USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 9
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 9
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 9
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 9
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 9
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 9
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The admissions at the conclusion of the above statement were enough for Gorostiza.
Ile repeated his representations, and, not satis- fied with the assurance of our Government, -that the measures adopted were of a tem- porary and purely defensive character,-de- clared his mission at an end, October 15, and left for home. Thus ended diplomatic rela- tions between the two countries.
By July the Texan army had increased to 2,300 men, and the commissioners-Austin, Archer and Wharton-returned from Wash- ington, reporting that they had aroused mueh sympathy in the United States. On the 23d of this monthi, assured of tranquillity for a timne by internal dissensions in Mexico, Presi- dent Burnett issued a proclamation for the election of president, vice-president and sen- ators and representatives in Congress, on the first Monday in October. The election ofli { cers were also requested to obtain from eaeli voter his sentiment as to constitutional amendments and annexation to the United States.
For the presidency three candidates were nominated, -- Stephen F. Austin, Sam Hous- ton and Henry Smith, late governor. Hous- ton at first declined, but as the other two can- . didates represented factions, it was finally decided that he, being neutral as to them, should be retained as a candidate; and he was elected by a large majority. Mirabeau B. Lamar was elected vice-president. The con- stitution already drafted was adopted ahnost unanimously, as also the proposition of annex- ation.
EARLY LEGISLATION.
The first Texau Congress met at Columbia October 3, aud the following day President Burnett delivered his message, a long docu- ment, describing particularly the deficiency of their army and navy, the judicial system, etc. After endeavoring to his ntmnost to con-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
eiliate the Indians, Houston left Nacogdoches for Columbia, arriving October 9; but ac- cording to the constitution he could not commence the duties of his office until the second Monday in December. However, as both President Burnett and Vice-President Zavala were both equally willing to retire from office, and sent in their resignations, Congress considered it judicious to inaugurate the new president immediately.
In his inaugural address Houston insisted upon harmony between the legislative and executive departments of the government, as the situation was peculiarly a delicate one; recommended that the friendship of the In- dians be obtained by treaty and a strict main- tenance of good faith with them; urged ab- stinence from all acts of aggression, and the establishment of commerce with the different tribes; contrasted the barbarous mode of war- fare practiced by the enemy with the Imman- ity and forbearance displayed by the Texans in the honr of victory, citing the fact that the moral effect of such conduct had done more toward the liberation of Texas than the defeat of the army of veterans, and dwelt upon the question of annexation to the United States, -a consummation unanimously wished for by the Texan people, who were chcered by the hope that they would be welcomed into the great family of freemen. General Lamar, as president of the Senate, delivered an address breathing the same spirit and deprecating party antagonism.
According to the spirit of the above specches, I'resident Houston appointed as members of his cabinet eminent men from the principal partics. Stephen F. Austin was made secretary of State; Ilenry Smith, secretary of the treasury; Thomas J. Rusk, of war; S. Rhodes Fisher, of the navy; Rob- ert Burr, postmaster general, and J. Pinckney
Henderson, attorney general. General Felix Ilouston was given command of the army.
On November 16 Congress empowered the president to appoint a minister to the United States, to negotiate with this government for the recognition of the independence of Texas aud her annexation to this republic. The president accordingly appointed William Il. Wharton to that position.
A writer relates an interesting anecdote in this connection. - It seems that Wharton, by being tendered this appointment, felt that the president was endeavoring to send him into honorable exile, to get him out of some one's else way. Houston did not hear of this till some months afterward, when three com- missioners were to be appointed to purchase a navy. John A. Wharton, brother of Will- iam H., was one of the candidates, and, to the surprise of many, was not appointed. Meeting the latter after his return from the United States, the president could not refrain from delivering a home thrust, saying, " I did not appoint John A. Wharton one of the three naval commissioners, because I did not wish to drive any inore of the Wharton family into exile! "
This Congress also ordered the issne of bonds to the extent of $5,000,000, to bear in- terest at ten per cent. and be redeemable in thirty years. Two commissioners were ap- pointed to negotiate these bonds, $1,000 cach, either in the United States or Enrope, and holders were to be allowed the privilege of purchasing public lands of the Republic at the lowest government price, payable in bonds.
This Congress continued in session nntil the close of December, passing many bene- ficial laws and performing many embarrassing duties. Provisions were made for the in- erease of the navy, by the purchase of a twenty-
-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
four gun sloop of war, two armed steam ves- sels and two eleven-gun schooners. Rules and articles were established for the goveril- ment of the army and navy, the army to be reorganized by the president; measures were adopted for the protection of the frontier and for the national defense by the organization of militia; courts were also established, and their powers defined; revenue provided for by import duties; salaries of the government officers established, and a general post office and land office created. A national seal and standard for the Republic were adopted. The seal consisted of a single star, with the letters REPUBLIC OF TEXAS in a circular line on the seal, which also was circular. The national flag was to have an azure ground, with a large golden star central.
This first congress also chartered a gigantic company, called the Texas Railroad, Naviga- tion & Banking Company, with a capital stock of $5,000,000, etc .; but this met with considerable opposition, and the company, not being able to raise the million dollars re- quired for their bank, went down.
The boundary line of the young republic was tlins defined by this congress: From the month of the Sabine to the month of the Rio Grande, thence up the principal stream of the latter to its source, thence due nortli to the forty-second degree of latitude, and thence along the boundary line as defined in the treaty between the United States and Spain, to the beginning. But this line included the greater and best portion of New Mexico, to which Texas had no right, and she had after- ward to recede from it.
At the opening of the new year the pe- cnniary situation of Texas was very gloomy. Although the country was temporarily re- lieved from invasion. it was still threatened by the old enemy. In respect to agriculture
it had somewhat recovered from the wide- spread desolation brought upon it by the wars and unfriendly legislation of the old goverment, but still much land remained abandoned, and the people were all poor. The army was in good condition, but not the navy. Outside encouragement, however, be- gan to be manifest. It was morally certain not only that the struggling republie would soon be recognized as a nation by the United States, but that also from this country there would pour forth a stronger emigration to the new-born land. Of course, no public measure can be adopted without its bearing hard on some parties, but these hardships are seldom as great as feared. Some Northern- ers objected to the annexation of Texas to the old Union because it was spreading slave territory; others, because their trade would be interfered with by a new application of the tariff laws, etc. President Jackson himself was personally in favor of recognizing Texan independence, but as president lie made tlie following statement: " Prudence therefore seems to dictate that we should still stand aloof and maintain our present attitude, if not until Mexico itself or one of the great foreign powers shall recognize the independ- ence of the new government, at least until the lapse of time or the course of hunan events shall have proved, beyond cavil or dispute, the ability of the people of that conntry to maintain their separate sovereignty and to uphold the government constituted by them." The senate of the United States, on March 1, 1837, passed a resolution recogniz- ing the independence of Texas, but negotia- tions for annexation were not listened to by the government. But soon afterward the Texan minister was recognized at Washington, and Alcee Labranche was appointed by the presi- dent as charge d'affaires to the new republic,
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
and the house of representatives made an ap- propriation for a diplomatic agent to the same.
William II. Wharton, on his return from Washington on the ship Independence, was captured by the Mexicans, conveyed to Mata- moras, with others, and cast into prison. Ilis brother, John II. Wharton, having obtained permission and a flag, proceeded thither with thirty Mexican prisoners, hoping to effect his release; but on arrival he was seized and thrown into a dungeon. William II. Whar- ton, with the aid of Captain Thompson, of the Mexican navy. escaped and reached home; and John H. also escaped after an imprison- ment of six days. Thompson, who had agreed to desert the enemy's service, had previously left Matamoras, his departure being hastened by information given against him to the au- thorities.
May 1, 1837, the congress reassembled at the town of Houston, and the president on the 5th read his message, wherein he referred to the recognition of the independence of Texas by the United States with an eminent degree of satisfaction, and said that the re- public was now unwilling to invoke the me- diation of other powers; bnt with regard to the financial position of the government it could hardly have assumed a inch worse state. On account of the unfavorable con- dition of the money market in the United States, no portion of the $5,000,000 loan had been realized, and the land scrip (for which the sale of 500,000 acres liad been author- ized) Jiad produced nothing, owing to the questionable action of the agents at New Or- leans, who would render no account of their transactions to the exeentive, and dishonored drafts drawn upon them by the latter.
Sectionizing the public domain met with a difficulty, the old settlers preferring their old
" leagues " and "labores." At this time the Caddo Indians on the northeastern frontier were under treaty with the United States. They had been very troublesome, showing a disposition to nnite and amalgamate with the wilder tribes.
The most important question which ocen- pied the attention of the congress of 1837 was that of the land bill. During this and the called session in the fall the matter was repeatedly brought up, and several acts amendatory to the original one were passed. Besides the problem of surveying the public land into sections, there were many other knotty difficulties as to the disposition of the lands, to titles, grants, etc. Since the closing of the land offices in November, 1836, ques- tions concerning imperfect titles had in- creased in the commissioners' offices, and the grants to empresarios and titles depending thereon had to be considered. To distinguish legitimate claims and guard against frand was a most difficult matter, and to framne a bill that would defeat the ingenmity of land stealers withont violating the rights of citi- zens of Texas, justly acquired under the old Mexican legislation, and even under old Texan legislation itself, was ahnost an im- possibility. Moreover, land bounties had been granted to the volunteers who had so valiantly stepped forward to aid Texas in her direst need, and land serip had been sold in the United States. To protect the soldier and colonist in the priority of choice of loca- tion, against unprincipled speculators who supported their prior claims by perjury, was no easy matter. Ilead-rights of individuals were purchased by numbers of persons who never intended to make Texas their home. Names of natives, to whom exceptional privileges as to the area of grants were ex- tended, were used to substantiate claimis, and
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
in default of this recourse tictitions names were supplied, and head-rights obtained under them. No legislature has ever had the task of unraveling a more complicated entanglement of just with nnjust claims, or has been called upon to devise a law that could discriminate between rights almost equipoised in the scale of justice. After somne temporary legislation a general land law was at length adopted, with the following provisions: . For each county a surveyor was to be appointed, and a board of commis- sioners whose duty it was to investigate claims for head-rights, and grant certificates upon proof of right being established. Per- sons advancing claims under the old colon- ization laws were required to take oath that they were resident in Texas at the time of the declaration of independence, that they had not left the country during the campaign of the spring of 1836, and prove by two or more creditable witnesses that they were actually citizens of Texas at the date of that declaration. In this provision widows and orphans were excepted. Conflicting claims were to be tried before the nearest justice of the peace and six disinterested jurors. Em- presario contracts having ceased with Mexi- can domination, all vacant lands within snch grants were declared the property of the Re- public. On the whole this law was a very good one, though somewhat imperfect.
Among the acts of this congress, one was for the sale of Galveston and other islands in lots of ten to forty acres, and the result was an impetns to the growth of Galveston, soon making it the most important seaport in Texas.
During the last session of this congress, this year (1837) innch attention was paid to the incorporation of towns and to the boun- daries of old counties and the creation of new
counties. The towns of Shelbyville, Bra- zoria, Richmond, San Felipe de Austin, La- grange, San Antonio, Victoria, Gonzalez, Matagorda, Mina, Honston, Washington, Crockett, Refugio, Columbia, Clarksville, Lexington, Milam, Goliad, San Patricio and Jonesborough were all incorporated during this session; and the new counties of Mont- gomery, Fayette, Fannin, Robertson and Fort Bender were created. Some of the above mentioned towns, however, had been incorporated once before.
As to the general condition of Texas at this time, and the outlook, it may be said that there was a promise of permanency and success; the crops had been nnexpectedly good; immigrants were flocking into the country, and the revenue from tariff dnties proportionately increased; lands were rising in price; commerce was assuming a prosper- ous condition ; nothing was to be feared from Mexico for the present, as that nation was in a difficulty with France; and the western frontier was enjoying a rest from war, al- though Indians kept up their usna! depreda- tions. (See a subsequent section, to be found by the index.)
From the reports of the State officers, it is seen that 10,890 certificates of land title had been issned by the different county boards up to November 1, 1838, representing 26,- 242,199 acres; that up to October 15, 2,990,- 000 acres had been distributed to soldiers as land bounties; that the issues of land scrip amounted to 2.193,000 acres, of which scrip to the amount of 870,000 acres had been re- tnrned by the agents, and a portion, repre- senting 60,800 acres, had been funded. But financially, the outlook was bad. The public debt had been increased, and the credit of the Republic was nearly exhausted. Consider- able legislation was enacted with reference to
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the public finances, with the prospect that immigration and the increased interest taken in Texan securities by persons in the United States, the way ont of their difficulties would be found in due time.
By the constitution the term of office of the president was limited to two years, with- out his being eligible for re-election; suc- ceeding presidents were to hold their office for three years. Consequently Houston's term expired on the first Monday in Decem- ber, 1838. The election was held in Sep- tember, the candidates being Mirabeau B. Lamar, Peter W. Grayson, James Col- lingsworth and Robert Wilson; but before the election Grayson and Collingsworth both committed suicide! Lamar was chosen pres- ident almost unanimously, and David G. Burnett, vice-president.
In his inangural address Lamar opposed annexation to the United States very decid- edly, claiming that such an act would be " the grave of all her hopes of happiness and great ness." In his message, which was a long one, he urged the speedy adoption of a sys- tem of public education, the promotion of a general diffusion of knowledge and industry by the appropriation of lands for educational purposes and the establishment of a univer- sity; and he also recommended reform in the municipal code. He advocated severe meas- ures against the hostile Indians, considering that they had broken their treaties, and that the whites were therefore under no further obligation to observe them. With regard to the savages, " extinction or expulsion " was his policy. For the protection of the fron- tier he proposed the establishment of a line of military posts, and, as a general protec- tion against Mexico, the organization of a militia and the encouragement of volunteer associations. While he was a free-trader in has never been fully explained. Cordova
the abstract, in view of the financial distress of the Republic, he recommended a continu- ance of the tariff system then in vogue for a short time longer, in order to maintain the good credit of the country.
But with all that Texas could do, her debt frightfully increased. One historian says that during the three years of Lamar's ad- ministration the public debt increased from $1,887,526 to $7,300,000, and that the se- curities decreased from 65 and 85 to 15 and 20 cents; but, according to ex-President Houston's subsequent report. matters were not quite so bad as that. Great allowance had to be made for the peculiarity of the sit . nation.
A REBELLION.
During the latter part of 1838 the Nacog- doches rebellion occurred, when a consider- able number of Mexican settlers assembled on the banks of the Angelina, with 300 In- dians, under the leadership of Nathaniel Norris, Vicente Cordova, and others. Their numbers soon increased. President Hons- ton, who was then at Nacogdoches, received a communication from these leaders, dis- elaiming allegiance to Texas. The maleon- tents then directed their march to the Chero. kee. nation. President Houston sent out General Rusk, with the main body of the army, to the headquarters of Bowles, the Cherokee chief, while Major Augustin, with 150 men, followed the trail of the malcon- tents. Rusk presently discovered that the Mexican leaders had gone to the head-waters of the Trinity river, his followers had dis- persed and many of them returned to their homes without any blood being shed. The precise object of this attempt at revolution
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
had been in correspondence with the enemy at Matamoras, and appears to have held a commission from Filisola to raise the Ind'ans a's auxiliaries to the Mexican ariny. Early in 1839, Filisola was snceeeded by General Canalizo, who, February 27, issued instruc- tions to the captains and chiefs of the friendly nations, inciting then to wage incessant war against Texas, and laying down a plan of campaign for their gnidance. Ile said that Mexico was engaged in a war with France, and could not at the time resume operations against the revolted province; but the. friendly tribes had it in their power to pre- vent the enemy from taking advantage of fortunate circumstances. They were, how- ever, cautioned not to advance too near the frontier of the United States, but should oe- enpy the lines of San Antonio de Bejar abont the Guadalupe, and from the heads of the San Marcos to its mouth. This po- sition would have the advantage of keeping the enemy in front and a friendly nation in the rear, besides cutting off the enemy's commerce with the interior of Mexico, and furnishing abundant spoil. They were "not to cease " to harass the enemy for a single day, to burn their habitations, lay waste their fields and prevent them from assembling in great minbers, by rapid and well coneerted efforts. In case they should sneceed in unit- ing in a considerable unmber, they were to be harassed day and night, and operations to be directed with the greatest vigor against distant points. Mannel Flores was appointed commissioner to the Indians, to operate with them as allies, and also to enlist the services of Cordova.
But the best-laid scheme of this man went "agley;" for as Flores was passing through Texas with about twenty-five Mexicans and Indians, he was taken by a Texan force under
James O. Rice and killed. Flores' men had committed several murders; and in the en- gagement, which oceurred about fifteen miles from Anstin, the men were put to flight. The correspondenee with reference to the en - listment of the Indians and Cordova thus fell into the hands of the Texans and the plot was made known.
THE INDIANS.
The Texan government then resolved to remove the Cherokees, upon whose rich and beantiful lands the whites were constantly encroaching. Accordingly. Colonel Burle- son, from the Colorado, Colonel Landrum, with his regiment from eastern Texas, and General Rusk, with the Nacogdoches regi- ment, were ordered to invade the territory. The whole force, about 500 men, was placed under the command of General Donglass. Negotiations for the peaceable removal of the tribe to Arkansas having failed, on July 15, Douglass advanced against the Indian camp, on arriving at which he found that the Indians had retreated higher up the river. He found them, about 800 strong, and a run- ning fight with them for several days drove them from their lands. Their erops were also destroyed, with the idea that they were being raised in order to co-operate with the Mexicans. A few of the expelled owners, however, did not leave the country, but re -. mained along the Colorado and continued to harass the settlers.
But the most hostile and troublesome In- dians were the Comanches. In February, 1840, showing a disposition to enter into a treaty of peace, twelve of their principal chiefs met, March 19, the Texan commission- ers at Bejar, where General H. D. McLeod was in command. It was known that the Comanches had thirteen white captives in
TEXAS STATE CAPITOL.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
their power, and the release of these was de- manded. The Indians brought forward only one, a little girl. After a brief discussion, in which the Indians exhibited defiance, an order was sent to. Captain Howard, to bring his company into the council room; and as soon as the men had taken their position the chiefs were informed that they would be de- tained as prisoners until the captives were surrendered. A terrible conflict ensued; the twelve chiefs, armed, were all killed in the council room, while the warriors in the yard ontside maintained a desperate fight. All were finally slain, thirty-two in number, while seven women and children were made prisoners.
Naturally the Comanches in general were resolved on revenge for what they considered treachery, and in return for the destruction of so many of their chiefs. With a band of 600 they raided Linnville and the vicinity of Victoria, which latter place they made two efforts to capture, and carried off to their liomes immense numbers of live stock and large amounts of other property. During August (1840) the whites had several skir- inislies with them, under command of General Felix Houston, and drove them away, with considerable loss. Furthermore, on October atlı following, Col. John H. Moore, with ninety Texans and twelve Lipan Indians, was sent up the Colorado in pursuit of the escaped Comanches, and on reaching them he des- troyed their village and killed many of the escaping Indians. The rout was complete, and Lamar's system of extermination or ex- tinction was for once thoroughly carried out.
SANTA FE EXPEDITION.
eralists" failed to establish their " Republic of the Rio Grande," a scheme wholly ignored by the Texans. The latter, however, as has already been remarked, claimed all the terri- tory east of the Rio Grande to its source, which was indeed much farther into the in- terior than they were warranted in going. Accordingly, in 1841, they sent out an expe- dition toward Santa Fe, in order more per- fectly to establish their possession to that section of the country. This scheme was a wild one, from the fact that the population of Santa Fe was thoroughly Mexican, and separated from the Texas settlements by an Indian country fully 600 miles in width. Indeed it was not sanctioned by the Texan congress, and the scheme was wholly Lamar's. He proclaimed in advance to the authorities at Santa Fe the object of the expedition. If they in that section were unwilling to submit to Texas, said he, then he wished to establish friendly commercial relations with New Mex- ico. Ile instructed his commander not to subjugate the country if the people were nu- willing to submit; the military organization of the expedition was only for protection against the savages. The expedition, con- sisting of 270 soldiers, left Austin June 20, 1841, and met with many disasters, and, after some loss of men, was captured before it reached Santa Fe, and most of the inen sent to the City of Mexico, where they were kept in prison for a time. Among them was the commissioner, J. A. Navarro,: who, after langnishing in prison for fourteen months, finally escaped at Vera Cruz, in January, 1845.
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