REPUBLIC OF TEXAS - SAM. HOUSTON'S CALL TO ARMS. Dec. 12, 1835 Contributed by: Joan Renfrow ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** PROCLAMATION OF SAM. HOUSTON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS {HEAD QUARTERS {WASHINGTON, TEXAS {DECEMBER 12, 1835 CITIZENS OF TEXAS, Your situation is peculiarly calculated to call forth all your manly energies. Under the republican constitution of Mexico, you were invited to Texas, then a wilderness. You have reclaimed and rendered it a cultivated country. You solemnly swore to support the Constitution and its laws. Your oaths are yet inviolate. In accordance with them, you have fought with the liberals against those who sought to overthrow the Constitution, in 1832, when the present usurper was the champion of liberal principles in Mexico. Your obedience has manifested your integrity. You have witnessed with pain the convulsions of the interior, and a succession of usurpations. You have experienced, in silent grief, the expulsion of your members elect from the State Congress. You have realized the horrors of anarchy, and the dictation of military rule. The promises made to you have not been fulfilled. Your memorials for the redress of grievances have been disregarded; and the agents you have sent to Mexico have been imprisoned for years, without enjoying the rights of trial, agreeably to law. Your constitutional executive has been deposed by the bayonets of a mercenary soldiery, while your Congress has been dissolved by violence, and its members, either fled, or were arrested by the military force of the country. The Federation has been dissolved, the Constitution declared at an end, and centralism has been established. Amidst all these trying vicissitudes, you remained loyal to the duty of citizens, with a hope that liberty would not perish in the republic of Mexico. But while you were fondly cherishing this hope, the Dictator required the surrender of the arms of the civic militia, that he might be enabled to establish on the ruins of the Constitution, a system of policy which would forever enslave the people of Mexico. Zacatecas, unwilling to yield her sovereign rights to the demand which struck at the root of all liberty, refused to disarm her citizens of their private arms. Ill-fated state! her power as well as her wealth aroused the ambition of Santa Ana, and excited his cupidity. Her citizens became the first victims of his cruelty, while her wealth was sacrificed in payment for the butchery of her citizens. The success of the usurper determined him in exacting from the people in Texas, submission to the central form of government; and to inforce his plan of despotiam, he dispatched a military force, to invade the colonies, and exact the arms of the inhabitants. The citizens refused the demand, and the invading force was increased. The question then was, shall we resist the oppression and live free, or violate our oaths, and bear a despot's stripes? The citizens of Texas rallied to the defense of their constitutional rights. They have met four to one, and by their chivalry and courage, they have vanquished the enemy, with a gallantry and spirit which is characteristic of the justice of our cause. The army of the people is now before Bejar, besieging the central army within its walls. Though called together at a moment, the citizens of Texas improvided as they were in the necessary munitions of war and supplies for an army, have maintained a siege of months. Always patient and untiring in their patriotism and zeal, in the cause of liberty, they have borne every vicissitude of season and every incident of the solider, with a contempt of peril which reflects immortal honor on the members of the army of the people. Since our army has been in the field, a consultation of the people, by their representatives, has net, and established a provisional government. This course has grown out of the emergencies of the country: the army has claimed its peculiar care. We were without law, and without a constitutional head. The Provisional Executive and the General Council of Texas are earnestly engaged in the discharge of their respective duties, preparing for every exigency of the country; and I am satisfied, from their zeal, ability, and patriotism, that Texas will have every thing to hope from their exertions in behalf of the principles which we have avowed. A regular army has been created, and liberal encouragement has been given by the government. To all who will enlist for two years, or during the war, a bounty of twenty-four dollars and eight hundred acres of land will be given. Provision has also been made for raising an auxiliary volunteer corps, to constitute part of the army of Texas, which will be placed under the command, and subject to the orders of the commander-in-chief. The field for promotion will be open. The terms of service will be various. To those who chose to tender their services for or during the war, will be given a bounty of six hundred and forty acres of land: an equal bounty will be given to those who volunteer their services for two years: if for one year, a bounty of three hundred and twenty acres; and to those who may volunteer for a shorter period, no bounty of land will be given, but the same liberal pay, rations, etc., will be allowed them as other members of the army. The rights of citizenship are extended to all who will unite with us in defending the republican principles of the Constitution of 1824. Citizens of Texas, your rights must be defended. The oppressors must be driven from our soil. Submission to the laws, and union among ourselves will render us invincible; subordination and discipline in our army will guarantee to us victory and renown. Our invader has sworn to exterminate us, or sweep us from the soil of Texas. He is vigilant in his work of oppression, and has ordered to Texas ten thousand men to enforce the unhallowed purposes of his ambition. His letters to his subalterns in Texas have been intercepted, and his plans for the destruction are disclosed. Departing from the chivalric principles of civilized warfare, he has ordered arms to be distributed to a portion of our population, for the purpose of creating in the midst of us a servile war. The hopes of the usurper were inspired by a belief that the citizens of Texas were disunited and divided in opinion, and that alone has been the cause of the present invasion of our rights. He shall realize the fallacy of his hopes, in the union of her citizens, and their ETERNAL RESISTANCE to his plans against constitutional liberty. We will enjoy our birth-right, or perish in its defense. The services of five thousand volunteers will be accepted. By the first of March next, we must meet the enemy with an army worthy of our cause, and which will reflect honor upon freemen. Our habitations must be defended; the sanctity of our heaths and firesides must be preserved from pollution. Liberal Mexicans will unite with us. Our countrymen in the field have presented an example worthy of imitation. Generous and brave hearts from a land of freedom have joined our standard before Bejar. They have, by their heroism and valor called forth the admiration of their comrades in arms, and have reflected additional honor on the land of their birth. Let the brave rally to our standard! Sam. Houston, Commander-in-chief of the Army. By order, George W. Poe, Acting Adjutant-General. Printed by Baker and Bordens, San Felipe de Austin.