USA > Texas > A School History of Texas: From Its Discovery in 1685 to 1893. For the Use of Schools, Academies, Convents, Seminaries, and all Institutions of Learning > Part 13
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The labors of this first Congress demanded the highest exer- cise of wisdom and prudence, involving the appointment of committees ; the enactment of original, primary laws, affecting every feature of a free government under a written constitu- tion ; the rights of immigrants ; to guard also those of soldiers, to whom bounty lands had been pledged for services ; provide protection from Indian depredations ; the army and navy to
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provide for ; a financial system to construct ; and their enemies, the Mexicans, to watch.
Texas began as a republic, with a debt of about one and a quarter million of dollars, without public credit, and no re- sources but her lands. Her Anglo-American population was probably about forty-five thousand.
The consultation (1835), as a measure of precaution in the unsettled condition of the country, ordered the land office closed November 13, 1835, and Governor Smith succeeded in enforcing this order.
Congress provided for a board of land commissioners, and for a competent surveyor for every county, who should map out his work and furnish the results to the general land office.
On the 15th of No- vember, 1836, at his resi- dence on the San Jacinto, died the ex-Vice-Presi- dent of the Republic, Lo- renzo de Zavala,* aged fifty-five. Ever an advo- cate of republican gov- ernment, a devoted friend of the country of his adoption, member of the consultation of 1835, of CAPITOL BUILDING AT HOUSTON, 1837. the provisional government the same year, signer of the declara- tion of independence, March 2, 1836-his death was universally lamented in Texas.
Congress adjourned on the 21st of December, 1836, to meet again in the newly laid out town of Houston on the first Monday in May, 1837.
At Columbia, on the 27th of December, 1836, died General Stephen Fuller Austin, the father of American civilization in
* " Gentleman, patriot, and scholar."-LAMAR.
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Texas, and Secretary of State of the Republic, aged forty-three. He died of pneumonia, contracted while writing in connection with his official position, in a cold room. His remains, fol- lowed by the officers of government and a large number of citizens, were placed on board the steamer Yellowstone, at Columbia, and conveyed to Peach Point, on the Brazos, twelve miles above its mouth, the residence of his sister, Mrs. Emily M. Perry. Here the procession was met by a portion of the first regiment of infantry, when suitable funeral honors were paid to the distinguished dead.
By order of government the army and navy were decked in the emblems of a nation's grief .*
After the death of Austin, James Pinkney Henderson be- came Secretary of State. When General Rusk became Secre- tary of War, General Felix Houston took command of the army. General Rusk soon resigned, and William S. Fisher became Secretary of War.
To avoid the confusion which would have followed at this time, the Congress, having organized counties, reserved the power of electing the county judges, surveyors, and boards of land commissioners charged with issuing land certificates, in all of which, fortunately, they made judicious selections.
·
The Republic was divided into four judicial districts-the Eastern, Shelby Corzain, judge; the Brazoria district, Benjamin C. Franklin, judge ; Washington, Robert M. Williamson, judge ; Western, James W. Robinson, judge. These, with Chief-Justice James Collingsworth, formed the supreme court.
* James H. Bell, in a eulogy of him, said : "His fame will grow as the State which he founded is destined to grow in prosperity and influence. And when the capital which bears his name shall have become a proud city, and when all the hills that rise around it, and the noble plains that spread out before it, shall wear the splendid and blooming aspect which the plastic hand of industry creates, then the name of the pioneer who opened the way for civilization and for social refinements to enter where all before was wild and rude and desolate will have been placed on the bright roll that bears to future ages the names of the worthies of the past."
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A prosecuting attorney for each district was also elected by this Congress. There were then twenty-three counties organ- ized, and a judge elected for each.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE UNITED STATES.
In a special message to Congress, after the arrival of Minister William H. Wharton in Washington, President Jackson favored the recognition of the independence of Texas by the United States. It met with much opposition in Con- gress ; but on the 3d of March, 1837, the bill passed both houses by joint resolution, and was signed by President Jack- son as his last official act.
President Houston sent Memucan Hunt to act in concert with William H. Wharton in urging the immediate annexa- tion of Texas to the United States. The opposition to an- nexation was intense in the United States for political reasons, chiefly as increasing the slave territory, and adding strength to the agricultural districts in the West and South, as against the manufacturing interests in the East.
In . 1838 President Houston, through Minister Doctor Anson Jones, formally withdrew the application for annexa- tion, believing with many of her citizens that Texas could sustain herself as an independent republic.
THE TEXAS NAVY. -
On the 13th of April, 1837, the Independence, having Minister William H. Wharton on board, on his return from Washington, and the Julius Caesar, with a valuable cargo, about thirty miles off Velasco were attacked by the Mexican brigs. Libertador and Vincedor del Alamo, and after a severe fight were captured and carried into Brazos Santiago. The prisoners were taken to Matamoras.
The Texians with the other naval vessels coasted down as far as Yucatan, landing, and burning several villages and captur-
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ing a few small prizes. The Invincible captured the Mexican schooner Arispe, and the Brutus captured the Telegraph, loaded with Mexican goods from New Orleans. The Invin- cible and Brutus afterward captured a Mexican war schooner off the coast of Campeachy ; this the Brutus brought over the bar at Galveston safely. The Invincible, failing to cross the. bar at Galveston, was attacked the following morning by two Mexican brigs of war. The Brutus, in going out to her relief, ran aground. The Invincible fought both vessels until dark, when, in a disabled condition, she was wrecked in the breakers, her officers and crew escaping. The Brutus was wrecked in October, 1837.
On the 4th of November, 1837, the receiving-ship Potomac being the only remaining naval vessel, an act to increase the navy was passed. By contract with a Baltimore house one ship, two brigs, and three schooners were purchased the fol- lowing year and sent to Galveston at different times.
QUESTIONS .- What did the constitution of the Republic provide with regard to elec- tions ? What additional questions were submitted to the people ? Who was elected President ? Who Vice-President ? Who composed President Houston's cabinet ? When did the Texas Congress meet ? What was the mission of Wharton and Hunt to Wash- ington ? Who was speaker of the house ? What was Burnet's message on the 22d of October ? What were the labors of this Congress ? What was the financial condition of the country ? What was the condition of the land office ? What remedy did Congress provide ? What sad event occurred on the 15th of November, 1836 ? What can you tell of Zavala ? When did Congress adjourn ? When and where were they to meet next ? When did Austin die ? What was he called ? What was his age ? Give an account of his sickness and death. Give an account of his burial. Who succeeded Austin as Secretary of State ? What powers did Congress assume ? Into how many judicial districts was Texas divided ? Who were the officers ? Who favored the recognition of Texian independence ? Who was minister to the United States from Texas ? What was President Jackson's last official act ? What was next urged upon the United States ? What was the result of this application ? What was done by President Houston in 1838 ? What occurred on the 18th of April, 1837 ? What was done by way of reprisal ? What was the fate of the Invincible and the Brutus? What act of this Congress was passed, looking to the increase of the navy ?
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CHAPTER XLV.
INDIANS.
As the surveyors extended their labors into the wilderness, the roaming Indians were a source of annoyance and danger. President Burnet had organized a ranging service for protec- tion against them, which Houston continued, and they had numerous encounters with the Indians. On the 7th of January, 1837, Lieutenant George B. Erath, with fourteen men and boys, fought one hundred Indians in Elm Creek Bottom, eight miles west of Cameron, killing fifteen Indians and losing two men, David Clark and Frank Childers. Lieutenant Wren fought and defeated a body of Indians near Austin, capturing their horses and losing one man.
Captain William M. Eastland made a campaign to the head of the Leon and returned down the Colorado. Twenty-five of his men, under Lieutenant Van Benthuysen, continued across the country, and in Wise County had a fight with Indians, in which he lost Lieutenant Miles and eight men killed, and several wounded, with whom he escaped on foot, and, after much suffering, halting for two or three days where Dallas now stands, reached the settlements below. At different times in Lavaca County, Lyons, Nunley, Smothers, and Stiffler were killed, and a son of Mr. Lyons carried into captivity where he remained ten years. There were massacres on Cummin's Creek, in Fayette County. Mr. John G. Robinson, member of the first Congress, and his brother, visiting him from the United States, were both killed at that place, and there were massacres on the Trinity and other places.
In February, 1839, Mrs. Robert M. Coleman and one son were killed, about midway between Bastrop and Austin, and one son carried off. These Indians were pursued by Captain
* See " Indian Wars of Texas," by John Henry Brown.
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Jacob Burleson and party ; his brother, Jonathan Burleson, was killed. Reinforced by his brother, Colonel Edward Burle- son, a second fight occurred, resulting in a drawn battle and the death of three men, Edward Blakey, Rev. Mr. Gilleland, and John Walters, all citizens of Bastrop and vicinity.
Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston succeeded General Felix Huston in command of the army then on the Lavaca. The officers were often changing, by expiration of time, by resigna- tions, and by new elections on the arrival of new companies from the United States. Regarding Texas as safe from in- vasion, while Mexico was involved in constant domestic strife, President Houston granted furloughs to companies until the army was reduced to six hundred men.
No European power had formally recognized the independ- ence of Texas, but through the influence of Commissioner James Pinkney Henderson, England and France conceded to Texas belligerent rights, the right to take Mexican prizes into their ports, and, in 1840, both those nations recognized the independence of Texas through the combined efforts of J. Pinkney Henderson and General James Hamilton of South Carolina.
RENEWED INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
On the 10th of August, 1838, Captain Henry W. Karnes, with twenty-five men, on the Arroya Seco, west of San Antonio, was furiously assaulted by two hundred Camanches. He chose a defensive position and killed twenty Indians, when the re- mainder gave up the contest and left the field.
On the Rio Frio, west of San Antonio, the same year, a surveying party was attacked. Mr. Campbell, the surveyor, was killed and several men wounded.
On the 19th of October a surveying party at work seven miles west of San Antonio were attacked, and the surveyors, Jones and Lapham, were killed; and of a party going to their relief, two were killed and several wounded.
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THE SURVEYOR'S FIGHT.
The surveyor's fight occurred in October, 1838. From nine o'clock in the morning until twelve at night, twenty-three men, from a ravine, fought several hundred Indians. Seven- teen of the surveyors were killed, six escaped, three of them wounded.
On the night of January 1, 1839, at the residence of Mr. John Morgan, six miles above the present town of Marlin, George Morgan and wife, the wife of Jackson Morgan, Jackson Jones, and Miss Adeline Marlin were killed. Mrs. William Morgan was left for dead, but revived and escaped. Three children also escaped. Ten days later, seventy Indians attacked the houses, a few miles below, of John and Benjamin Marlin, who, assisted by two men, killed seven Indians and caused the remainder to flee.
What is known as Bryant's defeat soon followed. Forty- eight citizens, under Captain Benjamin Bryant, pursued these Indians to Morgan's Point, above Marlin. A fight took place in which Bryant lost ten men killed and five wounded. A disorderly retreat was the result.
In January, 1840, an entire party of thirteen men, escort- ing the family of Mr. Webster to their intended home in what is now Williamson County, was killed, and Mrs. Webster and child carried into captivity.
QUESTIONS .- What source of trouble had the surveyors in 1886 ? What precaution had Burnet taken in the same year ? Had Houston continued it ? What of Lieutenant Erath's fight ? Of Lieutenant Wren ? Give an account of Eastland's campaign. What other massacres can you mention ? What occurred in February, 1839 ? Who succeeded Felix Houston in command of the army ? What responsibility did President Houston assume ? What were the foreign relations of Texas ? What occurred to Captain Karnes in 1838 ? What took place on the Rio Frio ? Describe the surveyor's fight. What occurred on the night of January, 1839 ? What occurred ten days later? Describe Bryant's defeat. What others can you mention ?
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CHAPTER XLVI.
LAMAR'S ADMINISTRATION.
A GENERAL election was held on the first Monday in Sep- tember, 1838. General Houston being by provision of the con- stitution ineligible to re- election, Mirabeau B. La- mar was elected President, and David G. Burnet Vice- President, their terms to continue three years, when they would be ineligible to reëlection. The third Con- gress assembled in Houston on the 5th of November, 1838, and the inaugura- tion of Lamar and Burnet took place December 10th.
The Congress provided rangers for frontier protec- tion. Fifty leagues of land were set apart for a uni- versity, and lands to each MIRABEAU B. LAMAR. county for school purposes, as recommended in Lamar's inaugural address. Friendly trade was inaugurated with Northern Mexico ; the land, judiciary, and probate laws were improved ; immigration encouraged ; and, as an increase of the navy, on June 27th, 1838, they received the schooner San Jacinto, in August the two schooners San Antonio and San Bernard, in October the brig Colorado, and later the steamship-of-war Zavala.
On the 17th of December, 1838, while a representative from Brazoria, Colonel John A. Wharton died. From his
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first landing in the country, in 1829, he was a leader in every move that looked to the independence and glory of Texas-a brave soldier, an incorruptible patriot, a pure man, and one of the finest of American orators.
Vice-President Burnet, in his eulogy before Congress, said : " The keenest blade on the field of San Jacinto is broken."
After a session of two months and nineteen days Congress adjourned on the 24th of January, 1839. They had provided for the location, survey, and platting of the National Capital, to which, in honor of the "Father of Texas," they gave the name of Austin. It was located in the pathway of the Indians in passing up and down and across the country. The men employed from its first location to its completion, and the reception of the government archives in October, were guarded by rangers. It has since been twice rechosen by popular vote as the capital of Texas. By the end of December it had fifteen hundred inhabitants.
The fourth Congress met in Austin on the first Monday in November, 1839. They established, with certain reservations, the common law of England as the rule of decision ; a law regulating the marital rights of husband and wife ; and the descent and distribution of property of persons dying without wills. They created two travelling boards of commissioners to visit each county seat, examine the records of the county boards, hear testimony, and decide the legality of every land certificate issued. This was a very important provision, and resulted in great good.
This Congress also passed a bill reserving from location the lands in the Cherokee country for sale as a basis of credit for the redemption of treasury notes, afterwards known as exchequer bills. The discussion of this bill called forth in its advocacy by General Houston, a member of this Congress, one of the most eloquent speeches of his life. They also enacted other laws connected with the public policy of the government.
President Lamar said the Cherokees and associate bands
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had no legal or equitable right to lands, and the provisional government had taken for granted that their immigration was unsolicited and unauthorized. In truth they had drifted into the country and were a nucleus for disaffected Mexicans and bad people, and were always a menace to Texas. This ground was taken after these Indians were charged with murders and other outrages against the whites.
THE CORDOVA REBELLION-CHEROKEE WAR.
Lamar's administration was confronted by the Cordova Rebellion, begun in 1838, and by a general hostility among the Indians in all parts of the Republic.
Cordova and Flores, among the Cherokees in 1837, were emissaries under Filisola in Matamoras, and, after him, in 1838, under General Valentino Canalizo, with the purpose of joining in the war of extermination against Texas. On the 7th of August, in 1838, General Rusk learned that more than one hundred Mexicans, headed by Cordova, were camped on the west side of the Angelina River, and, on the 10th, that three hundred Indians had joined them. Rusk placed a small force at the lower crossing of that stream to intercept them. On the 10th President Houston, who was then in Nacog- doches, and had issued a proclamation to the insurgents, received a paper from them, with the signatures of nine of the leaders, disavowing allegiance to Texas, and claiming to be citizens of Mexico. On the same day Cordova moved to the wilderness of the Upper Trinity, while the great body of his followers dispersed. Cordova remained hidden in the wil- derness until March, 1839, in constant communication with the Indians, who continued their depredations.
General Rusk, learning that the enemy were in force at the Kickapoo village, now in Anderson County, moved in that direction, and at daylight on the 16th of October, 1838, attacked, and, after a short but hot engagement, charged
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upon them, when they fled, Rusk pursuing. Eleven warriors were killed and a large number wounded. General Rusk had eleven men wounded, but none killed.
On the 27th of February, 1839, Canalizo repeated to Cor- dova the pledges and instructions that had been made through Flores to the Indians in 1838, to continue their depredations upon the whites. At the same time he enjoined upon them to keep at a distance from the United States frontier.
CORDOVA'S DEFEAT.
Cordova left his retreat on the Upper Trinity in March, 1839, with an escort of seventy-five Mexicans, Indians, and negroes, to visit Matamoras and confer personally with Cana- lizo and Flores on the affairs of Texas. On the 26th his camp was discovered at the foot of the mountains, a short distance north of Austin. News of this was speedily conveyed to Colo- nel Edward Burleson, then at his home in Bastrop. With eighty of his Colorado neighbors he started to intercept him in his western march. Having found his trail, the pursuers travelled rapidly until late in the afternoon of the 29th, when the scouts discovered the camp about six miles southeast of Seguin. Cordova promptly formed his men, and the opposing parties fought from behind trees until the moment for which Colonel Burleson was watching arrived, when he ordered a charge. This was followed by a flight and pursuit, when, at twilight, Cordova disappeared in the Guadalupe Bottom. He lost over one-third of his men. Burleson had none killed, but several wounded. IIaving crossed the Guadalupe, where now stands New Braunfels, Cordova passed north of San Antonio, previously encountering a scouting party of Captain Mathew Cald well's rangers, and wounding three of them dangerously. Caldwell pursued as far as the Nueces, but Cordova escaped across the Rio Grande.
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DEATH OF MANUEL FLORES.
Late in April. 1839, Flores left Matamoras to meet Cordova and the Indian tribes in a general conference, wherever they were to be found. He had an escort of thirty Mexicans and Indians, a mule train of supplies for himself and his allies, and papers containing strong inducements for the Indians to join them in recovering the country. Flores was discovered, not far above where Austin was laid out later in that year, by Lieutenant James O. Rice, with seventeen rangers, who over- took them on Brushy Creek, in the edge of Williamson County. Rice and his men charged furiously, throwing the Mexicans into confusion and flight. Flores and two of his men were killed, and nearly one-half were wounded. Lieutenant Rice captured and carried to headquarters one hundred horses and mules, three hundred pounds of powder, a large amount of lead, shot, balls, etc., which were to have been distributed among the Indians. He also captured the correspondence which betrayed their designs.
President Lamar framed his Indian policy in view of the necessity of thwarting the designs of the Mexicans and Indians. Consequently he resolved on the removal of the Cherokees and their associate bands from east Texas, and their return to their kindred tribes west of Arkansas, by peaceful negotiations if possible, but by force if necessary. He wished to compensate them for their improvements and other losses. The commis- sioners appointed by Lamar repaired to the rendezvous, and, after three days' negotiation, terms were verbally agreed upon ; but when the time came, two days later, for signing the treaty, the Indians did not appear. Their chief, Bowles, had only wished to gain time for assembling his warriors, and as they did not arrive, he moved northerly to meet them.
To provide for this contingency President Lamar had ordered Colonel Edward Burleson, with a body of regulars from the west, and two companies of rangers under Major
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William J. Jones, and a considerable body of militia from the east, to be on the ground, besides a force of volunteer citizens under General Rusk. There were two severe engagements on the 16th and 17th of July ; on the latter Chief Bowles was killed and the Indians were driven into the dense forests of the Neches with heavy loss of life. The larger portion of the defeated Indians, passing through the wilderness, sought refuge among their kindred west of Arkansas ; but a consider- able number under John Bowles Jr., and "The Egg," halted on the Upper Trinity until later in the fall, when they attempted to reach Mexico. At that time Colonel Burleson, in command of regulars and volunteers, was on an expedition up the Colorado. He discovered them encamped on the west bank of the river, just below the mouth of the San Saba, and on Christmas Day, 1839, attacked them, killing, among others, both John Bowles and " The Egg," capturing twenty-seven women and children, who were returned to the Cherokee nation, and scattering the remainder in wild confusion. Thus ended the Cherokee war. The stern necessity of self-preservation was urged in justification of this course, and was strengthened by the adage, " Advancing civilization asserts its mastery, first by subduing and then by cultivating."
QUESTIONS .- What election took place in 1838 ? Who were elected ? What was done during Lamar's administration ? Who died December 17, 1838 ? What did Burnet say of him ? What important provision did this Congress make ? When did it adjourn ? Where was Austin located ? When did the fourth Congress meet ? What did it accom- plish ? What other bill was passed during this Congress ? What did the discussion of this bill call forth ? What did Lamar say of the Indian rights to lands ? What existing troubles confronted Lamar's administration ? What did General Rusk learn on the 7th day of August ? What on the 10th ? What communication did General IIouston receive from the Mexicans on the 10th ? What move did Cordova make on the same day ? Why was he there ? What move did Rusk make ? What was done by Canalizo ? Give an account of what occurred on the 26th. How did Cordova escape ? Give an account of the last adventures of Flores. What were the spoils of this victory ? What can you tell of Lamar's Indian policy ? With what result was a treaty attempted ? How had Lamar provided for this contingency ? When were the engagements ? Describe them. What justification was claimed for this course towards the Indians ?
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