in Santa Anna's assurances of "paternal regard," ho joined heartily in the call, already made, for an election for " delegates to a general consultation of all Texas,'- and was invited to become chairman of the Committee of Safety at San Felipe.

Questions.—What election was held in February, 1835? Who were elected? What act of this legislature was displeasing to the people and to Santa Anna? What further displeased Santa Anna? What instance can you give of the local effect of disarming the militia? What orders did Cos receive? How did he regard the Monclova legislature? Where were the archives? What did Governor Viesca do? Who were with Viesca? For what point were they destined? What was the end of the State government of Coahnila and Texas -'. Did the colonists regret the dispersion of the legislature? Were the custom-house regulations satisfactory? How did this culminate? How was this accomplished? How did Henry Smith regard it? Chief Wyley Martin? What was done by Cos? What was Captain Thompson's conduct? What was Ids fate? What did the colonists find necessary? What did John A. Wharton move? Was it carried? What conciliatory measures did this meeting adopt? What order had come from Mexico to Ugartechea? What was done in the Navidad settlement? What at San Felipe de Austin? At Nacogdoches? At San Augustine? What was the desire of all thoughtful men in the country? What declaration from Cos aroused the people? What hastened the call for a general consultation? Who was sent to serve this requisition? What report was circulated? What orders were issued from Saltillo? When did the people unite in a call for a consultation? When did Austin return from his imprisonment in Mexico? How did Austin regard the condition .if affairs 1

CHAPTER XXXI.

D1SAKMING THE PEOPLE—ORGANIZATION OF THE AEMY— BATTLE OF CONCEPCION—THK CONSULTATION OF 1835.

A Decree had been issued for disarming the people, which lirst began at Goliad. The new commandante, Colonel Nicolas Condey, took possession of all the arms and pressed l ho citizens into his service. He quartered his soldiers upon the families, and they were guilty of great abuses.

The second attempt was made in Gonzales, in De Witt's colony. Castanado was sent from San Antonio with about a InuuUwl and fifty men to disarm the people. He demanded a small cannon which had been furnished the citizens for defence against Ind'-is. This they refused to surrender, and retired to his camp, on a small mound. Supposing this to be a threatening attitude, the people, calling upon other settlements for aid, organized under Captain Albert Martin with about a hundred and sixty men. John H. Moore was commander. On the 2d of October the citizens marched across the river in the night and took position near the Mexican camp, both being shut in by a dense fog. When the morning dawned and the fog disappeared, the proximity of the combatants was a mutual surprise. The cavalry in advance fired and fell back. The little cannon closed the argument, and Castanado, claiming to be a patriot, left in haste for San Antonio, with the loss of four dead and a number wounded. The Texans had no casualty to report, the Mexican fire passing over their heads.

The effect of these attempts to disarm the population, and especially the visit of Castanado, stirred the people to but one impulse—to drive every Mexican soldier from the soil of Texas.

The citizens from Matagorda, the lower Colorado, Navidad, and Lavaca, collected to the number of fifty-two men, elected George M. Collinsworth commander, and marched on foot for Goliad. On the second night, October 9th, as they were approaching the place, a voice called to them from a thicket. It proved to be Colonel Benj. R. Milam, who had escaped from the prison at Monterey, and, hiding by day, had, by travelling on foot, at night, upwards of three hundred miles, reached the thicket in time to aid his countrymen in taking Goliad.

Before midnight they made a sudden attack, battered down the door, and the whole company rushed in, firing at every moving object. The surprise was complete. The sentinels fired a few random shots, and the little garrison surrendered. It had been reduced a short time since to twentyfour soldiers under Lieutenant-Colonel Sandoval and two other officers. The garrison lost three men. The Texans the Brazos, and Nacogdoches. In only one district was a court convened. In San Felipe, in the Brazos district, Judge David G. Burnet held regular sessions and discharged quite an amount of legal business.

In the spring of 1834 Santa Anna sent his friend and confidante, Juan N. Almonte, who had been educated in the United States, to Texas, with instructions to study the country, its capabilities, its growth, and all the changes that had been brought about by the present inhabitants.

Santa Anna had in view the occupancy of Texas by "a Mexican population of paupers, criminals, and retired military officers."

Almonte passed the summer in Texas, travelling and stopping among the hospitable inhabitants to whom he made himself companionable, and from whose enthusiastic commendations of the country he was able to add to his report: "If, then, the position of Texas is so advantageous, why should not the Mexicans participate in its benefits? Let those who wish to test the worth of these assurances visit the plantations of the colonists, and they will perceive that I am no dreamer."

Almonte reported that since 1806 the Mexican population, never large, had steadily decreased, while now the Americans numbered at least eighteen thousand, with a proportionate prosperity. Cotton and sugar were already articles of export, not in large quantities. He reported the commerce at upwards of ten thousand five hundred dollars exports and six thousand dollars imports.

In the autumn of 1834 a revenue officer was stationed at Anahuac with forty Mexican soldiers to aid him in collecting the revenue.

A third department was created, that of the Brazos. Henry Smith was made political chief, the first American who had been thus honored.

With letters of congratulation from all parts of the State came the earnest request that he would publish his views as to the present condition of the country, and what was best to be done.

The State government was dissolved; Coahuila was in the hands of rival military factions, each claiming to be the State government; the period of election had passed, and none was held ; the government of Mexico was fast crystallizing into centralism ; Texas was governed by political chiefs who held their commissions from the demolished State government.

On the 20th of October, 1834, Chief Henry Smith published an address in which he stated his belief that Coahuila had herself severed her connection with Texas, and advised the calling together, or convocation, of the people by local authorities and the standing advisory committees; that by this a State government of the Mexican Federal Union could be formed, which would or would not receive the sanction of the general government at Mexico; if the former, it would be in readiness; if the latter, "the future must take care of itself." It would, at least, "be a bond of union for the Texas people."

In San Antonio, a few days before the address of Chief Smith was published (October 10, 1834), a large number of Mexican citizens, with several from Coahuila, met at the invitation of Chief Don Erasmo Seguin ; and, after deploring the anarchy which existed, recommended calling a State Convention to assemble in San Antonio on the 15th of November to organize a provisional government.

The San Antonio plan failed for want of time to hold the election, and the call of Chief Smith failed, as was explained by William B. Travis: "Any movement in Texas now would prejudice the situation of Colonel Austin, who was still a prisoner in Mexico."

On the 5th of October, Santa Anna called a council to consider Texas affairs. It consisted of ten distinguished Mexicans, with Lorenzo de Zavala and the prisoner Stephen F. Austin. Zavala joined Austin in urging a separate government for Texas, which Santa Anna in his final decision refused, with frivolous reasons.

Colonel Austin assured Santa Anna that no troops were necessary to compel the payment of custom-house dues, nor for defence against Indians, the moral sense of the people and the local militia being sufficient. "All that the Texans wished for was peacefully to cultivate the soil and keep fealty to the government of their adopted country."

Santa Anna added that four thousand troops, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, should be stationed at San Antonio "for the protection of the coast and the frontier ;" and, after promising increased mail facilities, ended by expressing fraternal regard for the agricultural interests of the country.

Colonel Austin was so well satisfied with the result of the conference, that he wrote, on the 2d of December, from Mexico: "All is going well; the President, Santa Anna, has solemnly and publicly decliired that he will sustain the Federal representative system as it now exists, and he will be sustained by all parties."

Questions.—What new privileges were granted the colonists in 1834? How was the circuit divided? Where was the one court held? Who was the judge? Whom did Santa Anna send into Texas as agent in 1834? Where was he educated? What was his mission? With what class did Santa Anna wish to populate Texas? How did Almonte succeed? What was his report? What additional facts had he discovered? What official was sent to Anahuac in 1834? What new department was created in 1834? Who was appointed chief? What was asked of the chief? What was the condition of the Texas government? Of Mexico? What was Henry Smith's advice? What had been done in San Antonio? Did either plan succeed? What had transpired in Mexico? What remonstrance did Austin make? What announcement did Santa Anna add to his report on Texas affairs? Was Austin satisfied with the conference 1