Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/185

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MEXICAN POLICY.

165

The men at the head of the new centralized governiment of Mexico showed their incompetency to deal with the Texan insurrection. It is true that they made a lame effort to conciliate the rebels with the offer of a further exemption from all taxation during the next ten years, but on the 30th of December, 1835, they passed a law by which they foolishly expected to check the swelling of the Texan ranks from the United States. The offer came too late, and the law produced no other effect than a number of horrible massacres, and the consequent exasperation of the victims' sympathizers, together with a nmore determined resistance.^[1]

Those in power misunderstood the difficulties they had to contend with, namely, the character of a population which might be exterminated, perhaps, but never subdued, and the natural obstacles offered by the region and climate. They seemed to think that in a contest between Mexican soldiers and colonists, the latter must of course succumb; but they did not consider that those soldiers would be fighting at a distance of about 600 miles fronm home, while the Texans were fighting for their hearths on their own ground.^[2]

The Texans now concluded, in view of Mexico's hostile attitude toward them, to sever all connection with that country; and on the 2d of March, 1836, in convention assembled at Washington, on the Brazos,

Ses. 2, H. Ex. Doc. 74, pp. 1-24, vol. ii.; 190, pp. 1-120, vol. iv.; Cong. Debates, 1837, xiv. 176-96; Mex. Correspond., Paso del Sabina, 1-122.

↑ The law in question declared that efforts were made in the United States, in violation of the neutrality laws and of the wishes of that government — such had been its assurances — to fit out armed expeditions to help the rebels of Texas. In consequence, the following rules were established: 1st. Foreigners landing at any part of the republic, or entering her territory by land, armed and with hostile intent, were to be dealt with as pirates. 2d. The same treatment was to be awarded to foreigners found landing or introducing arms or other war material at places in a state of insurrection against the Mexican government with the intent of placing them in the rebels' hands.

Under this law almost all Texans taken with arms in their hands might be treated as pirates. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 280-1; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., iii. 114-15.
↑ The fatuous rulers took no account of obstacles, such as streams, rain, snow, swamps, nor of the necessity of providing supplies for the soldiers. Moreover, the force employed to attempt the subjugation of the Texans was too small for such an undertaking. Mora, Obras Sueltas, i. pp. cclxxxviii.-ix.

[1] The law in question declared that efforts were made in the United States, in violation of the neutrality laws and of the wishes of that government — such had been its assurances — to fit out armed expeditions to help the rebels of Texas. In consequence, the following rules were established: 1st. Foreigners landing at any part of the republic, or entering her territory by land, armed and with hostile intent, were to be dealt with as pirates. 2d. The same treatment was to be awarded to foreigners found landing or introducing arms or other war material at places in a state of insurrection against the Mexican government with the intent of placing them in the rebels' hands.

Under this law almost all Texans taken with arms in their hands might be treated as pirates. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 280-1; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., iii. 114-15.

[2] The fatuous rulers took no account of obstacles, such as streams, rain, snow, swamps, nor of the necessity of providing supplies for the soldiers. Moreover, the force employed to attempt the subjugation of the Texans was too small for such an undertaking. Mora, Obras Sueltas, i. pp. cclxxxviii.-ix.

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