USA > Texas > History of Texas : from 1685 to 1892, volume 1 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Another charge made against Bradburn is that he had, at various times, arrested peaceable citizens, for no other cause than the expression of their opinions against his violent and arbitrary acts. In May, 1832, he imprisoned seven respect- able citizens, namely, Patrick C. Jack, Wm. B. Travis, Monroe Edwards and others, and attempted to arrest George M. Patrick, first regidor. The State government was power- less to afford any remedy against these acts of tyranny. After exhausting every means to procure relief peaceably, the people finally took up arms and marched to Anahuac to release the prisoners illegally confined by Bradburn, and to re-establish the Ayuntamiento at Liberty. This was accord- ingly done. The citizens thus assembled encamped at Turtle Bayou, and formally pronounced in favor of the plan of Vera Cruz, in behalf of the constitution of 1824, and against the usurpations of Bustamente. This was done June the 13th, 1832. The same course was pursued by the citizens of the municipality of Brazoria and the precinct of Victoria, and,
237
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
indeed, by the people generally ; but as Col. Ugartechea, who commanded Fort Velasco, refused to support the plan of Vera Cruz, and continued to adhere to Bustamente, the peo- ple had no other recourse than to consider him an enemy, and they accordingly collected together under command of Capt. John Austin, and attacked and captured the fort, the whole garrison capitulating, not, say the memorialists, to rebels, but the national forces of Santa Anna. The memorialists then proceeded to lay down the principles by which the people of Texas are governed, and which, they think, justify the course they had pursued, and they conclude with solemn pledges to each other and to the people that they will con- tinue to maintain their rights under the constitution of 1824.
The declaration of the Ayuntamiento of Nacogdoches sets out by saying that they " had been overawed by the military commander, Col. Jose de las Piedras, until longer forbearance would have become a crime, by exposing to his unconstitu- tional wishes the lives, interests and peace of our fellow- citizens." He had demanded that the militia should be placed under his command. He had called in and employed Indians in his meditated warfare upon their rights. He had insulted them (the Ayuntamiento) by saying he held Ameri- cans and Indians in the same estimation, and as standing on the same footing as colonists. The declaration concludes with an appeal to the people to rally in defense of their rights, and pledges the Ayuntamiento to stand by them.
The Ayuntamiento of Liberty justified their resistance to the tyranny of Bradburn on the following grounds : 1st. His stationing among the people numerous garrisons composed of the vilest military convicts, who were guilty of habitual pilfering, robberies and depredations. 2nd. His arrest of Madero, the legally constituted commissioner, to put the colonists into possession of their lands. 3rd. His wanton seizure and appropriation to his own use of the private prop- erty of the citizens. 4th. The arrest and imprisonment by
1
238
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
his guard of respectable citizens, without even the forms of trial, and solely for the gratification of his animosities. 5th. The abrogation of the town of Liberty, and the dissolution of the Ayuntamiento by military edict, and the establishment of the town of Anahuac, subject to his own control. 6th. The verbal condemnation, by the same commandant, of the citi- zens to labor at the public works, and the infliction of this infamous sentence in divers instances. 7th. The incarcera- tion of citizens merely for words spoken, said to have been disrespectful to himself. 8th. His interference in the civil government, forbidding the holding of legal elections under pains and penalties, and ordering elections on his own authority.
What stronger indications of the subsequent resolve of the people of Texas in 1835, could be given than is contained in the remonstrance of the seven Mexican citizens of San Antonio cited? It proves also that the Mexicans in that place were divided in sentiment.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS -IRISH COLONIES, ETC.
Before following Austin on his mission to the city of Mexico, a few other incidents transpiring, late in 1832, in Mexico, and in 1833 in Texas, must be stated.
In the autumn of 1832, near the spot in Tamaulipas where Iturbide had been executed in 1824, a battle was fought between Gen. Montezuma, a Republican adherent of the Vera Cruz plan of Santa Anna, and Gen. Manuel Mier y Teran, a partisan of Bustamente, a pronounced Centralist and an im- placable enemy of American influence in Texas, who, as mili- tary commander of Northern Mexico, had abundant opportun- ity to display his antipathies.1 Teran was defeated and his
1 Teran had been a gallant soldier in the revolution against Spain, but was a victim of that suicidal intolerance inherited from the mother country, toward all foreigners. His gallantry, however, entitles his memory to
239
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
army captured or dispersed and, rather than be captured, he took his own life, it was said, by falling upon his own sword.
This was followed by the armistice between Bustamente and Santa Anna, the recall of Pedraza to the Presidency, and this in turn, by the election of Santa Anna as President and Manuel Gomez Farias as Vice-President, pledged to the restoration of the constitution of 1824.
Their term began in April, 1833.
In the year 1833 the cholera made its appearance in Texas and carried off a number of valuable men. Among these were the empresario, Don Martin de Leon, of Guadalupe Victoria, a serious loss to the country, as he and his sons and sons-in-law were men of energy and liberal views, greatly esteemed by the Americans. The brave Capt. John Austin 1 fell by the same disease in Brazoria, followed by his father, who came out on a visit from Connecticut. There died also D. W. Anthony, editor and publisher of the Constitutional Advocate and Texas Public Advertiser, then the only paper in Texas, the first number of which was issued August 30th, 1832. It was a valuable paper. Thomas Westall, another useful man, died in Brazoria. During this year another event happened which, to a certain extent, tended to foster ill-feel- ing between the Mexican officials of San Antonio and, at least, De Witt's colony. Captain Henry S. Brown, in charge of a few men, went to San Antonio for the purpose of captur- ing certain refugees from Louisiana. It transpired that the
respect. In 1869 I had for a traveling companion along the coast of Yucatan his namesake and nephew, a sprightly and accomplished young man, recently returned from school in England, who was a staunch Republican.
1 John Austin, a native of Connecticut, was not a relative of Stephen F. Austin.
William T. Austin, who came to Texas in 1830 and died in Galveston in 1874, was a younger brother of John Austin.
Henry Austin, sometimes commander of vessels and a highly intelligent and enterprising man, was a relative of Stephen F. Austin.
240
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
authorities were opposed to his purpose. Three of them, however, were captured on the Medina and held on the Salado, while two were still in town. Col. James Bowie, learning of the intended use of troops against the party, sent a note to Capt. Brown to meet him at the mission of San Jose. In the meantime, unforeseen by Bowie, a company of soldiers entered the mission, guarded the entrance and for- bade all passing. Leaving their prisoners under guard a por- tion of the party arrived and when riding into the gate of the mission were fired upon. Bazil Durbin (the same Durbin so . badly wounded in the affair at Gonzales, July 2, 1826) fell, pierced by six balls. He, with Benjamin Duncan and " English " (Tom) Williams, were captured and thrown into prison. Durbin, after great suffering, recovered and after several months, they were released. Capt. Brown, with James Gibson and a few others, with the prisoners, were pur- sued to Gonzales by fifteen soldiers, whom they defied and who, without firing a gun, returned from that place. Thus the affair ended ; but much ill-feeling toward the military remained.
In August, 1833, Josiah Wilbarger, a settler near Bastrop, with a surveying party a few miles east of where Austin stands, was attacked by Indians. Christian, the surveyor, and Strother were killed. Two men, Haynie and Staudifer, escaped to the settlement below.
Wilbarger, terribly wounded, scalped and left as dead, was found by a rescuing party, late on the next day, and conveyed in. He survived, but his skull, bleached as it had been by the sun, remained bare, and finally, in 1845, he died from the effects of the wound.
It was in the autumn of 1833, also, that the numerous Parker family, embracing that and other names, entered East Texas from Illinois, where they had lived several years. . They were formerly of Georgia and Tennessee. The name of this family is rendered historic in our annals by services
241
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
rendered in the councils of the country by some who bore it, and by the death or captivity of others at savage hands.
In the spring of 1833, a band of Keechi Indians raided the settlements on Cummins' creek, now in Fayette County, com- mitting various depredations. At the head of about twenty- five men, Captain John York pursued, overhauled and attacked them, killing eight or ten of their number. In the same year a party of Tancahuas, in retaliation for a falsely assumed offense, near the falls of the Brazos, killed a stranger named Reed and carried off his horse and effects. They were pur- sued by Canoma, a friendly Caddo, with seven of his men. On the eighth day Canoma returned bringing in seven Tanca- hua scalps, Reed's horse and effects and other trophies. The Tancahuas, from the earliest settlement of the Americans, professed and generally maintained friendly relations with them. Sometimes, however, as in this case, individuals of the tribe committed depredations, generally acts of theft, and, in a few cases, theft accompanied by murder. Other matters of interest occurred in and about 1833. The colony of De Leon had increased considerably by the incoming of a good class of Mexicans and quite a number of Americans, including several Irishmen and their families from the United States, the younger members being natives of that country and among whom were the veteran John McHenry (a settler since 1826), John Linn, with his sons John J., Charles, Henry and Edward and two daughters (subsequently the wives of Major James Kerr and James A. Moody ), who came in 1830-1; Mrs. Margaret Bobo, afterward Wright (who came in 1825), Joseph Ware and others.
From about 1829 to 1833-4, the colonies of Power and Hewitson, with headquarters at the Mission of Refugio, and McMullen and McGloin, of which San Patricio was the capi- tal, received valuable additions in a worthy, sober, industrious class of people, chiefly from Ireland, a few of Irish ex- traction, born in the United States, and others who were
16
242
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Americans. They were more exposed to Mexican oppression than the colonists further east and equally so to hostile Indians. Twenty-six of these colonists signed the Goliad Declaration of Independence, December 20th, 1835, four of them signed the regular Declaration of l'exian Independence, March 2, 1836, and fourteen of them fell in the slaughter of Fannin's men, March 27th, 1836. In the foot-note below is given a partial list of those bold and open-hearted pioneers in reclaiming the southwest portion of our territory. Those who fell with Fannin are marked thus * and those who signed the Goliad Declaration thus. + 1
1 Lewis Ayres, Elkanah Brush, John Bowen, Morgan Bryan,; Mathew Byrne,* Daniel Buckley,* Edward Conrad (signed declaration of '36), Michael Cahill, John Caughlin; Robert Lawrence and John Carlisle, John Dunn,t (afterwards Senator), Festus Doyle, Spirse Dooley, William Dona- hoe, Benjamin Dale, Patrick Downy and sons Francis, Thomas, Patrick, John and James Downey; James Elder, ; Mathew Eddy,* John Fagan,* Patrick Fitzsimmons, Nicholas Fagan, E. B. W. Fitzgerald,; John Gleason,* William Gamble, John Hefferman (murdered by Mexicans early in '36), Robert P. Hearn, William Hewes, Dr. James Hewitson (colonial partner of James Power), James Hewitson, Jr., Peter Hynes, ; John Hynes, Timothy Hart, t John Hart and sons Patrick, John and Luke Hart, Thomas Hennessee, Thomas Hansom, ¡ Timothy Hoyt, John James,* J. D. Kirkpatrick, ¡ Michael Kelly, t Charles Kelly, John Kelly,* John Keating, Dr. Alexander Lynch, t Walter Lambert,t Charles Malone,t John Malone (served in council of 1835-6), Thomas Mullen, Edward McDonough, t Patrick McGloin (empre- sario), John McGloin,* Edward McGloin, James McGloin, Malcolm McCanley, John McMullen (the empresario and president pro tem of the general council of 1835-6), Hugh McMinn,t Dennis McGown,* Dennis Mahoney,* Patrick Nevin,* Martin O'Toole, Daniel Driscoll, Thomas O'Connor,t (died a banker in San Antonio in 1887), C. J. O'Connor, ; Patrick O'Leary, ; Michael O'Donnell, ¡ James O'Connor, t James O'Connor, Daniel O'Doyle, John O'Doyle, Edward Perry, John Pollan, t James Power (the empresario, signed the declaration of '36 and was Senator), Martin Power, William Quinn, t Patrick Quinn, John Quinn, Edward Quirk, t Thomas Quirk,* Edward Ryan,* Samuel Riley, Michael Riley, William Redmond, John Shelley, t Edward St. John,t James St. John, t William St. John, Peter Scott, John Scott, Thomas Scott, David Thomas (signed the declaration of '36), John Turner (signed the declaration of '36), John Toole, John W. Welsh, t Capt. Ira Westover .* Total, 102. Signed Declaration of Goliad, 26. Signed regular Declaration of Independence of 1836, 4. Massacred with Fannin at Goliad,
243
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
March, 27, 1836, 14 - a representation of 44 out of a 102. Yet in a time of political frenzy in Galveston in 1855, it was charged that these colonists were not true to Texas in the revolution of 1835-6. It was the privilege of the author of this work to crush the infamous slander by presenting the preceding facts, and many others attesting their fidelity in suffering, in heroism and in death till the Republic became the State of Texas in 1846.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Convention of 1833 adjourns - Santa Anna's intrigues - Austin's Mata - moros letter - Santa Anna formally installed as President in April, 1833- His machinations - Gomez, Austin, Bravo and Duran - Austin's arrival at the Capital - His labors for Texas and disappointments - His departure for home, arrest and imprisonment.
The San Felipe convention adjourned on the 13th of April, 1833. Col. Austin alone, of the three commissioners to Mexico, prepared for the journey. He probably left about the first of May. We first hear from him in a letter to the Ayuntamien to of Brazoria (of which newly created municipality Henry Smith was Alcalde), dated Matamoros, May 30, 1833, in which is manifested a degree of confidence in the future po- litical quietude of Mexico and in the " fraternal " intentions of the newly inaugurated Santa Anna government towards Texas, which he could not have entertained had he been aware of the written utterances of Mexican officials to each other heretofore given in this work, and especially of Santa Anna's declaration to the Mexican minister that " The foreigners who have introduced themselves into that (Texas ) province, have a strong tendency to declare themselves independent of the Republic ; and that all their remonstrances and complaints are but disguises to that end. I think it to be of paramount im- portance that Gen. Filisola should forthwith proceed to fulfill his mission ( ¿. e., march into Texas), having first been well supplied with good officers and the greatest number of troops possible, with instructions both to secure the integrity of our territory and do justice to the colonists." To add to the complications of the times and show at the same time the fickleness of some men regarded as leaders, it should be stated that, a little later in 1833, Jose de la Garza (the man of double pens, who wrote to San Felipe one way and to the Governor at Monclova another), joined by the Ayuntamiento
(244)
245
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
of San Antonio, sent out a petition to the Mexican authorities fully indorsing all the complaints of the American colonists, justifying their expulsion of the military from Velasco, Ana- huac and Nacogdoches, and joining in the prayer for Texas to be erected into a separate State.
But Col. Austin knew nothing of these recent hostile utter- ances by Santa Anna, the Minister of State, the Governor and others ; nor of this change in tone by De la Garza and others at San Antonio. Had he been in possession of these evidences of bitter jealousy and hostility towards his own countrymen his faith in Mexican plausibilities would have been greatly modified; and it is hardly probable that he would have con- tinued his journey from Matamoros to the city of Mexico.
It is due to his memory, therefore, and to the truth of history, that his position at that period of unknown complica- tions, should be set forth as stated by himself at the time. It is shown in the following letter to the Ayuntamiento of Brazoria (of which the future Governor, Henry Smith, was Alcalde and President ), the first body of the kind organized after the creation of Brazoria and the surrounding country into a distinct municipality.1
MATAMOROS, May 30th, 1833.
" To the Ayuntamiento of Brazoria : The public was very much agitated in this place by false reports and rumors relative to Texas; but they have been removed by the statement of facts which I have laid before his Excellency the Commander, General Don Vicente Filisola, who assures me of the paternal intentions of the government towards the people of Texas. There never has been any just cause to doubt that such are its intentions. All the vague rumors that have been circulated as to the marching of a large army to Texas with hostile views are utterly false.
1 Soon after this the municipalities of San Augustine, Matagorda, San Patricio, Refugio and Mina (Bastrop) were created.
246
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
" The General has orders to re-establish the custom house and the military garrisons and will proceed to do so, for the purpose of protecting the public revenue, and stopping the scandalous contraband that has been carried on in tobacco from the ports of Texas. I have assured him that he would receive the support of the colonists in sustaining the revenue law, and that they would do their duty faithfully as Mexican citizens.
". I have pledged my honor for the truth of this declaration, and have full confidence that the people of Texas will not forget the pledge I have made, but will by their acts prove its correctness, and that the revenue laws can be enforced with- out the aid of large military garrisons.
" Mr. George Fisher will leave here shortly to enter upon the duties of collector at Galveston, with only a sufficient number of troops for necessary guards, etc.
" Whatever ideas and opinions may have heretofore existed as to Mr. Fisher they should now be consigned to oblivion and forgotten. He returns as an officer of the government and as such it is the duty of the people to respect and sustain him. I will also observe that I have investigated very mi- nutely all the transactions in which he was concerned and have formed the opinion that the excitement which unfortunately grew out of them, was produced by misconceptions and sus- picions too hastily entertained, and not from an intention to do wrong to or injure any one. I believe there were miscon- ceptions on both sides, and probably as much on one part as on the other. Mr. Fisher will make an useful collector. His knowledge of the English Language 1 will give more facilities in his intercourse with the people than could exist with a col- lector who was unacquainted with that language. I therefore particularly recommend the utmost harmony with him, and that he be sustained in the discharge of his duty by all, re-
1 Mr. Fisher was a Greek.
247
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
gardless of the clamors of a few transient traders who would involve the honest farmer in difficulties with the authorities, if they could increase their profits thereby.
" The political events of the past year necessarily produced a temporary and partial disorganization in the regular admin- istration of the government all over the nation, which, as a matter of course, extended to Texas. Everything has now settled down again upon the constitutional basis, and the reg- ular operation of the laws and all the legal authorities have been restored.
" The temporary and provisional measures which the pecu- liar exigencies of the times may have rendered necessary to preserve the public tranquillity, and protect persons and property, have consequently ceased all over the nation. I have assured the commanding general that they will also cease as a matter of course in Texas. I therefore particularly recommend that whatever temporary deviation from the laws there may have been in the organization of the militia, or in any other matters, should be corrected without delay, and everything restored again to the legal basis, as has been done all over the Republic.
" The general congress adjourned the 20th of this month, and as there will not be another regular session until January next, my journey to Mexico was rendered measurably useless. I have also been very much debilitated by dysentery or chol- erina which prevails here. These considerations determined me to postpone my trip to the capital for the present, and I forwarded the memorial of the convention to the government through the commanding general. Since then my health has improved and an opportunity having unexpectedly presented of a passage to Vera Cruz by sea, I have concluded to embrace it, and shall depart in a few hours.
" I will close by assuring you that I have the most unlim- ited confidence in the patriotism, liberality and justice of the government, and I rely with full confidence upon the people
248
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
of Texas, to sustain firmly all the authorities, both Federal and State, and to obey the laws strictly. By so doing they will procure a State government and keep away large and unnecessary military garrisons, and obtain everything that a reasonable people ought to ask for or a just and liberal government ought to grant.
" I recommend that the people of Texas should be mild, calm, and firm in favor of making a State of Texas by legal and constitutional means and by no others.
" Respectfully your friend and servant, S. F. Austin."
In April, 1833, Santa Anna was installed as President and Manuel Gomez Farias as Vice-President, both having been elected on the downfall of Bustamente, to succeed the term of four years which had been first occupied by Guerrero, then by the usurper, Bustamente, and finally completed by the rightful President, Pedraza. Santa Anna and Farias were hailed as the champions of Republicanism and the subverted constitution of 1824. Farias, from the Mexican stand-point, was sincerely a Republican, and an unyielding friend of constitutional gov- ernment. He maintained this faith till his death and lived to preside over the assembly which, in 1857, promulgated the free constitution under which, thirty-five years later, Mexico is still making rapid strides in material, moral and political progress. Had Santa Anna possessed the same virtue and steadfastness of purpose, the Texas revolution would have been averted, and many years of revolution and internecine strife avoided in Mexico. But it was not to be. Santa Anna was a com- pound of hypocrisy, selfishness and unholy ambition, and the time had now arrived for him to reveal his true character. Humanity can only lament the revelation.
I quote from the pen of President David G. Burnet, than which no more graphic or accurate account can be given of the incubation and development of Santa Anna's perfidious
1
249
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
apostasy to that liberty under whose flag he had won the brilliant laurels which carried him triumphantly into the most exalted position within the gift of his grateful countrymen. He says : " On the first of June, succeeding his (Santa Anna's) election, his creature, Gen. Duran, got up a grito in favor of the church and army, kindred terms in Mexico, signifying a strong, central and despotic government. In the same breath, Santa Anna was proclaimed Dictator. The wily President, to beguile the friends of the constitution, who had so recently raised him to power, and to smooth the abruptness of his preconcerted treachery, put himself at the head of his forces and marched against the malcontents, appointing Gen. Arista, a known Centralist, second in command. Before reaching the scene of revolt, Arista pronounced in favor of Duran, arrested the President-General and re-echoed the proclamation of Dictator. Santa Anna yielded with an assured complacency, to the arrest. A scheme of more audacious and transparent iniquity was never contrived. Lorenzo de Zavala, then Gov- ernor of the State of Mexico, had protested against the ap- pointment of Arista, and when his disaffection was known in the capital he and Farias made so bold an effort in opposition to the new revolution, that Santa Anna, perceiving the pre- maturity of his project, affected to escape from his durance and returned to the city. The more fully to disguise his duplicity in the ill-concerted plan, he raised another army, and with Gen. Mexia for his lieutenant, pursued the insur- gents, who speedily surrendered at Guanajuato. Arista received a full pardon, and Duran, of no value to either party, was banished. Santa Anna soon retired to his hacienda, there to effect by secret intrigue, what he had failed to accomplish by political strategy in arms. The government devolved on the Vice-President, Farias. He was comparatively an honest man, and decidedly inimical to the army and priesthood as active participants in the administration of political affairs. He commenced his executive career by reducing the army and,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.