sary orders for mustering and other purposes will be issued to commanding officers. Union And Mexico!"

Stephen F. Austin.

A fratricidal war was happily averted. When the Fredonians learned of the approach of the Mexicans under Ahumada, runners were sent to the Indians, calling for the promised assistance, but it was too late. Bean had already won them from their covenant, and arrayed them against their chiefs, Hunter and Fields, both of whom they basely murdered. The Mexican troops halted for the Indians to join them, when the Americans, seeing themselves deserted, and having previously sent off such families as desired to leave, abandoned the place on the 31st of January, and retired across the Sabine, when the Mexicans entered and took possession.

The rights of Americans had been outraged by Mexicans, and although the result was inevitable, the episode made a deep impression upon the minds of many thoughtful Americans.

These lands were afterwards granted to Empresarios David 6. Burnet, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Joseph Vehlin, and were bought by New York capitalists for speculation.*

Questions.—What now became necessary for Haden Edwards? What was his brother's duty in his absence? What did Austin advise? What was Blanco's reply? What was the effect? What was Edwards' disposition' What conciliatory steps did he take? What did the colonists resolve to do? Whose alliance did they seek 1 Describe the proceedings. What was this " league and covenant "? On what errand did Ellis P. Bean approach Nacogdoches about this time? What did he do on learning the condition

* The Edwards brothers were natives of Kentucky, but were at this time residents of Mississippi and wealthy planters. They belonged to a family, members of which have been distinguished for talent and public service in Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Texas. Benjamin W. Edwards returned from Texas to Mississippi, where he died about 1845, a few days after his election as governor of that State. Haden Edwards had thirteen children, most of whom became permanent settlers in Nacogdoches and other parts of the State. A daughter was the wife of Frost Thorn, temporarily associated with De Witt.

of affaire? What did the Fredonians do? What was done by the two colonies? What occurred in January, 1827? What course was now pursued by Austin 'i How wan this threatened war averted? What was the cud of the Fredonian war? What disposition was afterwards made of the land?

CHAPTER XXII.

NACOGDOCHES—GROWTH OF COLONIES—PROCLAMATION' OF THE CONSTITUTION OF COAIIUILA AND TEXAS—SETTLEMENT OF THE COAST LEAGUES—LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF COLONIES—RELIGION OF COLONISTS—EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

Nacogdoches and the country around it received constant additions, being near the United States, and settlers coming independently.

Austin's colony was successful because it was well organized from the beginning. He was given power to exercise the local functions of government as well as the command of the local militia.

After the exact boundaries were fixed, March 7, 1827, the colonies grew more rapidly—Austin's, De Witt's, and De Leon's. Sterling 0. Robertson, after some delay, was partially successful.

The State constitution was not proclaimed in Texas until two years after the combination of the two provinces—March 11, 1827.

In 1828 the ten coast leagues and the twenty border leagues separating Texas from the United States were open to settlement.

Austin's colony had consisted of two municipalities, with an alcalde in each. Under the new State government Austin's governmental powers ceased and were merged in that of the State. A political chief was a department officer, exercising both civil and military rule. An alcalde was a municipal officer. A meeting of the alcaldes about three times a year formed an ayuntamiento, or court of appeals. Each municipality had two regidors (justices) and a syndivo procurador (marshal).

The new State law contained the old requirement that the Roman Catholic should be the religion of the State, but there were no local priests among the people permanently, nor did the Protestant colonists observe the feasts or public ceremonials of the Church. Occasionally Protestant ministers came among them aud preached without molestation.

Nominally the government supported parochial schools in the larger towns; there were three or four private schools in the denser populations, but many years passed before the scattered children could collect with safety to form schools. Some of the more wealthy sent their children to the United States to be educated. In their social life, the colonists were hospitable to the highest degree, families being only too glad to welcome the wayfarer, who was supposed, nominally, to be furnished with a certificate of good character from good authority at home, and who added to the protection of isolated families; and, as there were few post-offices or newspapers, he paid in entertainment for his temporary abiding-place.

In the country remote from towns, settlements exchanged visits on horseback; the additional wardrobe (of ladies) in packages suspended from the horn of the saddle, and always accompanied by an armed escort. The usual distinctions of rank in society could not be afforded ; the demands of pleasure, mutual protection, care of the sick, etc., all forbade it. They were cheerful, healthy, and having but little leisure made the most of it.

GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.

The people were mostly of the best families of Southern people, who brought their intelligence, refinement, and Christianity with them. There was also an admixture of

Northern men, who brought their mechanical skill and enterprise, which were of value to the new settlements. The new dwellings were often with only a curtain at the doorway. The corn-crib was safe without lock or key, as was also the “smoke-house." If a horse was stolen the owner knew that Indians had committed the theft.

QUESTIONS.—What can you tell of the country around Nacogdoches ? Why was Austin's colony more successful ? What of the growth of the colonies ? When was the constitution of Coahuila and Texas proclaimed ? When were the coast leagues opened to settlement ? How had Austin's colony been divided ? How did the new State government affect Austin's powers? What now constituted the local government of the colonies ? What of the religion of the colonists ? What were the educational facilities? What of social life? What was the general character of the people ?

CHAPTER XXIII.

BRADBURN AT ANAHUAC-ARREST OF COLONISTS-TURTLE

BAYOU RESOLUTIONS— VELASCO.

In 1827 the United States renewed her proposal to purchase Texas, the country between the Sabine and Rio Grande, from Mexico, offering one million dollars for it. The Mexicans suspected that the Texans were in sympathy with this proposal. It was rejected. The Mexicans were already in as close proximity to their American neighbors as they wished. Changes affecting Texas now took place. A new election, under the constitution of 1824, was now to take place in Mexico, the four years' term of office of Guadalupe Victoria, “the purest of all Mexican chiefą," having expired. Pedraza, the candidate of the aristocracy, received the most votes; but, as eight months intervened between the election and inauguration, there was sufficient time for a successful revolution by the constitutional party, headed by Santa Anna and Lorenzo de Zavala, and Guerrero, their candidate, was placed in office. Pedraza went into exile in the United States, and Anastasia Bustamente, a bigoted, unprincipled military

chieftain, was chosen vice-president. This officer headed a successful revolution against President Guerrero, assumed the presidency, and soon evinced his hatred of foreigners by issuing the celebrated decree of April 6, 1830, the eleventh article of which prohibited any further immigration of Americans into Texas.

This decree spread gloom over the colonies, as there were many parts of families, who, coming in advance, had been occupied in making preparations for the arrival of others; and there was no time to turn them back or to warn those who were on the eve of leaving, after selling their homes, of the fate that awaited them on their arrival. The Texans feared that this evidence of hatred might be followed up by others still more vindictive.

The following legislature, or congress, repealed the Colonization Law of 1825, and created another based upon Bustamente's odious decree of April 6, 1830.

About this time the period during which the colonists were exempt from taxation expired, and while the taxes imposed were not burdensome, the revenue officers were accompanied by soldiers to establish military posts and all necessary preparations for enforcing the collection of taxes.

The colonists complained of the burden which the support of the military imposed upon them—to which they were unaccustomed and which they considered unnecessary—and of another decree, forbidding Americans to retail goods to the colonists. Under pretext of necessity the military post at Nacogdoches was regarrisoned with three hundred and fifty soldiers under Colonel Piedras as senior commander. A post built at Anahuac, on Galveston Bay, with one hundred and fifty men, was commanded by Captain Bradburn, an American in the Mexican service. This position was chosen by General Teran. Velasco, on the gulf shore and on the east side of the Brazos, was held by Colonel Ugartechea with one hundred and fifty men. There was an increase of