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Show TEXAS CONTINUED. 425 Constitution of 1824, about which there has been so much fighting since. We have seen how the division in Spain excited revolution in Mexico ; in exactly the same way civil war in Mexico brought on re-volt, and finally independence, in Texas. No sooner was the Constitu-tion of 1824 adopted, than the ruling classes insisted on a strong central government, the reduction of the States to departments, and a president with greater powers. These were called Centralists ; their opponents Federalists a name meaning the exact opposite of what it does in the United States. Santa Anna, by intrigue, treachery, and the support of the Church, obtained control as a Centralist; his great rival Bustamente stirred up numerous revolutions among the Federal-ists. At first Texas appeared equally divided, but in no long time the Federalists got control, as it was obviously for her interests that there should be separate State governments. Embassies and petitions were sent to Mexico City ; the petitions were disregarded, the envoys often imprisoned. Thus, little by little the war spirit was excited in Texas. Meanwhile Moses Austin had obtained his large grant of land in Texas from the Mexican government, and dying, left its settlement to his son Stephen. Having completed this work, Stephen Austin took an active part in political affairs, and went to Mexico as an envoy from Texas. There he was thrown into prison, where he remained two years and a half. All this time the Mexicans went on pulling down one and setting up another ; and, as the result of half a dozen revolutions, Bustamente and the Federalists came into power. But their rule was as bad for Texas as that of the Centralists. They con-cluded that the Territory contained too many Americans, and forbade the immigration of any more ! They passed about all the vexatious laws against free trade they could think of. Whenever it was certified to them that the Anglo- Texans were making money on any article, they straightway proceeded to restrict its sale or production. Among other bright laws, was one that no planter in Texas should sow more than one bushel of tobacco seed ! Tobacco growers will see the point. The largest planter in Ohio does not use a gill. To further aggravate the Texans, their province was attached to Coahuila. The Mexicans of that State furnished two- thirds of the legislature ; and the inhabited part of Texas was nearly a thousand miles from the State capital. The Texans agitated and interceded for a separate government ; the Mexican authorities responded by a more oppressive tariff law, and by introducing garrisons into the country to overawe the " rebels." Meanwhile there was another revolution in Mexico. Bustamente retired, Santa Anna took the reins, and estab- |