused to secure, on a firm basis, the right of trial by jury, that palladium of civil liberty, and only safe guarantee for the life, liberty, and property of the citizen.
It has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government.
It has suffered the military commandants, stationed among us, to exercise arbitrary acts of oppression and tyrrany, thus trampling upon the most sacred rights of the citizens, and rendering the military superior to the civil power.
It has dissolved, by force of arms, the state Congress of Coahuila and Texas, and obliged our representatives to fly for their lives from the seat of government, thus depriving us of the fundamental political right of representation.
It has demanded the surrender of a number of our citizens, and ordered military detachments to seize and carry them into the Interior for trial, in contempt of the civil authorities, and in defiance of the laws and the constitution.
It has made piratical attacks upon our commerce, by commissioning foreign desperadoes, and authorizing them to seize our vessels, and convey the property of our citizens to far distant ports for confiscation.
It denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God.
It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.
It has invaded our country both by sea and by land, with intent to lay waste our territory, and drive us from our homes; and has now a large mercenary army advancing, to carry on against us a war of extermination.
It has, through its emissaries, incited the merciless savage, with the tomahawk and scalping knife, to massacre the inhabitants of our defenseless frontiers.
It hath been, during the whole time of our connection with it, the contemptible sport and victim of successive military revolutions, and hath continually exhibited every characteristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyrranical government.
These, and other grievances, were patiently borne by the people of Texas, untill they reached that point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. We then took up arms in defence of the national constitution. We appealed to our Mexican brethren for assistance. Our appeal has been made in vain. Though months have elapsed, no sympathetic response has yet been heard from the Interior.
We are, therefore, forced to the melancholy conclusion, that the Mexican people have acquiesced in the destruction of their liberty, and the substitution therfor of a military government; that they are unfit to be free, and incapable of self government.
The necessity of self-preservation, therefore, now decrees our eternal political separation.
We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations.
[Signed, in the order shown on the handwritten document]
John S. D. Byrom Francis Ruis J. Antonio Navarro Jesse B. Badgett Wm D. Lacy William Menifee Jn. Fisher Matthew Caldwell William Motley Lorenzo de Zavala Stephen H. Everett George W. Smyth Elijah Stapp Claiborne West Wm. B. Scates M. B. Menard A. B. Hardin J. W. Bunton Thos. J. Gazley R. M. Coleman Sterling C. Robertson
Richard Ellis, PresidentClick to show
Over the course of drafting the Declaration, several days, the committee members were updated on the fate of the Battle of the Alamo. Which had been going on since February 24, 1836.
It would be 2 months before that independence would be secured (April 21 1836) and in that time period, the defenders of the Alamo would almost all be killed, with the few survivors shot down and bodies desecrated and those 350+ that sought to go to their aid from Goliad would be murdered on the morning of Palm Sunday Mar 27 at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad upon direct orders from Santa Anna, the Butcher of the West. Another 200 were killed at Refugio and San Patricia under similar orders from Santa Anna.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 03-02-2024).]
Originally posted by maryjane: It would be 2 months before that independence would be secured (April 21 1836) and in that time period, the defenders of the Alamo would almost all be killed, with the few survivors shot down and bodies desecrated and those 350+ that sought to go to their aid from Goliad would be murdered on the morning of Palm Sunday Mar 27 at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad upon direct orders from Santa Anna, the Butcher of the West. Another 200 were killed at Refugio and San Patricia under similar orders from Santa Anna.
The 350+ who were also put to death from Goliad did not actually go the San Antonio to aid the Alamo defenders. They defended against Santa Anna in solidarity for the cause of freedom. The battle cry at San Jacinto was "Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad.
However, the Immortal 32, from Gonzales, did enter Alamo grounds to help it's defenders. They also were put to death.
They are "immortalized" as the only unit to answer the letter from Col Travis.
"To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World letter from Col Travis asking for help"
Commandancy of the Alamo, Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836. To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World—
Fellow Citizens and Compatriots: I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of Patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country. Victory or death.
William Barrett Travis,
Lt. Col. Comdt.
P. S. The Lord is on our side. When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn. We have since found in deserted houses 80 to 100 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.Click to show
"Let the old men tell the story, let the legend grow and grow Of the thirteen days of glory at the siege of Alamo Lift the tattered banners proudly while the eyes of Texas shine Let the fort that was a mission be an everlasting shrine Once they fought to give us freedom that is all we need to know Of the thirteen days of glory at the siege of Alamo... Now, the bugles are silent and there's rust on each sword And the small band of soldiers.......... lie asleep in the arms of the Lord Lie asleep in the arms of the Lord.
Today ,1936, the Alamo fell to Santa Anna's army. Many of General Sam Houston were pissed that he did not commit his forces to go to the Alamo and help defend it.
Sam Houston was a wise man. The thirteen days of the battle of the Alamo greatly help Sam Houston's ability to increase his troops numbers.
Many of General Sam Houston were pissed that he did not commit his forces to engage Santa Anna after the fall of the Alamo.
Sam Houston was a wise man. He was luring Santa Anna's army away from Mexico, and his resupply lines.
Interestingly, I have a very slight connection to the Alamo. I have been needing a new overhead garage door. Watching and waiting for the best deal. Finally I found one a quality door which had a good price, good installation price, which included a brand new opener which was of the latest technology. I can open or close it from anywhere with my cell phone. My cell phone also gets alerts when ever it opens. (Check out the Chamberlain brand.)
The seller was also the installer with his son helping. Customers need experienced installation. The owner had a company T shirt but his son had a company T shirt with a different company ad on the back. Which said "Conquistador Doors since 1738".
I asked about it and informed me of his family's history. Which included that a great great great great great family member which helped build many of the San Antonio missions, including the doors on the Alamo.
Originally posted by maryjane: Well, close. 100 years here or there probably don't make much difference in the bigger scheme of things.
Everything is bigger in Texas ?
Edit to my last post.
My above video is rather long. The section which describes my garage door installer is between the 11:00 and 19:00 time mark. The actual guy who did install my garage door (Edward) is narrating a section of it.
The Goliad massacre was an event of the Texas Revolution that occurred on March 27, 1836, following the Battle of Refugio and the Battle of Coleto; 425–445 prisoners of war from the Texian Army of the Republic of Texas were executed by the Mexican Army in the town of Goliad, Texas.
Fannin State Park and Goliad's Presidio La Bahia are my 2 favorite places to seek solitude. Fannin battleground is just isolated enough, and left mostly undisturbed enough that you can get a sense of what happened there. (I'm disappointed tho, that the cemented over the big concrete goldfish pond sometime between 1982 and 2005)
Today, in 1836, the Texians (correct spelling) attacked Santa Anna, the Napoleon of the west, at San Jacinto.
Houston after luring Santa Anna so far from Mexico and his resupply source, troop replentishment source, after keeping his troops from revolting due to their lust for vengeance for the Alamo and Goliad, he unleashed that vengeance.
The Mexican army had became complacent about the threat which they created. They encamped with their backs to the San Jacinto river, thus eliminating an escape route they ended up needing. They had been partying hard the night before.
Houston ordered the attack in the early sun light hours, charging in from the East. Surprising the Mexicans while many were still asleep. The attack roused them awake and they had to defend them selves looking into the early morning Sun, blinding them.
The Texians charged in, pissed off yelling "Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad". The battle was over in just 18 minutes. Santa Anna ran off in fear of his life, as did many of the Mexican army. Santa Anna ordered a Private to change uniforms to disguise his identity after all being cornered. It did not work. The Texians noticed most in his army saluted him.
When brought before the wounded General Houston, Houston again had to quell his troops from executing him, Santa Anna had done to the Alamo and Goliad defenders. Houston made a deal with the devil and allowed him to live if he signed over the whole territory of Texas north of the Rio Grand river and reaching into modern day Colorado.
The Mexican army had became complacent about the threat which they created. They encamped with their backs to the San Jacinto river, thus eliminating an escape route they ended up needing. They had been partying hard the night before.
Houston ordered the attack in the early sun light hours, charging in from the East. Surprising the Mexicans while many were still asleep. The attack roused them awake and they had to defend them selves looking into the early morning Sun, blinding them
Almost none of that is true. As I have said in the past, I grew up about 5 miles from that battleground, have spent hundreds of hours walking it, and studying it.
We tend to look at that battleground thru 20th century eyes, but where the San Jacinto River is today (as part of the Houston Ship channel) it didn't exist as such in 1836. The River actually ended at the confluence of itself and Buffalo Bayou tho part of the river does turn SE and down to San Jacinto Bay. (also now part of Houston Ship channel)
The Mexican force had it's backs to a very wide marsh that bordered what is now Burnet Bay. The San Jacinto River left leg,(as viewed from the North) was farther across a wide marsh would have been on the Mexican army's right flank during the battle but on their left during encampment.
The Texan force had their backs to Buffalo Bayou. Buffalo Bayou today, is the wide deep body of water that runs in front of where the Battleship Texas was moored. But, Houston's army, if need be, could have fallen back along their own right flank
The 18 minute battle took place in the afternoon, around 4:30pm, not in the early morning. There were really very few Mexicans killed at the battlefield location we all know today and in that little time span, but the carnage, continued throughout the late afternoon and into the night as Texians (against Houston's wishes) pursued the melee of retreating (mostly unarmed) Mexicans as far down as Peggy Lake. It is here at Peggy Lake that the great killing took place into the night of the 21st and continued in the morning of the 22nd April. “Gentlemen, I applaud your bravery, but damn your manners. Gen Sam Houston.
And, there was no 'partying hard the night before'. Santa Anna and his force of 700 men arrived at Lynchburg the same day (April 20) with Houston's army arriving in the early morning and Santa Anna later in the morning and into the afternoon . At this point, Houston outnumbered Santa Anna 950 to 700. Santa Anna had forced marched his troops thru swolen rivers, creeks and knee deep mud roads to try to catch Houston but fearing Houston would attack while Houston had the numerical advantage, he immediately ordered his troops to work building defenses out of whatever they could find. The attack did not take place and Gen Cos arrived very late the night of the 20th thru early morning of the 21st but his men too were put to work on defensive positions. Santa Ana now had the numerical advantage as well as more artillery. (Houston had only the twin sisters. By Early afternoon, with a numerical advantage, Santa Ana allowed his and Cos' men to get some sleep, figuring Houston would not attack as he knew Houston was aware that Cos had arrived. Known both to Houston and Santa Ana was, that there were another 800 to 1000 Mexican troops under Mexican Gen Filisola 32 miles away (as the crow flies) at Thompson's Ferry Brazos river crossing.
The entire battle grounds and surrounding area around it was owned by a rancher named Margaret (Peggy) McCormick. 2 days after the battle she found her property strewn with the bodies of 100s of dead stinkiin Mexican soldiers and made her way to Houston's camp to get him to have his men bury the carcasses. He refused and Santa Ana refused to order his imprisoned men to do it. She and 1 or 2 of her slaves or employees buried quite a few several years later after there was nothing left but skulls and skeletons but to this day, no one knows what happened to the nearly 700 dead Mexican's bodies regarding the location..
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 04-21-2024).]
It will be really strange for me to go to cross on that ferry and not see those tripod mast from the Texas that have been visible at the end of the Lynchburg ferry road my whole life...
To illustrate what San Jacinto looked like then as compared to now, this was Lynch's ferry not too many years after the battle. The river was not the wide deep waterway it is today.
About the same location, a newer ferry , a few years after the previous ferry and, looking across the on the ferry river now: Buffalo Bayou back then, was even smaller, way before it was widened and dredged for ocean going ships to go up and down for the Houston ship channel..
