USA > Texas > A new history of Texas; being a narration of the adventures of the author in Texas, and a description of the soil, climate, productions, minerals, tons [!], bays, harbours, rivers, institutions, and manners and customs of the inhabitants of that country; together with the principal incidents of fifteen years revolution in Mexico; and embracing a condensed statement of interesting events in Texas, from the first European settlement in 1692, down to the present time: and a history of the Mexican war > Part 18
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
It is not a little singular that our minister to Mexico should have about this time. 1835, renewed a former prop- osition for the purchase of Texas ; and failing in that ob- jeet, should have offered to the government a loan of ten
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million of dollars, taking Texas as collateral security ; or in other words, opening a pawn-broker's shop, and taking the article of a Mexican State in pledge. The finances of Mexico were certainly much deranged, and it may possibly be supposed that compassion animated the bosom of the hero of two wars, when these proposals were sub- mitted ; or it may as readily be believed that a suitable situation was wanted for a friend and partizan, such as Mr. Burton of North Carolina; and that Texas was his de- sire. But whatever might have been the motive, it had an unhappy effect in Mexico, and I allude to it on that account as part and parcel of the history of the times, and there are other responsibilities incurred by our government in respect to Mexico and Texas, which I shall take the responsibility of noticing hereafter.
In penning this work, I have endeavored to avoid hold- ing up to the public view, particular persons by name, and wherever I have departed from this rule, I have uni- formly been influenced by a desire to illustrate clearly some important occurrence or some important or would- be important personage. For this reason I will omit in future the names of certain gentlemen in the United States, who certainly were for years in close correspon- dence with the war party in Texas, and who exercised a mighty influence over the minds of our people while pre- paring to transport the sinews of war, and receive in re- turn leagues of land in one of the fairest portions of North America ; and it may not be altogether useless to call the particular attention of the reader to the prodigious results which can be compassed, when a few are united and move in concert and harmony.
It is true, that it is part of the American character to view with feelings of the most lively interest, efforts which are made to spread the influence of institutions similar to
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our own ; and this trait has been displayed at differnt times in favour of remote nations, but at no time, with the exception of the affair in Texas, with more enthusias- tic zeal than was felt during the contest with Mexico and Spain.
Again, it is not improper to allude to recent occurren- ces in the Canadas. Thousands of our native born citi- zens have emigrated to these two British provinces, and are now under the nominal government of a little Miss across the waters, only about 3000 miles distant from this part of her Majesty's dominions. Now it may possibly be believed, that little Victoria at such a distance is better qualified to rule these native Americans, and shower on them the blessings of royality than was Santa Anna to administer a government, modeled after our own ; and if so, it may as easily be supposed that the spoiled Americans in Texas needed and were worthy of our as- sistance when the subjects of a government we had repudia- ted, did not, even though our own territory was invaded and an American Steamer, like Sam Patch, was made to leap the falls of Niagra, while her blazing timbers illumina- ted the opposite shores of a monarchical and Republican government.
It may be supposed exactly right for the British gov- ernment to transport, shoot, hang, draw and quarter our citizens, but not at all right for the Mexicano to kill them in battle when we have invaded their country and drove them from their fire-sides. It may be right for the patriot Mckenzie, to be incarcerated in a Republican prison, be- cause he was not sustained, and was unsuccessful, when battling in as holy a cause, as immortalized a Washington and a galaxy of heroes that adorn the pages of our coun- try's history ; and it may be thought right for the govern- ment of the United States " to follow in the footsteps" of
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the veriest knave that disgraces mankind, and wood and abet in a crusade against the peace and rights of a friend- ly neighboring nation, because it can be done with impu- nity ; but not at all improper to prostrate itself before a crowned brunette, in petticoats, whose mercenary hire- lings, while re-acting their former outrages at Hampton, might chance to sully the laurels that were won below New-Orleans.
But if such suppositions are incorrect, how are we to account for the humiliating inconsistency of our govern- ment and people in respect to our southern and northern neighbors. I will try and tell. The second teacher un- der whom I learned my youthful lessons, was a Mr. Wm. Craven, an English gentleman, who had long been asso- ciated with Col. Burr, and from a point near the hermit- age glided down the Western Waters, until with the Colonel he left the Mississippi, and emigrated further south. Arriving in the vicinity of the Tombigbee River, in Ale- bama, they were both arrested under a charge of high treason and conveyed to Richmond, Virginia. for trial. This city was the very focus of Jeffersonism, and the pub- lic mind was already prepared for Burr's conviction, be- fore hearing the proof. Never, perhaps, in any country, was there a greater unanimity of opinion upon any sub- juct than on the present occasion ;- never, perhaps, was there a greater display of talent and eloquence ;- never was there a more patient, fair and impartial trial ; and had Chief Justice Marshall never before or after performed . a virtuous act, the decision of the court (in Col. Burr's ; case) ought to have immortalized himn.
That the President believed he was acting in the dis- carge of his duty, I have no doubt ;- rumor, with her hundred tongues. had been busy ; and the sage of Menti- cello, with all his noble qualities, possesed some of the
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frailties of man ; and from the unfavorable opinion which he had formed of a former rival, he doubtless magnified Burr's faults, and perhaps received as truth the created fictions of those who are ever ready to sacrifice a sink- ing man if the shore can be gained without him.
From my emigrating preceptor, whose veracity among those who knew him long, was, like unto Caesar's wife, beyond even suspicion, I learnt substantially the following particulars ; and they are given here not because I can ex- pect to settle the yet disputed intentions of Col. Burr, but for reasons that will fully appear in the progress of this work.
Mr. Craven stated that he had been one a of large firm in London, who were engaged in the Mexican trade : that he resided for many years at the city of Mexico, and daily had opportunities of witnessing the degredation to which the mass of the people had been reduced by the haughty and tyranical aidde-camps of the Spanish gov- ernment ; that in consequence of heavy losses in business he was compelled to emigrate to the United States ; and at the city of Washington among other distinguished citi- zens he was introduced to Col. Burr, with whom he soon contracted the most intimate acquaintance, and their in- tercourse was characterized by a frank and cordial friend- ship. Col. Burr enquired of him very particularly touch- ing the political, moral and social, condition of the Mexi- cans, and received all the information which many years experience in the country had enabled him to collect. He informed Burr that the mass of the people were igno- rant, superstitious and unacquainted with their rights, but that there were many men among them destined for dis- tinction, and among these there was scarcely any but were restless and discontented under the reigning govern- ment ; and only needed some encouragement from abroad
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to enable them to undermine the Spanish dynasty, and prostrate its already crumbling columns to the earth.
He stated that Col. Burr believed that his reputation was forever lost in the United States, if he remained in the country ;- that he was a man of rare talents and ac- quirements : that he was ambitious in the extreme, and was rife for any enterprise that promised even a hope of re- trieving his character ; and in any attempt for that purpose Burr intended to signalize himself elsewhere, not doubt- ing but success would blunt the malice of many of his enemies, and that time would enable him to atone for the death of Hamilton, for whose memory he cherished the greatest respect, and declared that Alexander Hamilton had been used by worse men for the express purpose of getting rid of one or the other of them, and if possible of both.
The first step was to open a correspondence with some of the leading men in Mexico, and then to traverse the western states for the purpose of sounding some of the most influential citizens in the ML sissippi valley ; and that success in both undertakings surpassed even what they had been wont to expect. It was perceived that many men in the western country, to use the language of Gen. Jackson, when writing to Gen. Smith, representative in congress from Tennessee, hated the Dons,-and that their ideas of conquest and fame were as unlimited as the vast valley of the Mississippi, and all the Spanish dominions in America besides ; while the patriots in Mexico hailed them as disciples of freedom, and furnished the outline of a systematic plan for future operations.
It was suggested by citizens of the United States, that Burr should approach the frontiers of Mexico, and estab- lish his head quarters on the Washita, within the limits of our country ; but that he peremptorily declined this, on ac-
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count of the known jealousy of the government and people. and as being calculated to defeat the object in view ; and that the final arrangement was, that they should float down the Mississippi and go on board of a vessel at the Balise, which the king pirate of the Gulf, Lafitte, was to have in readiness, and sail for Galveston Island, then in his possession.
It was further understood, that trading houses were to be established among all the surrounding tribes of Indians for the purpose of buying their friendship, and that if possi- . ' ble, by any peaceable means, the inhabitants of the old Spanish towns of San Antonia-Nacogdoches, &c., in Texas, were to be conciliated, and enlisted in the cause, by agents, who, under pretence of selling goods, were to reside in those places ; and should this ultimately fail, the fortresses in Texas were to be taken forcible possession of and used as depots so soon as the patriots in Mexico were ready to co-operate effectually ; and that it was clearly and distinctly understood, that no attempt whatever should be made to dismember the United States, or interfere in any way with her people or her laws, further than the fact of concocting a scheme in the country for the pur- pose above mentioned.
Circumstances rendered it necessary to get out of the Cumberland River much sooner than time was afforded to complete all arrangements, and no sooner was there an ap- pearance of danger, than many of those who had been most active in preparations, withdrew their support, and forwarded information to Gen. Wilkinson, then in com- mand at New-Orleans; which together with instructions from the government would have made it impossible for Burr and his party to pass that place.
Under such circumstances, it was deemed proper to
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leave the Mississippi, and emigrate to Florida, where Col. Burr hoped to meet assistance from abroad, and ingrati- ate himself into the good graces of influential persons there, who were known to be extremely tired of the Spanish yoke, and supposed to be rife for a revolution in the government. After encountering many difficulties, hardships and privations, such as might grace the boards of our most fashionable and instructive Theatres, they were finally captured, when all their golden dreams, as well as benevolent purposes, vanished into thin air ; and as perhaps has often been the case before, and will be again, some of the very best and most worthy of those who had been dreaming of an honorable immortality were transformed for a time into criminals, and objects of al- most universal execration.
President Jefferson, from rumor, but certainly not from proof, believed that it was possible for Burr to form a combination for the purpose of dismembering the Union, but it is believed that the circumstances were not suffi- ciently strong to warrant Burr's arrest, if taken uncon- nected with his enterprise against the dominions of a na- tion with whom we were at peace. But how have those claiming to be of the Jeffersonian school departed from the faith. Aiding the oppressed Mexicans in Jefferson's day might not have been prudent for us, as an infant na- tion, at the time, nor was it exactly right in a legal point of view ; and if this position is tenable, it was a violation of every legal and moral obligation for the government t countenance, if it did not connive at the machinations of the war party in Texas, who, under the revived liberties and republican government of Mexico, had abandoned their native country and accepted the liberal bounties of our neighboring Republic, and which were in fact far
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more encouraging than was held out at home or else- where in the colonization of any other country.
Are facts wanting to justify a belief that our govern- ment did connive at the proceedings in favor of Texas long before Santa Anna's unheard of cruelty at Goliad? What does the reader suppose was the leading motive when Gov. Houston resigned his office in Tennessee and emigrated to the Cherokee country bordering on Texas? For what does he suppose Major Eaton, then Secretary of War, contracted witn Houston for the supplies of Emi- grating Indians when there were many bids for these contracts, much below his? for what was Gen. Houston and other friends of the party transformed into merchants and traders in the Indian countries, long before any public movements in Texas disclosed the approaching contest ; and when it came for what purpose was Gen. Gaines, of the United States army, ordered to the frontiers of Texas where he actually established his head quarters, on Mexican soil? Again, the administration press, almost without an exception, advocated the enlistment of volun- teers in aid of Texas ; an administration judge in New York decided in favor of troops emigrating to Texas in a vessel freighted with the implements of death; and this mme consistent gentleman has more recently made a de- cision unfavorable towards a similar party who were about emigrating to the Canadas.
It is a well known fact now, and will hereafter be a historical fact, that during the war, Texans had their accre- dited agents in almost every city in the Union, who dis- seminated publicly and privately, their doctrines, as well from the capital of the nation as from the tap rooms of the dirtiest streets in our cities; and such language as I heard used by one of these stump orators from Texas, when he was publicly addressing a large assembly in Monument Square
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Baltimore, was the very watchwood of the party, and and was re-echoed and revibrated throughout the land .- "Gentlemen," said he, "when I behold around me many of those whose noble daring has shed imperishable renown upon my native country ; when I behold the scions of the Chases, the Howards, and others, who have excited the admiration of the world by their munificence in behalf of suffering Greece and Poland ; when I behold such a concourse of brave and enlightened Baltimoreans, who with one voice cheered on the patriots of South America, I cannot, I will not, believe it possible for this assembly to disperse until men and money are forthcoming in our ' cause ; a cause doubly dear to every American, who turns his thoughts to Texas, and recognizes our little band of heroes as his brethern and the vanguard of his own army. Sirs, said he, we have been invited to Mexico, we have gone in and subdued her wilds until they blos- som as the rose ; we have ever cherished a fraternal feel- ing for our mother country, her institutions and her peo- ple ; and we have endeavored to emulate your example, by establishing schools for the instruction of our offspring, and of founding churches for the worship of our God- but, he continued, we are an oppressed, a poor, priest-rid- den people ;- the beautiful little, but neat, protestant temples which we have reared, are closed against us. The old Pope of Rome himself rules over us, and at the very moment when we are wont to retire to the forest or beneath the cover of some mighty cane brake or prai- rie grass for devotion, our slaves are declared freemen and we are driven to labor without even time allowed to say our prayers." I cannot pretend to state the precise words of this prairie Orator, but I am conscious that I cor- rectly repeat the drift of his discourse ; and the more so front a recollection of the deep impression made upon my
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stavu at the time, enlisting as it did, all my feelings in fa- vor of his cause, and these feelings were not suffered to evaporate before I had contributed my mite in aid of our so called oppressed brethern and countrymen, and the so called, vanguard, of the American Army in Texas.
I witnessed the public departure of the Texan Emi- grants from Baltimore after almost every ward in the City had contributed largely in procuring supplies ; and these emigrants, like those that sailed from all our seaports, as well as those who glided down the Mississippi for the purpose of raising cotton in Texas, were furnished with abundance of metal in the shape of cannons and small arms, for the manufacture of plough shares. Many, how- ever, were disappointed ; they found that a somewhat different doctrine was taught after their arrival to the maxims inculcated while they were at home; and as I shall again have occasion to allude to the treatment of some such emigrants, it only remains for me to state here that those small but neat little protestant churches are not yet built ; that there are comparatively few Texans who now say their prayers even in a cane brake; and that this wonderful display of patriotism and eloquence burst forth ' at Baltimore in 1835, six full years after the revocation of the decree abolishing slavery, and one full year after religious toleration was legally established in Texas ; and whatever benefits or salutary influence this last act has produced, let the preset moral and religious character of her people answer.
With all the foregoing facts and events passing in view of the executive of the nation (United States) without any attempt on his part to check the emigrating citizens to Texas, but with his whole force exerted to that end, in the more recent affair in Canada, I am justified in as- serting, that some, say at least two of our presidents have
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not followed in the footsteps of their illustrious predeces- sors, but have departed from the Jeffersonian faith and exhibited a lamentable inconsistency of policy in their in- tercourse with our northern and southern neighbors, with whom our treaties of amity and commerce were of pre- cisely the same kind.
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CHAPTER XIV.
When the Athenians had long contended against the power of Phillip, he required of them a surrender of their orators, well knowing the opposition would soon dissolve, if it were not kept cemented by the eloquence and con- sequent influence of these tongue warriors. And an an- cient historian too, has recorded an amusing instance of an imposition practised among the Roman legions, by an- eloquent, but impudent varlet, who had in any emergen- cy nothing to lose, but might in the turn of fortune's wheel, make a raise, and perhaps get uppermost of all his comrades.
Who said he can give me back my brother ? He has been basely murdered by a band of assassins, who are retained by the government to butcher the good and patri- otic citizens of Rome ? Tell me, Blessus, where hast thou . « laid his dead body ? An honorable enemy does not refuse the rights of burial ; and when you have delivered to me my murdered brother, and I have tired myself with kis- sing his cold corpse, order me to be slain too ; and all I ask of my fellow soldiers is to lay me beside my brother, and remember that we had both suffered martyrdom in their canse-the cause of our common country.
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While listening to the effecting recital of this mock patri- ot, the whole army was melted into tears, and at once re- solved to retaliate for the cruelty of the government ; but time, as usual disclosed the hypocricy of the orator, and the Roman reformers were not a little surprised to ascertain that he had never had a brother, but only resorted to such a stratagem to forward his interested and ambitious views. Had Santa. Anna, at an early day adopted the plan of Phillip, he would probably have escaped much misery. Texas had long been the rendezvous of the ambi- tious, disappointed, disaffected and those who had nothing to lose ; and orators finally became as plenty as the swarms of flies described in Esop's Fables ; and when the Mexi- can government did demand the surrender of a few most notoriously seditious characters, it was found they had waxed strong, and that the time had passed when the civil authorities of Texas could be induced to a discharge of their duty, when the head and front of the war party was so deeply concerned.
Lorenza De Valla, whom I shall have frequent occasion to introduce to the notice of the reader, had been for a con- siderable time the Mexican minister to France ; and al- though I am not in possession of positive proof that he was engaged in a treasonable correspondence with the war party in Texas, and also with the French government, as well as individuals in the United States, yet there is a connected chain of circumstantial evidence to that effect, that would probably convince a jury of his guilt, when acting in strict conformity of law and the almost. universal practice of our courts of justice. This man was recalled by his gov- ernment from the French court, and it is well known that charges of a serious nature were preferred against him, such as he had no desire to meet or explain ; and he there- fore sailed from France to New-Orleans, and thence to
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Texas, where in conjunction with the discomfited frag- ments of all the factions in Mexico, now united with the valorous Texans Mr. Don Lorenza De Valla soon be- came a most conspicuous character, and eventually the first Vice-President under the new Government of Texas.
It was under such circumstances that Santa Anna, when too late, demanded the surrender of De Valla, and with him six other persons who were well known to the government as the ring leaders of a party who had for years harassed the Mexican Congress, with all sorts of pe- titions, remonstrances, &c., for no other purpose but to keep up an excitement among the people, and gradually pave the way which would lead to open resistance. But great as well as small men are prone to errors ; some in- tentionally, and some from frailty ; and had Santa Anna . pursued the course above mentioned, or adhered more closely to Cobbett's talisman, by embarking all in the same boat ; or had he oftener pursued the course that my Lord the Duke of Buckingham formerly did, he would nave saved himself much trouble for many years, and then escaped the mortifying details of San Jacinto. In . fact, the measures of his government, although of the most liberal kind towards the whole colonists of Texas, fell far short of sound policy ; for while he failed either to coerce or bribe the disaffected, his liberality towards the whole population made him despised by a part and his mandates were eventually treated not only with ridi -. cule, but with the most supreme contempt.
An anecdote respecting an English gentleman and my Lord Duke Buckingham, will in part illustrate a policy which was certainly often omitted by Santa Anna. The old gentleman had long been in the practice of an- noying the noble Duke with a string of grievances under
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which the Isle of Britain was said to be laboring ; the Duke from time to time, exercised his influence, and re- moved the grounds of complaint, but still found himself be- set with new subjects of distress, until his patience be- came exhausted and he resolved to apply a new remedy to silence this most clamorous member of the opposition. My dear friend, said he, I have thought of an expedient that will remove the evils you complain of, and I am glad that I can tell you that I have at disposal a place worth £500 a year, which I design expressly for you, being con- vinced as I am, that you well deserve this mark of confi- dence from the sovereign, whom you have as yet never fully known or honored. The patriotic Englishman was now perfectly satisfied, every grievance vanished into thin · air ; and as long as he enjoyed the honor and emoluments of a fat office, verily believed the nation the freest and happiest under heaven. The difference then between the policy of the noble Duke and his Mexican highness was simply this : Santa Anna did actually remove all former subjects of complaint in Texas in the vain hope that harmony could by so doing be restored ; but my Lord the Duke of Buckingham knew more of human nature, and therefore embarked the old Englishman in his own boat with a good round salary to prevent a mutiny on board, and thus secured his interest in the safe navigation of the vessel of State.
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