America Its Realities and Resources (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1846 Excerpt: ... OF THE MEXICAN TERRITORY. 261 elements necessary to constitute her a separate state of the confederacy, when, with the approval of the National Congress, the connection was to be dissolved, and an independent and separate state legislature given to Texas, that approved of the arrangement. The constitution of Texas and Coahuila as forming a part of the Mexican Union, was decreed on llth March, 1827; the 6th Article of the preliminary dispositions of which, declares " the territory of the state is the same which comprehends the provinces heretofore known by the name of Coahuila and Texas. A constitutional law shall fix their limits, with respect to the other adjoining states of the Mexican Federation." It may be well to observe, as explanatory of the real or more positive cause of Texan disconduct, that the Government of Mexico, in its primeval organization, being desirous to give effect to the immediate suppression of the slave-trade within its territory, and the gradual removal of slavery within its jurisdiction, decreed, by article 30th of the law of 4th of January, 1823, that after the publication thereof, "there can be no sale or purchase of slaves which may be introduced into the Empire. The children of slaves born in the Empire, shall be freed at fourteen years of age." And by the laws of Coahuila and Texas, of March 24th, 1824, Article 46, "New settlers (as regards the introduction of slaves) shall become subject to the existing laws in relation thereto, and which may hereafter be established.." . 262 CAUSES OF TEXAN DISCONTENT Article 4th of the law, of 23rd March, 1831, enjoins, that importers of slaves after the expiration of the time mentioned in the 13th Article of the Constitution, (llth Sept. 1827, ) " will be subject to the penalties establishe...