to give such information, from time to time, to all parts of Texas, as might seem necessary. They were also clothed with the power to call another convention if necessary. Of this committee Frank W. Johnson was chairman, and Dr. James B. Miller was secretary.

The petitions and memorials were adopted and forwarded to the general and State governments. *

This convention closed its labors on Saturday, October 6, 1832.

QUESTIONS.—What cloud still hung over the Texáns ? What change took place in Mexico, giving the Texans hope of relief ? How was the news conveyed to the settlers ? What was the effect upon the people? What did they resolve as to Piedras ? For what purpose did the Texans assemble on July 1st ? What was Piedras' answer? What occurred on the night of August 1st ? What occurred the next day? How was Chirino killed ? Give an account of the day's fight. To where did Piedras retreat ? What was done by the main body of Texans ? What of Colonel Bowie ? Give an account of Bowie's encounter with Piedras, and the result. For what purpose was Mexia sent to Texas ? Who took passage with Mexia at Matamoras ? How were the investigations conducted? What was the result? Why did Mexia sail down the coast ? Did the Congress repeal Bustamente's decree? How did Santa Anna now show his treachery ? How did this affect the Texans ? What did they do? By whom was this call for a convention issued ? What number responded ? When and where did they meet? How did they organize? What was their first action ? For what was the second committee appointed ? The third ? The fourth ? What was the petition of the fifth committee ? The sixth? What other committee was appointed? What was made the duty of the Central Committee ? Who was chairman ? Who secretary? What was done with the petitions and memorials ? When did this first convention adjourn ?

CHAPTER XXVI.

FIRST CONVENTION (continued)— MEXICAN OPPOSITION.

FRANK W. Johnson, chairman of the Central Committee, informed Garza, political chief at San Antonio, by official report, of the acts of the convention, and urged upon him the appointment of a corresponding central committee.

* The memorial drawn up by Wm. H. Wharton, for the repeal of the obnoxious law of Bustamente, was complimented as being “a State paper of dignity, ability, and historic value which should be familiar to every student of Texas history.”

See its publication entire in “History of Texas,” by John Henry Brown,

The Mexican officials regarded this convention as they would have done one held by their own people—as a prelude to a revolution.

De la Garza, political chief at San Antonio, wrote as follows to the Governor of Coahuila and Texas : *' A true Mexican can but bitterly deplore his misfortune, and feel sorely the foreign hand that came boldly to rob him of his rights, employing physical force, while even rational argument from such a source ought hardly to be tolerated, when we consider how lately these Americans have been admitted to Mexican citizenship."

Chief Garza wrote in reply: "The convention was illtimed and uncalled for." "All such meetings are prohibited by the supreme power and existing laws."

After condemning " such popular meetings," and charging the Texans with "exercising powers that belong exclusively to the sovereign authority of the State," Musquez, successor to Garza, ordered them forthwith to dissolve their standing and all subordinate committees.

In reply Colonel Austin gave Musquez some useful information, and added : "Texas is lost if she takes no measure of her own for her welfare ;" and, with regard to Musquez's letter, he said: " It would have been better not to have written it." Again, he said : "I do not know how the State or general government can presume to say that the people of Texas have violated the constitution, when the acts of both governments have long since killed the constitution, and the confederation has hardly any life left. I cannot approve the assertion that the people have not the right to assemble peacefully, calmly, and respectfully to represent their wants. It is your duty, as chief magistrate, to call a general convention to take into consideration the condition of the country."

The acting Governor of Coahuila and Texas, among other expressions, some threats, etc., wrote : "The San Felipe convention betrays artful intention ;" "disturbances are in view." "Your lordship should endeavor to obtain and furnish me

confidentially such information as may lead to the detection of the true meaning of that extravagant step and its possible connection with the revolutionary designs of certain individuals in Texas, as elsewhere in the Republic.” He suggested that spies should be set to watch the “ maneuverers ” of the ayuntamiento of San Felipe de Austin, “who had for some time been distrusted by the government.” '

Santa Anna, the hitherto idol of the American colonists in Texas, their last hope of liberty, wrote of them as “ foreigners who had introduced themselves into the country," and expressed the belief that the remonstrances of the people were “disguises of their intention to declare themselves independent of Mexico.” He advised, as of paramount importance, that General Filisola should forthwith proceed to fulfil his mission to enter Texas with a well-appointed army, to “ secure the integrity of the territory and do justice to the colonists,” thereby admitting that “the interests of the nation demand a policy towards these people, for they have done us good service.” IIe acknowledged that the treatment they had received was “ derogatory to the honor of the Republic,” and expressed the apprehension, which was afterwards verified, that “ they might become so exasperated as to render it impracticable to restore order among them without much trouble.” This was Santa Anna to the Minister of State. That dignitary wrote to the political chief, of the convention and appointment of committees as “excesses which have recently come to light,” and threatened that “if they do not amend their ways without delay, and give all due submission to the laws of their adopted country,” they would bring down upon themselves“ irretrievable ruin.”

QUESTIONS.-What did the chairman of the Central Committee urge? How was this convention regarded by the Mexican officials ? What did De la Garza write to the Governor of Coahuila and Texas ? What did he write of the convention to the Alcalde of San Felipe ? What did Musquez order? What was Austin's reply? State what the acting Governor of Coahuila and Texas wrote. What did Santa Anna write and advise ? What did the Minister of State write ?

CHAPTER XXVII.

SECOND CONVENTION—OPPOSITION TO SAME BY MEXICAN AUTHORITIES—AUSTIN'S ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT IN MEXICO.

The colonists, ignorant of the correspondence between the government officials, and believing that the confusions in Mexico had prevented action upon their memorials, resolved, now that Pedraza, the duly elected President, was restored to office, to call another convention.

In addition to the memorials of the convention of 1832, this convention was to frame a constitution for the proposed separate State. The Central Committee issued a call in January, 1833, for an election to be held on the first day of March, for delegates to meet at San Felipe on the first day of April.

The political chief ordered the alcaldes to prevent the elections by military force, whenever it could be had, if necessary. The Minister of War urged his objections. He said: "It must culminate in political trouble and disaster."

The political chief expressed to the governor his belief that the key to the conduct of the colonists could be found in the visit to Texas, in June, of Mr. Butler, charge d'affaires from the United States, who, in 1829, made direct proposals to the Mexican Government for the purchase of Texas.

The governor expressed his suspicion that the Southern United States had a plan of seceding from the Northern States, and wished to strengthen themselves by the addition of Texas, to which the Texans were lending, themselves by these "revolutionary dispositions."

The election was held on the appointed day. The military of Nacogdoches refused to expose themselves in a storm to prevent it in that place. The convention, composed of fifty-six members, assembled on the appointed day, and elected William H. Wharton president, and Thomas Hastings secretary.

A committee, of which Sam Houston was chairman, and Ilonry Smith, Nestor Clay, R. M. Williamson, James Kerr, Oliver Jones, and Luke Lessasier were members, drafted the constitution for the proposed separate State.

A committee, of which David G. Burnet was chairman, drew up a memorial to the Mexican Government, covering the memorials and petitions of the convention of 1832. The convention adjourned on the 13th of April, after appointing Stephen F. Austin, Dr. James B. Miller, and Don Erasmo Seguin of San Antonio as messengers to lay these papers before the National (professedly Republican) Congress at the (Jity of Mexico.

Colonel Stephen F. Austin, of whom it had been written aa "for some time distrusted by the government," undertook the journey. The denunciatory correspondence among the officials was lying among the untranslated archives.

Santa Anna was at that time President, and Manuel Gomez Farias, Vice-President of Mexico.

From Matamoras, Austin wrote to the municipality of Brazoria, expressing the utmost confidence in the "paternal intentionsof the newly inaugurated government towards the colonies, and that the rumors of a large army marching iuto Texas were false. Only a sufficient force would be sent to protect the revenue at the custom-houses.

He exhorted the people to sustain the authorities and obey the laws strictly, believing that in that way they would "obtain everything that a reasonable people ought to ask, or a just and liberal government ought to grant."

As the Mexican Congress had adjourned on the first of May, not to meet again until January, Austin forwarded the documents to Mexico, through General Filisola, commanding at Matamoras. Leaving unexpectedly, however, he arrived in the City of Mexico in June, to find the country in revolu