Fellow Citizens,—With the most heartfelt and sincere
congratulations I now have the pleasure of announcing to you officially the
form of Government which the Mexican Congress have adopted, and
which you are now called on to swear to And this I do with the
more satisfaction as I am convinced that there is not a breast
amongst you that will not palpitate with exultation and delight at
the prospects of Freedom, Happiness, and Prosperity which the
Federal Republican System of Govenmment presents to your View.
Words cannot express to you the Satisfaction I feel from the
reflection that those whose fortunes I shall be instrumental in
promoting in this Country can now enjoy them without the alloy, which
the fear of a despotic Government would have thrown into their
future hopes. The great Mexican Nation is free—rational liberty
with all its concomitant blessings has opened to the view of the
world, a Nation which Despotism had hitherto enveloped in
intellectual night—The Federal Republican System that last and
glorious hope of persecuted freedom, first established by the great
fathers of North American Independence on the ruins of British
Colonial oppression, and which soon raised a new born nation to
a degree of prosperity and happiness unequaled in the history of
the world—Now Spreads its fostering arms over the vast
dominions of Mexico—The hitherto enslaved Spanish Provinces are now
free and independent States.
This Province forms a State in conjunction with Cohahuila and
New León the two adjoining ones— The convention is to meet at
the City of Monterrey early in the Summer to form our State
Constitution— One year more will see the Government completely
organized with the several departments of Executive, Legislative and
Judicial divided and clearly delineated, and the civil and Military
power forever seperated as in the Government of the United States.
In the mean time fellow citizens we have nothing to disturb our
tranquility here unless we willfully create confusion and discontent
amongst ourselves— As regards your lands I am responsible to
you—to the world, to my own honor and to My God that no
difficulty or embarrassment can or ever will arise unless produced by
your own impatience or imprudence.
The task I have had before me has been a laborious and
perplexing one, I have however never shrunk from the hardships,
exposures or the responsibilities which it imposed upon me, nor never
shall,—I have endeavored to make the fortunes of every one who
joined me in forming this Colony and the Greatest consolation I
derive from the enterprise is the conviction that I shall do so—
It has been my Study to treat all with equal justice and
impartiality and if I have failed to do so it must be attributed to the
imperfections of my judgement and not to those of my heart, and with
almost unlimited Authority in My hands I think you must say that
I have governed you with mildness—
It is our true interest to keep peace with the Indians as long as
we can do so consistent with our rights, but Should a war be
unavoidable you will not find me backward in prosecuting it. I trust
however that you will all have too much prudence to commit any
act that would prematurely bring on hostilities.
I hope fellow citizens you will attend to the words of the Political
Chief of this Province and in future disregard those vague rumors
that are only put in circulation by the enemies of good order for
the sole purpose of creating confusion and discontent, and that
you will repose with confidence under the Authority that governs,
being assured that the Government will always cherish and protect
you, and that every thing in my feeble power to do for your benefit
will be cheerfully done, for as I before observed, the greatest
consolation I ever expect to derive from My labors in the wilderness of
this Province will arise from the conviction that I have benefited
many of my fellow beings, and laid the foundation for the settlement
of one of the finest countries in the world—
Your fellow Citizens,
Stephen F. Austin [Rubric]
May 1, 1824