shown in the last era that Texas was not a separate state of the Mexican Republic, but had been joined to Coahuila. The Texans were promised that this union should last only till their state grew strong enough to justify a separate government. The colonists claimed that time had now come, but Mexico paid no attention to the requests of the Texans. (4) Taxes and Customs Houses. To induce foreigners to settle in Texas, Mexico had promised that for a term of years they should be free from taxation, and should have the privilege of importing without duty all supplies really needed for their own use. This time had now expired; taxes were levied and custom houses established. Had this been all, the colonists would have had no cause to complain, for the taxes in themselves were not unreasonable, but we shall see that Mexico made the collection of taxes and duties disagreeable and humiliating. The colonists were not free from blame in this matter. Not content with the liberal allowance made them by the early colonization laws, some of the Americans had made a practice of smuggling luxuries and articles for sale. (5) Military Occupation.- To collect these taxes and to see that the laws were obeyed, bodies of Mexican troops under General Terán were sent into Texas. Some twelve military posts were established.2 These soldiers were to be supported from the taxes and duties paid by the people. The colonists felt that there was no need of a military force to collect taxes, and that the expense of keeping up such a body of men was unnecessary. To make matters worse, some of the soldiers sent into Texas were convicts and desperadoes whose insolent behavior was often unendurable. On the slightest pretext the Mexican officers declared the country under martial law. Innocent men were arrested and imprisoned without knowing the crime with which they were charged. (6) No Sympathy Between Races.-The strongest cause in bringing on the Texas Revolution, however, was the entire lack of sympathy between the Mexican people and the Anglo-Saxon colonists. They could not understand our methods of government and we could not endure their idea of a republic. Captain Bradburn Makes Trouble.- No one at this date did more to stir up bitter feelings between the colonists and the Mexicans than Captain John Davis Bradburn, a Kentuckian by birth, who had gone to Mexico with Mina and remained in the service of the Mexican government. General Terán placed him in charge of Anahuac (ä-nä-wäk'), a port on Galveston Bay, through which Austin's colony obtained some of their supplies. In 1831, Letona was elected governor of Coahuila and Texas. Letona, relying upon the state colonization law of 1825, ordered that land titles be granted to colonists. already in Texas before 1830. According to the governor's instructions, the town of Liberty near Anahuac was established and a regular colony organized. This displeased General Terán; he, declaring that the decree. of April 6, 1830 was being disobeyed, ordered Bradburn to arrest and imprison the two officers (Madero and Carbajal) sent out by Governor Letona as commissioner and surveyor. Bradburn seemed to take pleasure in carrying out Terán's commands; he also abolished the town government established at Liberty and took upon himself the right to distribute lands; he paid no attention to the civil authorities and treated the people with contempt. Blockade. When the colonists complained, Bradburn commanded all the ports except Anahuac to be closed. This harbor was so situated that only small vessels could enter; hence Bradburn's order really amounted to a blockade. Texans Protest.- Determined that they would submit to no such tyranny, the Texans met (Dec., 1831), at Brazoria, to discuss public affairs. After mature deliberation, Dr. Branch T. Archer 3 and George B. McKinstry were sent to ask Bradburn to revoke his order and to open the ports. Bradburn replied that he must have time to lay the matter before Terán, his superior officer. But when he was Branch T. Archer told the colonists would brook no delay, he was afraid to refuse and Brazoria was opened. Arrest of Travis and Others.- Bradburn, however, learned no lesson from this episode. He declared (May, 1832) the ten leagues of coast land formerly reserved for government use to be under martial law. Hardly had the people realized this new offense when he arrested several colonists (among whom was William B. Travis), imprisoned them in the fort, and treated them as common criminals. The Texans demanded the release of their comrades, saying: "If these men have committed crimes they should be tried by civil and not by military law." Bradburn refused to release the prisoners. Troubles at Anahuac.- Indignation among the col onists rose high. Settlers on the Trinity and others from Austin's colony under the command of F. W. Johnson, took up arms and hastened to Anahuac, determined to rescue their friends. They were joined by John Austin,+ the brave alcalde of Brazoria, and a small but courageous body of men. Having captured some of Bradburn's soldiers, the colonists again demanded the release of the prisoners. Bradburn would not yield, but finally saved himself from battle by promising to exchange the colonists for his soldiers held captive by the Americans, provided the Americans would first retire six miles. His proposition was accepted and his men were promptly returned, but, to the amazement of the colonists, he refused to give up his prisoners. The colonists were filled with indignation, yet, knowing it would be impossible to capture Anahuac without cannon, they decided not to attack the fort but to remain at Turtle Bayou until artillery. could be brought from Brazoria. Turtle Bayou Resolutions. While waiting at Turtle Bayou (June 13, 1832) the Americans drew up a set of resolutions in which they expressed in emphatic terms their indignation at the treatment received, and yet showed that they were still loyal to all rightful Mexican authority. They denounced Bustamante, President of Mexico, and his officers in Texas, and declared that the Texans would, if necessary, give their lives and fortunes to support the Constitution of Mexico and to aid "the patriot, Santa Anna." 5 Piedras Quiets Affairs.— About this time by order of General Terán, Colonel Piedras (pē-a'-dräs) of Nacogdoches came to Anahuac. On hearing both sides of the trouble, he turned over the American prisoners to the civil officers, who declared them innocent and set them 361735A free. Bradburn was removed from office, and the colonists hastened home to lay down the sword and to take up the plow. Capture of Velasco.- (June 27, 1832). Going back a little, we find John Austin in command of the men sent to Brazoria for cannon and reënforcements. The people of Brazoria sympathized deeply with their neighbors at Anahuac, and were glad to assist them, but Ugartechea (oo-gär tä-che'-a), the Mexican officer in command at Velasco, refused to allow the schooner bearing the cannon to pass his fort. By no means discouraged, the Americans decided to capture Velasco and then hasten on to Anahuac. Marching down the east bank of the Brazos, Austin, with perhaps one hundred and twelve men, halted for a few days and offered to treat with Ugartechea; this offer being refused, Austin prepared for battle. During the night the schooner containing the cannon dropped down the river to a point near the fort; a barricade of cotton bales protected the keen-eyed marksmen who, under Captain William Russel, were to do valiant service. Austin and his assistant, Captain Henry S. Brown, marched their troops in two separate divisions to positions near the fort, Brown's men being shielded by a mass of drift logs, while in the darkness Austin's men quickly erected for their shelter a palisade. When morning came the guns in the fort opened fire, and bravely was the fire returned. The cannon of the fort was so mounted that in firing upon the foe the heads of the Mexicans were exposed, hence the shots of the Americans did awful execution. The palisade proving worthless, Austin's men rushed for protection to the sides of the fort and made for themselves pits in the sand, but all this time the guns never ceased. The schooner poured out a constant volley. The Mexicans tried to shoot |