USA > Texas > The history of the republic of Texas, from the discovery of the country to the present time; and the cause of her separation from the republic of Mexico > Part 2
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4
Territorial division 45 ·
Religion of the Natchez
5
Legislative qualification 46
Disappearance of the Natchez
6
Functions of the executive 47
Narvaez' expedition
7
Judiciary districts 48
43
First settlements in Texas .
Spanish missionaries
10 tem 50
11 Re-appearance of Iturbide in
12 Mexico .
51
The first Mexican revolution Hidalgo's conspiracy
13
Execution of Iturbide .
52
Defeat of Hidalgo
14
Recognition of Mexico by Eng- land · 53
16 Abolition of slavery by Mexico
53
First national congress
18
Spanish invasion of Mexico .
. 56
Mazve's expedition to Texas
19 Ambitious views of Guerrero . 57
Fall of Nacogdoches . 20
Salcedo's retreat
21
Expulsion of the state legislature
59
22 Guerrero shot as a traitor . 60
23 Justice to the settlers 61
Santa Anna espouses l'edraza 62
21 General Teran destroys himself . 63 Protection to the colonists 61
65
27 The close of federalism 67
Santa Anna, president .
65 70
28 Measures of clemency .
71
Spanish constitution introduced Iturbide at Iguala .
30 31 32
Austin's advice to the colonists Political fanatics 73
72
Plan of Iguala . ·
33 3G
Iturbide, Regent of Mexico .
37
Irb: le proclaimed emperor
38
.
Defeat of Garcia 78
·
Arrest of Viesca 79
Proclamation of General Cos SO
Declaration of the peace party in Texas . S'1
Abdication of Iturbide
·
Colonisation of Florida ·
8 Santa Anna proclaimed protector Establishment of the central sys- 9
Spanish misrule
Hidalgo's retreat
15
Arrest of Hidalgo
The execution of Hidalgo
Massacre of Mexican prisoners Trvan overtures to Morelos
Mexican cry for the expulsion of the Anglo-Americans
San Antonio retaken by Arre- dondo .
Expulsion of the Americans from Texas
Anglo- American schemes in Mex- iro
Austin's petition
Texan land jobbing
Rebellious spirit of the Texans . Address of the general committee State legislature of Coahuila and Texas 77
Provision i junta .
Dissolution of the national as- sembly . 30
Rebellious state of the country 10
Sanal colonisation law 11
A colonisation law passed . 53
26 Petition of the general convention Austin's advice to the colonists . 66
17 The Fredonian scheme ·
The original inhabitants of Texas
XX
CONTENTS.
Proclamation of the Mexican chiefs . · General Cos joins Ugartechea . The Texans act on the offensive Centralism confirmed by Procla- mation
Page
Page
Admiral Baudin's despatch ·
145
84 S6
Prowess of the Mexicans · Diversion of the Mexican troops 147 Kennedy's account of the Texan congress 14S
88 Kennedy's picture of Texas, 1837 150
89
Annexation of Texas to the United States 151
90
Acts of the general convention . 91
Gen. Austin repairs to the United States . ·
Military successes of the Texans Reinforcement of the Mexicans Suspension of hostilities .
95 96
Recognition of Texas by foreign powers 158
General Urrea enters Texas
97 Anglo-Mexican debt 159
Meeting of the Mexican bond- holders 163
Sanguinary act of Santa Anna .
Orders of congress enforced
San Antonio besieged 101
Address to the Texan people 102 Territory claimed by the Texans Death of Crockett and Bowie 103 Mexican and United States boun- The Bowie knife 104 dary
178
Texan independence declared
105
Gen. Hamilton's letter to Lord Palmerston 150
Mexican overtures rejected 106
The surprise at San Jacinto .
107
Houston's misrepresentation 111
Armistice between Texas and Mexico 112
Treaty between Santa Anna and the Texans
113'
Retreat of the Mexicans .. Santa Anna's execution discussed
118
Santa Anna's protest
119
Santa Anna sent to Washington The miraculous success of the. Texans
121
The Texan loan job 192
Hints to capitalists 193
122
Sentiments of a Mexican mer- chant
123
New republic of Rio Grande 196
Alleged grievances of the Texans Observations on the Texan grie- vances .
126 127
Dismemberment of Mexico at- tempted 199
Canales, convention with Reyes 200
Present population of Texas 202
Table of towns and population 203
County towns and cities 204
205
French blockade 132
Conference at Jalapa .
133
Mexican reply to France .
131
New plan of adjustment .
111|
Usefuls, contemptibles, and loaf- ers . 208
176
Convention between England and Texas 182
Gen. Hamilton's protestando
Texan atrocities 186
Texan and Mexican civilisation 1ST
Reprisals of foreign nations
189
114 The Anglo-Texan convention . Protest of the Mexican charge d'affaires 191
The high tariff 194
The mistaken policy of Mexico 105
121| Texan partizanship 197 . Territory of Rio Grande . 198
Anglo-American designs
Operations of the American land forces .
128
Mexican envoy sent to Washing- ton
129
American diplomacy 130
146
87
The Texans commence hostilities General Austin resigns the com- mand .
152
Lord Palmerston's conduct re- viewed . Admiral Baudin's flight from Vera Cruz 153
92 93 Admiral Baudin's letter to Gen. Urrea 154
94
Capitulatton
Colonel Fanning surprised by Urrea
98 99 100
Act of the Mexican congress 16S
Mexican president's order in council 170
The white population of Texas
Landholders, shareholders, spe- culaters 207
.
-
xxi
CONTENTS.
Cotton of Texas
Texan rural economy
211
Recognition of Texas by foreign powers
274
An oracle for modern bravados 276
277
Texan protestantism 215
Religion of Texas 216
Religious toleration in Texas
Texan hotels and boarding houses Texan houses . 223 ·
222
The Indians of Texas 22-1
l'ast sufferings of Indiaus 229
Extermination of the Indians 230
Territorial rights, &c., of Texan tribes . 233
International rightsof the Texan Indians
234
Address of the anti-slavery so- ciety 290
Horrors of the slave trade .
294
Benefits of civilisation
Progress of abolition 295
True origin of slavery 238
Free trade views of the Texans 297
The Texan Indian tribes . 239
Anti-republican laws of Texas . 298
Territorial history of Texas 300
305
Comanche towns and villages 241 Climate of Texas
Wild horse of Mexico
242
Mrs. Holly's climate of Texas . 311
311
Indian rulers and councils
241
Bonnell's petrified forest . 322
Fossils and diluvial formations 323
Superficial configuration of
Texas . 321
250 Geology of Texas 326 .
Rivers of Texas 328
Bays and lakes . 333
251 Bays and lagimas 33ł
Texan and Indian treaties
255
Mountains of Texas 333
Texan mjustice to the Cherokees Debate in congress .
257
Geology and entomology Texas . 337
of
Kickapoos, Shawnees, and
Cheks
258
Entomology of Texas . 338
Arboriculture of Texas 340
Commercial and statistical views of Texas 342
Public debt and liabilities of Texas . 346
United States' jobbers and spe- culators 34S
Caution to emigrants 350
Traveller's guide 353
Sea-port towns on the Texan coast 3.5 }
270 Advice to emigrants .
356
| Texan tariff . . 357
272| National colours .
361
Page 209 Mexican freedom .
Page 273
Tranh salutations
212
Yaukce whittling
Religion of Texas
214
British municipal commissioners Lord Durham's cogent remarks 278
Proceedings of the anti-slavery society .
279
Lord Palinerston's reply 281 .
Caution to Texan emigrants 286
Alleged anti-slavery spirit in Texas 287
Houston's slavery principles de- 2SS monstrated . · Mr. Kennedy's slavery in its mildest form 289
Pau for protecting the Texan Indians 235 237
Costume of the Comanche In- dians .
240
Names of counties .
306
Mamanchic dance . .
215 2-17
Indian chronology
Indian languages 249
Indian arts and science
Ctranenhua Indians
251 252
Cherokee Indians
Unknown Indian tribe 259
260
Number of slaves in Texas 261
Triun loan -- how to be applied Treatment of slaves
263
Killing a negro not deemed mur-
261
Nepro depravity enforced 266
Arguments of American slave- holders
267 208
Audition of slavery by England Abolition of slavery by Mexico Another figment for Mr. Keu- nuly .
256
Mountains and mounds 336
262
Indian tribes
Indian manœuvring 213 Mr. Kennedy's climate of Texas
221
213
xxii
CONTENTS.
Page
Superficial surface of Texas . 362
Claims on the Texan govern-
ment 396
Roads and distances in Texas 365 . Supplement 398
Texan grants to colonists .
368
Colonisation laws of Mexico 369
Colonisation laws of Coahuila and Texas 370
Opinions of the London press The "unratified " treaty between Texas and Great Britain 411
410
Colonisation laws of Mexico, Coa- huila, and Texas . 372
Land laws of Texas ·
374 Mr. Hartnell's comment . 420
General land law of Texas .
378
Extracts from the London press 421
427
Assessed taxes of Texas .
Common law and criminal laws of Texas
356 ; Treaty with Texas-slavery . 392 Extracts from the London press 429 Mr. Crawford's " big talk " with 39-11 Indian chiefs 431
APPENDIX.
Page
Acts of congress of 1836-7-8-9
435-193
Treaty between Texas and France
493-199
Letter to Viscount Palmerston
499 --- 501 Declaration of American consul
501, 502 .
Important event to English emigrants
502
Table of Mexican and English measures
503
Letter to D. O'Connell, Esq.
503-50S
Laws of Texas and Mexico as regards slavery
509 .
Letter to Lord Aberdeen
. 511, 512
ERRATA AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
Page Line
3 10 the Indian nations of Buenos Ayres, Chile, and Guatemala are not mentioned.
4 11 for " was" read " were."
13 16 for " Gunagnato" read " Guanaxnato." both there and wherever else the word occurs.
19 21 for " outlaw" read " ontlaws."
29 15 for "General Austin" read " Moses Austin."
30 3 for " at the head of " read "inthe name of."
31 9 for " Moses" read " Stephen."
31 19 for " Apodoca" read " Apoiaca."
33 2 for " Iguala" read " Acapulco."
33 19 for " securing" read " secured."
43 5 for " congress" read " junta."
45 13 from the word " country." the sentence to the end of the paragraph should have been entirely omitted. It was inserted by a mistake.
49 21 for " was taken from Santa Anna," read " was adopted in accordance with Santa Anna's views."
50 1 I have subsequently been asstired that the British ministers did not interfere further than samply indmating, that if such disorders contraned, they would retire altogether.
50 10 for " Labato" read " Lobo."
50 23 for " Guadalaxara" read " Guadalaxara."
50 24 and 30 for " P'axaca" read " Oaxaca."
53 5 for " Arroyo" read " Arroyos."
₹
€
Land law of Texas .
.
Page
Principal inland towns 363 .
Opinions of the French press on the Texan loan 399
British consul-general to Texas 41S
.
.
1
xxiii
ERRATA AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
Page: Line
7 for " seized" read " viewed."
53 24 for " March 24, 1825," read " 18th August, 1824."
33 2 and 3 for " Escoceres" read " Escoseses."
3 for " Barrabas" read " Barradas."
10 The 1000 men are what Santa Anna brought with him from Vera Cruz, but he was joined in the state of Tamaulipas by large reinforcements.
57 20 I find that Guerrero was only chargeable with the abuse of the dictatorial powers conferred on him by the congress.
5 " Carbajal" should be " Carabajal."
26 for " confusion" read "revolution."
66 23 for " petitions " read " petition."
93 5 for " Captain Fannin" read " Colonel Fannin."
93 20 for " San Patrico " read "San Patricio."
101 20 for " 450" read " 150."
102 29 for - 450" read " 150."
28 for " Muriano" read " Mariano."
103 33 for " Satillo" read " Saltillo."
19 I mean that the treaty terminated the war of independence as the Texans will have it, but it can only be so understood for that campaign. The account of the disorders in Urrea's retreat may be exaggerated. I had it from a Texan officer.
133 3 for " chosen" read " have chosen."
145 17 for " on the receipt of" read " sending off." At this part, before speaking of the landing at Vera Cruz, I ought to have mentioned the capture of the fort of San Juan de Ullua, between which events a considerable period elapsed.
148 4 for " army were" rend " army who were."
150 23 for " found" read " it was found."
153 14 The £10,000,000 is, in round numbers, the whole amount of the debt of Mexico to English subjects, in security for which Mexico mortgaged to them 125 millions of acres to be selected in Texas, Chihuahua, New Mexico, So- nora and California. at their own option.
. 16 The date of the decree being 12th April, 1837, it was one month after the acknowledgment by the United States, which took place on the 3rd of March preceding : but I apprehend Mexico had then, and has now, a perfect right to dispose of Texas as she pleases, according to her force aud power so to do.
26 By saying that Mexico has no power to recognize the independence of Texas. I do not mean to deny her right of perfect sovereignty, but simply that the basis of the constitution appears to militate against such a dismemberment, and, much to her honour, Mexico has already protested her inability to recognize Texas to the prejudice of the territorial rights there of British subjects, founded on the sanctity of her own decrees.
163 5 for " Jose Justa" read " Jose Justo."
25 for " Matagorder" read " Matagorda."
194 7 In speaking of a fiscal revolution in Mexico, I allude to the absurd notion of Mr. Kennedy to upset the fiscal regulations both of Mexico and the United States, by the introduction, across both frontiers, of British gouds introduced into Texas duty free.
17 for " Tamanlipus" read " Tamaulipas."
The population of Texas, including transient visitors, is given, in round nnul- bers, as 54,038, on a fair estimate from the best data I could collect on the spot, in the absence of any regular census of the whole country.
216 5 for "General Austin" read " Moses Austin."
12 Let not the reader understand that by dismemberment of the old empire of Montezuma, I do more than allude ironically to the preposterous idea of : modern author of no small self conceit, that Great Britain has an interest in supporting the Texans, whose whole policy and efforts are directed to effect that dismemberment.
129 20 for "General" read " Stephen."
6 I would not confine the commission for the preservation of the independent Indian nations from extinction to Great Britain and Mexico; I name the-e powers because their laws and policy are most favourable to that humane
xxiv ERRATA AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
Page Line
object ; but if all the powers in Christendom should unite in it, and in oblig- ing the North Americans and the Texans to keep within the rules of huma- nity and justice, I would be so much the better pleased.
237 13 I do not here mean an active policy, but one too passive, and not actively pre- ventive of encroachment upon aboriginal races.
239 26 for " share" read " chase."
258 27 for " Buyon" read " Bayou."
272 5 for " breaks" read " break."
275 19 for "as" read "is."
276 17 for " Lumbary" read " Lumbar."
290
9 for " vesicular" read " vesicatory."
290
15 for " voracious" read " ferocious."
303
9 for " Tamaulepas" read " Tamaulipas."
306
14 for "construction" read " constitution." 5 for " to collect" read " as to collect."
321
12 for " obtaian" read " obtain."
326
23 for " product" read "products." 1 for "de la" read " de las."
332 10, 11, 12. Here I speak of the frontier that the Texans pretend to, and which Mr. Kennedy allows them; for the true limits, the reader is referred : the map.
336 10 for " Sacremento" read "Sacramento."
353 7. The extension of the territory of Texas to the Rio Grande del Norte, is to be understood only in the sense of what the Texans claim, the true boundary being the river Nou ces.
3.54 19 and 23 for " Valasco" read " Velasco."
354 26 for " 700" read " 600"
357
13 after "bacon, bread, stuff, flour of all kinds," read " free."
357 15 for " bents" read " beets."
357
29 for " crats" read " car:s."
19 for " lining" read ~ lime."
359 362 8 for " 96,000,000" read " 192,000,000" of English acres.
362
17 for " Beud" read " Bend."
363
6 for " Annuhuac" read " Anahuac."
363
19 Brazoria itself contains only about 250, (see page 203,) but the population of the neighbourhood is here added.
363 24 The same remark applies to Bolivar.
363
28 It applies also to Austin.
366
8 for " Valasco" real " Veliero."
368
3 for " Yavalle's" read " Zabala's."
368 17 If I am correct in the estimate of 63,648,669 acres already granted, by turning to page 234, the reader will find that Texas still comprises 73,536,331 acre= to be disposed of.
369 26 for " haciendos" read " haciendas."
369 1 for " vava" read " vara,"
369 2 for " vavas" read " varas."
369
3 for " scitio" read " sitio."
369 6 for "scitios" read " sitios."
369 7 for " haciendos" read " haciendas."
31 for " Ginado major" read " Ganado mayor."
371 372 13 The grants referred to in note. page 568, are to be understood as exceptions.
375 392
4 for " lines" read " liens."
22 for " crises which besieze" read " crisis which besieges."
408
20 The meaning here is, that the lands may be paid for in government paper, re- ceivable at pur, only worth 25 cents the dollar.
119 15 for " 3,000,000" Lead " 5,000,000."
410 31 The expression of this hope will remind the reader of the fable of the for an the sour grapes.
427 7 The meaning is, that Mexico, as sovereign of Texas, will not recoguise :'e validity of any titles to lands there given by the rebel government.
26 for " to that" read " to what."
399
309
332
HISTORY
OF THE
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.
CHAPTER I.
The Natchez : the Original Inhabitants of Texas-Extent of their territory -- Their Religion-Their sudden and unaccountable disappearance-First Spanish Settlements in Natchez-Texas formerly a part of Natchez -- Texas annexed to the Viceroyalty of Mexico-First War of Independence, to the fall of Morelos.
To carry the history of a civilized nation through a series of ages, is comparatively an easy task to tracing the rise and fall of a people unacquainted with the use of letters, and whose discoverers have left us but a very vague account of their manners, habits, customs, or institutions, and of which their own traditions furnish the historian with no data. Such is the obscurity in which the history of the Natchez is involved. However, in addition to the conjectures of many able historical writers, who have laboured to show the fate of the Natchez, we find that the Spaniards at different periods pos- sessed themselves of the whole of the vast empire of the Natchez, which extended from the Missis-
--
2
THE NATCHEZ.
sippi on the east, to Rio del Norte or Rio Grande on the west, and from the Gulf of Mexico on the south, to Great Osage River on the north.
As early as 1527, the attention of the conquerors of Mexico was directed towards the Natchez. Cortes, in his despatches to Charles V., in the above year, speaks of the Natchez as a powerful and civi- lised nation, whose manners, habits, and institutions differed essentially from those of the Mexicans, to whom, however, they were by no means inferior in many of the arts of civilisation. Cortes also stated, that he had long contemplated the conquest of the Natchez, but before he could make the arrange- ments necessary for such a vast undertaking, the Natchez were engaged in a sanguinary war, or rather a war of extermination, with the Bogotans, a less civilised but equally powerful nation ; by whom the Natchez, says Robertson, were soon after overpowered, and subsequently exterminated; but it is somewhat difficult to give that degree of credit to this bold assertion of Robertson's, on a highly interesting subject, which is due to the simplest remark of so able an historian. In fact, nothing can be more absurd than to suppose that so power- ful a nation as the Natchez could be annihilated, as if by magic, in the space of a few months, or that the Bogotans could undertake the conquest of such a powerful and distant people.
The capital of the empire of Bogota, now a pro- vince of New Granada, was situated on one of the
3
THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF TEXAS.
tributary streams of the Magdalena River, while the capital of Natchez stood on the west bank of the Mississippi, in lat. 30° 30' north ; hence the dis- tance between these two countries alone places the conjecture of Robertson beyond the remotest bounds of probability.
At the period of the discovery of America, the Spaniards found but few settled nations on that continent ; namely, the Mexicans, Peruvians, Bo- gotans, and Natchez; with the exception of these, the whole of the original inhabitants of America were divided into tribes, who led a wandering life, or were in the act of migrating from one part of that immense continent to another, with a view of settling down, as their kinsmen, the Mexicans, Peruvians, Bogotans, and Natchez had done. But we can easily imagine the many difficulties these wandering tribes must have had to contend with, when we consider the base injustice and cruelty with which those settled nations were treated by the Spaniards, and all the other European discover- ers and conquerors of America. Many of those tribes who were then found wandering from place to place, continue so to this day ; while those em- pires which were not only settled, but considerably advanced in all the arts of civilisation, broke up into small communities, after struggling for years to maintain their primitive simplicity and freedom, and retired to the woods and mountains for safety. Such in all probability was the fate of the Natchez, B 2
4
MANNERS, HABITS, CUSTOMS.
and beyond this nothing can be advanced on a sub- ject which has passed unnoticed into the most com- plete and impenetrable oblivion.
It is certain, however, that the Natchez were once a powerful nation, and that "among them a variety of ranks existed, which were totally un- known to the northern tribes. The chiefs were reputed nobles, and their families enjoyed heredi- tary dignities." While, according to Robertson, from whom I am here writing, the body of the people was considered as vile, and only formed for subjection. This distinction was marked by appel- lations, which intimated the high elevation of the one state, and the ignominious depression of the other. The former were called respectable; the latter "stinkards." The great chief, in whom su- preme authority was vested, was reputed to be a being of superior nature, the brother of the sun, the sole object of worship. They approached this great chief with religious veneration, and honoured him as the representative of their deity. His will was a law, to which all submitted with implicit obedience. The lives of his subjects were so abso- lutely at his disposal, that if any one incurred his displeasure, the offender approached him with pro- found humility and offered him his head. Nor did the dominion of the chief end with their lives : their principal officers, their favourite wives, to- gether with many domestics of inferior rank, were sacrificed at their tombs, that they might be attended in the next world by the same persons who served
5
RELIGION OF THE NATCHEZ.
them in this; and such was the reverence in which they were held, that those victims welcomed death with exultation, deeming it a recompense for their fidelity, and a mark of distinction to be selected to accompany their deceased master. Thus a perfect train of superstition, arrogance, and cruelty, was established among the Natchez and by a singular fatality, that people has tasted of the worst cala- mities incident to more polished nations.
" The tribe of the Natchez," says the same au- thor, " had advanced beyond the more uncultivated nations of America, in their ideas of religion, as well as in their political institutions. The sun was the chief object of their religious worship. In their temples, which were constructed with some magni- ficence, and decorated with various ornaments, according to their mode of architecture, they pre- served a perpetual fire, as the nearest emblem of their divinity. Ministers were appointed to watch and feed this sacred flame. The first function of the great chief of the nation, every morning was, an act of obeisance to the sun : and festivals returned at stated seasons, which were celebrated by the whole community, with solemn, but unbloody rites."
The same author attributes the subjection of the Natchez, to the difference in their state from that of' the other tribes of America. " They were a settled nation, residing constantly in one place. Hunting was not their chief occupation. They had made considerable progress in agriculture and arts. The idea of property was fully established. Among
6
DISAPPEARANCE OF THIE NATCHEZ.
people in this state, avarice and ambition acquired objects, and began to exert their power ; views of interest allure the selfish ; the desire of pre-emi- nence excites the enterprizing ; dominion is coveted by both; and passions unknown to man in his savage state, prompt the interested and ambitious to encroach on the rights of their fellow-citizens. Motives with which rude nations are equally un- acquainted, induce the people to submit tamely to the usurped authority of their superiors. But even among nations in this state, the spirit of subjects could not have been rendered so obsequious, or the power of rulers so unbounded, without the inter- vention of superstition. By its fatal influence, the human mind, in every stage of its progress, is de- pressed, and its native vigour and independence subdued." Unfortunately for the people, whose in- stitutions are the subject of inquiry, this power was in the hands of their chiefs. By the exercise of the grossest superstition, despotism was established among the Natchez, which existed to the latest period of their existence as a nation.
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