History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 4
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 4

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In natural connection with the foregoing, the angry feeling, aronsed by the treaty, Was exhibited in a practical manner at Natchez, Mississippi, by another attempt to organize an expedition for the purpose of revolution- izing Texas. James Long was appointed leader of the enterprise, and in June he started with great enthusiasin for Nacogdo- ches, accompanied by about seventy-tive men, which number was rapidly increased. Soon . after arriving at that place he could muster over 300 men, among them Bernardo Gntier- rez and Samnel Davenport. lle immedi- ately proceeded to establish a civil govern- ment, under the control of a supreme council, of which he was chosen president. June 23 this conneil declared the province of Texas a free and independent republic, and it pro- ceeded to enact laws for the government of the same and providing for revenne by the sale of public lands. Varions agencies were established, at different points, for' mercan- tile and governmental business.

For aid, Long left Cook in command at Nacogdoches while he hastened on to Gal- veston to enlist che sympathy and assistance of Lafitte, who at that time was in the height of his glory there; but the wily Frenchman told him that it over had been useless to re-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

sist Mexico by land without a much larger force than had ever been collected for the purpose. On the way to Galveston Long heard through Indian channels that a Mexi- can force, 700 strong, under Colonel Ignacio Perez, was rapidly on his traek, at Cochattee, and at onee seut orders to Cook immediately to concentrate his ontlying detachments at that place. Of all the expeditions to Texas, not one experienced a more speedy collapse or swifter ruin than that of Long's. The posts or "agencies " spoken of were suddenly destroyed and the occupants killed or dis- persed.

Long retired to New Orleans, where he made the acquaintance of the Mexican pa- triots, Milam and Trespalacios. The next spring, 1821, still another "expedition " was formed against the Mexican government in Texas, with these inen as leaders; but they, too, were soon squelehed. The next year, 1822, Long was killed in a private en- counter.

Of course, at this time the condition was deplorable, as the outlook for permanent peace was absolutely forbidding. After the expulsion of Long in 1819, every intruder who had settled in the country was driven off, his buildings destroyed and his cattle driven away. The populated districts alto- gether contained no more than 4,000 civil- ized beings. Agriculture was almost entirely neglected, and provisions were so scarce, even in San Antonio, as to be a subject of fre- quent report by Governor Martinez to the commandant general at Saltillo. The north- eastern borders became the asylum of crimi- nals and the abode of bands of armed despe- radoes engaged in smuggling. Lafitte's piratical establishment had its emissaries about the country, who ' drove Africans through the land with impunity to New

Orleans, where they were sold; and savage Indians, like the Comanches, were hovering around almost every white settlement. This was the darkest hour that Texas ever saw.

A panoramic review of the two decades just treated is thus presented by II. H. Ban- croft, the great Pacific coast historian:

" If the reader will glance back at the his- tory of Texas, he will find that no advance in the colonization of that fertile country was made during the period of Spanish domn- ination. The reason of this, apart from the exclusion of foreigners, lay mainly in the aversion of the Spanish ereoles to agriculture, and the dangers to which settlers were ex- posed. Enterprise in ' New Spain' was chiefly directed to the development of mines, while the cultivation of the soil was performed for the most part by the passive Indians. In Texas, an essentially agricultural province, the conditions were reversed. There were no mines to be developed, nor were there peaceable natives who could be made to till the ground. It therefore offered no induce- ments to Spanish-Americans to migrate from safe and settled districts to a remote region. where a few ill-garrisoned presidios could offer little or no protection to the cultivator against the stealthy attacks of hostile Indians. Thins the colonization of Texas was confined to the establishment of a few settlers in the immediate vicinity of these military posts. Only two of these, San Antonio de Bejar and La Bahia del Espiritu Santo, developed into towns of any considerable importance. Later attempts of Spain to colonize the country at the beginning of the present century met with no success. The undertaking projected by the Spanish governinent and placed under the direction of General Grimarest failed of accomplishment on account of the breaking out of hostilities between Spain and England;

Stephen Juller Austin.

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

nor did other settlers who were introduced into Texas abont this time effect any expan- sion of the community. It remained for peaceable immigrants from the United States to accomplish a work of progress which Spain had proved herself incompetent to perform, and which had been beyond achievement by foree of arms on the part of adventurers.

" I have already related how anxious Spain was to people Texas immediately after the purchase of Louisiana by the United States, and so protect herself against encroachments by occupancy of the country. Her inten- tions, however, were frustrated by the dread- fnl wars, in which she soon became engaged, and the revolutions which broke ont in her colonies. In the emergencies to which she was reduced she relaxed her exclusive poliey, and official proclamations were published in- viting colonists of all classes and nationalities to settle in her American dominions. The treaty of amity of February 22, 1819, having confirmed her in the possession of Texas, Spain felt herself in a position to remove the exclusion of Anglo-Americans as colonists in her territory, which hitherto had been insisted on in all colonization schemes. At the same time the royalist power seemed to be firmly 1 established in Mexico, the revolution liav- ing been well nigh suppressed and the pacif- ication of the country almost consummated. It was reasonable, therefore, to suppose that the Spanish government would give satisfac- tory assurances to Anglo-Americans who unight wish to obtain in a legal manner grants of land in Texas."

THE AUSTINS.

The first American who availed himself of this new opportunity was Moses Anstin. This man was born in Durham, Connecticut, abont

1764. At the age of twenty he married Maria Brown in Philadelphia, and soon after. ward established a commercial house in Rich . mond, Virginia, in partnership with his broth- or, Stopl.en, who was at the head of a large importing business in Philadelphia. The two brothers a few years later purchased conjointly a lead mine in Virginia, and ran it for a time. Adventurons speculation brought them re- verses, and Moses Austin, a man of persever- ance and enterprise, obtained in 1797 a grant from Baron de Carondeiet, governor-general of Louisiana, conferring upon him a leagne of land in eastern Missouri, where he made the first settle ment as the nuclens of Wash- .ington county, that State, and where he won by his upright conduct the almiration of all the immigrants. But the very qualities which gained for him the affection of all who knew him occasioned another reverse of for- tune. He had become a large stockholder in the Bank of St. Louis, and when in 1818 : hat institution went to ruin Austin surrendered the whole of his property for the benefit of his creditors. Although now in his fifty-fifth year, he conceived the bold idea of establish- ing an extensive colony in Texas. In this he was not moved by the reckless spirit of adventure that had characterized foriner attempts of the kind. His intention from the first was to proceed legally. Accordingly he made the long journey to San Antonio de Bejar, arriving in the first part of December, 1820, and made his application to the author- ities. . At first he met only with rebuff and disappointment. Although in 1799 he had become a naturalized subject of Mexico in upper Louisiana, he had failed to provide himself with a passport before starting on his journey, and when he presente l himself be- fore the governor he was peremptorily ordered to leave the province imme liately. In bitter-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

ness of heart he left the governor's house to make preparations for his departure; but on crossing the plaza he met Baron de Bastrop, an alcalde and a native of Prussin, whoso acquaintance he lind made many years before. In his younger days Bastrop was a soldier of fortune under Frederick the Great. Ile after- ward entered the service of the king of Spain, who sent him on a special mission to Mexico. While Louisiana was under the dominion of Spain he obtained a grant of thirty miles square between the Mississippi and Red rivers, 400,000 acres of which he ceded to Aaron Burr, on which the latter intended to plant a colony as a nucleus for his meditated expedition against Mexico. When Louisiana. was re-ceded to France, Bastrop became a citizen of San Antonio de Bejar, where he was appointed alcalde and afterward land cominissioner, and in 1827 he represented Texas in the legislature of Coahnila and Texas. IIe died in 1828 or 1829.

On meeting Austin, as before stated, he in- terested himself in his undertaking, and by bis influence had a second interview with Governor Martinez, who, after some delibera- tion, forwarded Austin's memorial to Arre- dondo, the commandant-general of the eastern internal provinces, with a strong recommend- ation in its favor from the local anthorities of the province.

While his case was ponding, he started on the long journey back to his Missouri home, in January, 1821, and suffered untold hard- ships. He was frequently obliged to cross swollen streams by either swimining or raft- ing, and to suffer a great deal from hunger. Indeed, the exposures of the journey broke down his health, and he died at his home June 10th following, in his fifty-seventh year.

On dying he left an arrangement with his son, Stephen Fuller Austin, then in New Or-

loans, to prosecute the enterprise he had be- gun in Texas. From 1821 to 1824 there were no less than four different forms of gov- ernment in Texas, and of course but little was done by way of settlement. January 17, 1821, however, Austin's memorial was granted, giving him permission to introduce 300 families into Texas. In energy and per- severance the son was equal to his father, and he arrived at San Antonio with seventeen companions, and receivel permission from the government to explore the country on the Colorado river and select an advantageons po- sition. He also examined the country along the Brazos river. Being convinced of the fertility of the land and healthfulness of the climate, he returned to Louisiana and pub- lished the particulars of the scheme. Each head of a family was to receive 640 acres, 320 acres in addition for the wife should there be one, 100 acres additional for each child, and eighty acres in addition for each slave. Each single man also would receive a grant of 640 acres. The conditions imposed upon the settlers were that they should be Catho- lies, or agree to become so, before entering the territory; that they should be provided with credentials of good character and habits; should take the oath to be obedlient in all things to the government; to take up arms in dofouse against all enemies; to be faithful to the king; and to observe the political con- stitution of the Spanish monarchy. On the part of the colony itself, each settler was to pay 12g cents per acre for his land to defray expenses, except that Austin took it npon himself to pay for all the surveying, securing of titles, etc. The money was to be paid in instalments after receipt of title. A portion of the fund was also designed for purposes of government, defense against hostile Indians, and to furnish supplies to poor immigrants.

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

THE AUSTIN COLONY.

The first immigrants of the Anstin colony arrived in December, 1821, settling on the Brazos river at the Bahia crossing, mainly in what is now Austin county; but many diffi- culties and hardships were encountered. Shipments of supplies from New Orleans failed to reach them, and they had to subsist too much ou the products of the chase; and this was dangerons on account of the hostile Indians.

During the spring of 1822 Anstin went to San Antonio to report progress, and there learned for the first time that under the change in political affairs he would have to obtain from the Mexican congress a confirm- ation of the grant conceded to his father by the Spanish government, and receive special instructions relative to the distribution of land and other details connected with the grant. This was a sore disapointment. He would have to travel 1,200 miles by land on roads infested by banditti and deserters, and he was ill prepared for such a journey. Neverthe- lese, in ragged clothes and a blanket, he dis- guised himself as a poor traveler going to Mexico to petition for compensation for serv- ices in the revolution, and unflinchingly started out on the long and perilous journey.

While on his way to the city of Mexico, with but two persons in company, arriving at San Antonio, he (Austin) was told that it was dangerous to proceed without an escort, for a war party of Comanches was abroad, killing every unprotected person who came in their way; that some individuals had been inurdered by thein the day before; and that he, with so much baggage, being a valuable prize, could not possibly hope to escape. Finding, however, no opportunity of obtain- ing an escort, and the business of the colony

requiring his presence in the metropolis, he resolved at all hazards to proceed on his journey.

They travelod the first day unmolested, but on the morning of the second day, feeling somewhat indisposed, Mr. Anstin undertook to prepare some coffee. There were no ac- commodations on the road, and it was neces- sary to carry provisions ou a pack- horse, and cook by the wayside. His coup mions warned him that if Indians were near they would be attracted by the smoke. Ile flattered him- self, however, that by selecting a sheltered place and making little smoke, it would be impossible for them to discern it. Besides, his craving for the coffee was so great, lie being afflicted with a bad headache, he in- sisted that he must have it at all risks. They were npon an open plain, and could see many miles around. At the moment no living creature was in view but themselves.

The men in company went to seek the horses, which had been hopple i the night be- fore and let loose to feed. The colonel re- tired to a little ravine to enjoy his coffee. It was boiled, and in the act of putting the re- freshing beverage to his anxious lips, he heard a sound like the trampling of many horses. Raising his head, with the coffee yet untasted, he beheld in the distance fifty mounted Com- anches, with their spears glittering in the morning sun, dashing toward him at full speed. As the column advanced it divided, according to the practice previously described, into two semi-circles, and in an instant he was surrounded. Quicker than thought he sprang to his loadel rifle, but as his hand grasped it he felt that resistance by one against a host was vain.

The plunder commenced. Every article of the little encampment, with the saddle. bags, which he stood upon to protect if possi-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

ble, was greedily seized. Austin's presence of inind, however, did not forsake him. Ile calmly meditated for a moment what course to pursue. Assuming great composure, he went up to the chief, and, addressing him in Spanish and the few Indian words he knew, declared himself to be an American, and de- manded whether their nation was at war with the Americans. "No," was the reply. " Do you like the Americans?" "Yes; they are our friends." " Where do you get your spear- heads, your blankets," etc., namning all their foreign articles one by one. "Get them from our friends, the Americans." "Well, do you think if you were passing through their nation, as I am passing through yours, they would rob you as you have robbed me?" The chief reflected a little and repliel, " No; it would not be right." The chief then com- manded his men to restore all the articles taken. Every article came back with the same dispatch with which it had disappeared, except the saddlebags. These, which eon- tained all his money, were indispensable to the further prosecution of his journey. No one could tell anything of the saddlebags. Almost in despair of ever seeing them again, he observed in a thicket, at a little distance, a squaw, one of the trumpeters, kicking and belaboring her horse to make him movo off, while the sngacious benst would not stir a step from the troop. The colonel instantly pursued the female robber, and found his saddlebags neatly concealed under the saddle- blanket and herself. The whole squadron then moved off, and were seen no more.

A little circumstance connected with the above affair is worth mentioning. A Spanish grammar, which the colonel carried suspended at the saddle-bow, that he might study it as he rode along, was missing. This book was afterward found among the Indians by some

traders, and as it had the owner's name on it a report spread abroad that the colonel had been killed by the Comanches. This report reached the cars of his anxious mother and sister in Missouri, and it was many months before they learned that he had survived the dreary pilgrimage.

Mr. Austin reached the capital in safety, April 29, 1822, but on account of constant changes in the government and the belief that a new law would at length have to be adopted, it was not until the next January that his claim was recognized. But even then, before he left the capital, another change in the goverment was made, and he had to wait about three months longer for new arrangements. On his return to Mon- terey he had to get further instructions from the commandant general and the provincial "deputation." He' was informed that he had full powers for the administration of justice in his colony, he, in the military aspect, ranking as lieutenant-colonel. He could make war on the Indian tribes in his vicinity who molested his colony, could in- troduce supplies by the harbor of Galveston, ete. Ile was to render an account of his acts to the governor of Texas, and be subject to him. Bastrop was empowered to survey the lands and give title. The name San Felipe de Austin was given to the capital of the new colony.

When Austin arrived at the settlement he found it almost abandoned, in consequence of his long detention in Mexico, but the news of his return and the success of his undertaking attracted settlers in such numbers that by 1824 the stipulated 300 families had arrived, and they then began a prosperous career. Although, however, Austin was exact in his administration of justice and extravagantly benevolent to the needy, there were many in

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

the colony disposed to complain and make trouble. In the United States and Europe the impression began to prevail that Anstin's carly colonists wore in great part fugitives from justice; but he maintained, with every show of fact and reason, that his colony was as moral as any community in the States.

The limits of the county were undefined by the law, and the immigrants were allowed to settle at various distances from the center ac- cording to their own free will. In response to Anstin's petition, the goverment al- lowed him to introduce 500 more families to locate upon the nnoccupied lands lying be- tween the tracts already ocenpied by his colonists.

Mr. Austin at one time sent a newcomer to Texas from San Felipe to the Colorado to take the census of the families in that part of his colony. The duty being performed, the messenger returned, and the following con- versation occurred :

Austin .- " Well, Mr. -, how do you like that part of the country?"

Newcomer .-. I like the country much; but I wouldn't live in such a community if you would give it all to me."

Austin .- " Why, didn't they treat you well?"

Neweomer .- " Yes, indeed; never was bet- ter treated."

Anstin .- " Tell me about it." .

Newcomer .- " Well, general, to give you a sample of the people living up there. I went to a log cabin, where I found only a lady at home. I asked her who livel there. She said, ' Me and the old man.' I told her I had come to take the census. She told ine to take it. I said to her, . Have you any children ?' She replied, 'Yes; lots on 'emn.' ' Please give their mumnos, madam.' ' Woll, thar's Isaiah, and Bill, und Tom, and Jake, and Ed, and John

and Bud, and -, oh, yes! I'd like to forgot Joe, he's gone so much.' These being duly noted, with ages, I askedl, ' Ilave you no girls?' ' No, sir,' repliel she, emphatically; 'boys is trouble enough; but arter a while they kin take care of themselves; but gals is always trouble, and never kin take care of themselves.' General, those people are too rough to live with."

Austin .- " Well, Mr. - --- , those are ex- actly the people we want for the pioneers on our frontier. They are hardy, honest and brave. They are not your kid-glove soit. As the settlement becomes denser, they will strike farther ont upon the borders. I wish we ha l more of them."

The following anecdote, in regard to mem- bers of the colony, illustrates the universal tendency of retaliatory measures to increas- in gravity far beyond reason. In February, 1841, a pig belonging to Mr. Bullock, an Austin landlord, found his way into the stable of M. de Saligny, the French charge, and a'e some of the corn. For this offense a servant of the Frenchman slew the little animal, and in return for this the irate landlord horse- whipped the servant. Thereupon Saligny complained, and Bullock was arrested and bound over to the next term of conrt. After- ward the landlord ordered the envoy off his - premises. These indignities to French honor were not to be passed unnoticed by, and the Texas government, failing to give satisfac- tion, the French minister abandoned his post. A conciliatory letter from President Honston subsequently healed the breach and bronght the testy Frenchman back. Occasions as trifling as tlfis have. in the history of man, been the initial point of a series of aets which terminated in war.

"The character of . Lenther-stocking,'" snys Mrs. Holley, "is not uncommon in Texas.

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Many persons employ an individual in the business of hunting in all its branches, and thus are constantly supplied with provisions of every description, even to eggs, which are furnished by the immense numbers of wild fowl. These hunters are very profitable to their employers, and much cherished in the family, and often become spoiled by famili- arity and indulgence. A ronghness of man- ners and a rudeness of speech are tolerated in them which would not be brooked in other servants. They are a sort of privileged char- acter. Indians and Mexicans are considered the best qualified for this important office. But it sometimes happens that a white man from the States, who has become somewhat decivilized (to coin a word), is substituted. The dress of these hunters is usually of deer- skin; hence the appropriate name ' Leather- stocking.'"

THE EMPRESARIO SYSTEM.

After the Mexican provinces had declared themselves free and sovereign, an l subject only to federation, a national colonization law was adopted Angust 18, 1824, one provision of which authorized the legislatures of the different States to form colonization laws for the occupancy of the publie domains within their respective territories, on terms that were not at variance with the federal consti- tution. Accordingly, the newly-formed State of Coahuila and Texas, having organized its government, the legislature, on March 24, 1825, decreed such a law, one provision of which required, in order to people the land by the colony system, a certain number of families to be introduced within a given timo, at the expense of the immigrants themselves. The particulars of the system were as follows, in brief: The empresario first presented a

memorial to the State Government asking for permission to colonize certain waste lands which were designated, as well as the number of families he proposed to introduce. To afford ample choice to settlers, the tract designated and usually conceded by the gov- ernment was greatly in excess of the appro- priation to be finally made; but after the establishment of the settlement and the con- pletion of the allotments of the colonists, and the assignment of the "premium land " to the empresario, all the surplus land , reverted to the State. The distribution of the allot- inents was under the control of a commis- sioner appointed by the State, but he had power to make an assignment without the approval of the contractor. If the contractor failed to introduce the stipulated number of familes within the term of six years, he lost his rights and privileges in pro- portion to the deficiency, and the contract was totally annulled if he had not succeeded in settling 100 families. The premium granted to a contractor was five square leagnes of graz- ing laud and five labores of tillage land for each Indred families; but he could not ac- quire a premium on more than 800 families. (A square league was a tract of 5,000 varas square, and contained 4,428 acres. A labor was 1,000 varas square, and contained 177 aeres. Twenty-five labores were equal to one sitio, and five sitios composed one hacienda )

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History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 4

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895 Number of Pages: 1532

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532