The Texas State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 14, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 4, 1854 Page: 2 of 4
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.
i&m
: the.l
, Editor.
SATURDAY, MARCH 4,1854.
• annum, invariably in
r each square of ten lines.
m
tfte (iret insertion.
■ offices i
th<£e chivalrous gentlemen, with despe-
rate politicians holding out to the charms
of fraud and the-attractions of. swindling.
3ned
t snaky sednctions of those who
A L.euffrom
toir
a
wn on members of! TemiptmMc Soveaieat
the Nebraska bill,; The Nacogdoches Ohronich adduces-
in regard to it. He i the following as an evidence of the earn- >■ «Julius Fred-el,
i estness of the people in the cause of tem-
they lfeve set in silence,! perance reform: _
"We hare to record the fact the sum
ONE HUNDRED ASD«PIPTY DOLLARS has
been raised here in the last few days, in
Mplomatic
' Tessas.
Hls-
Th3y have listened to the wily words of order to place " The Prohibitionist,
and fifty • a°d have lent a not unpleasant paper published by the New York Tern
in the hands
p^jj^rmlaes into lies. Not one of the southern
; Beuators has yet lifted his voice in behalf
and «comnjnnicat;o
pemooai natare, will b« charged
advertisements.
are'authorised to annonnce A. B. BUR- I'
r~~ t}fe office of Assessor (
of taxes for Travis county:
as, Attorney-Gen-
ihe State, left for Nacogdochesby
•'a stage, where he will remain a,
wither? family beforeprocecd-
to attend the sitting of the
Court. Cdl. Jenning#, during
n this ck\y attended to all the
essonbaixd in his office. He
iofisin every instance when j sh
_ a government officer, with-; of
of his duty. He has at least ho]
e and attentive officer; and ! su
legal attainments are ac-
alL Reliable informa-
of his intention to
ledged
1, with indigna-
the proffered
as rejected, in behalf
|South, the'&nholy aggrandizement
" by th|a sinuous and soulless
it for an office he can never have,
is the voipe of Clayton, of John
r BadgerAre they all cravens?
all ronsfeit to become parfici-
"ia tMs gigantic robbery of the free
and receiiprs of stolen goods ?•
■ know thaff'fheir names have been
e the other
oar friend from Waco, Capt.
The Capt. is an old Texi-
an set or in many stirring
He served un
After annexa-
several ranging corn-
numerous friends among
IP
vertiser.
a sterling man—a
He is a young
tie writer.
re ttan ordinary u
ts. Into whatsoever
he will have
to
at his success.
am Advertiser of Feb.
and able letter from
onstituents, on the
> made
e '
iiiess.
paper
r^ired in this
>R.—The name
ced in to-.
He has been
is well known to
ittr-
doches county. This is entering into tUe
. work with a spirit and a zeal which can-
faith Sftnl sacred obligations, not fa.il to accomplish great good. We
. ^ i i commend the example of oaftjeoauty to
tKTemperance men^of jkxafejpl say
"go thou and do nkcta^ST"" We have
put our shtfulder to the whfeej here, and
will keep it moving onwardlmtil we wit-
ness the triumph of the no 1 licensc' and
the 'jprohibitory law.'
The movement is properly based. %
this matter ft is all important, Jo have the
masses to move fiigjt. Let. the people call
for the reform and it will be carried into
all over' tfflT Country as having j effect. There is great danger in outBtrip-
iti" on question, and that! ping public sentiment.' No law can be
our lends^rtainty to the rumor ? I carried out fully, unless it'has the sanc-
Ahey all goii§ withthat pretentious, tjQa tjte pe0ple, more particularly re-
lating to matters involving a question
where they could imagine a right was. vi-
olated. No^ some people hold they have
aperfect right to get drunk on their own
money. If moral suasion and the exam-
ple of neighbors cannot argue them out
respondent of the
speaking of the
mans in Texas,
" The most |
sought for in the
fels, in the corrcs]
of HoKenz J* -
in the hands of so:
settlers ;* and oth<
gathered from
these men, which
time to do. It shi
by somebody befo:
save these facts fr<
in part, remarkat
and word j
patriotic sa
'
of the Free
r. Jones, who boasts
ifices he has made by
ilitics when the mca-
'rade and Filibuster
party would have fesen more beneficial to
i the State he represents ? Do they mean
to shelter themselfps with Mr. Dixon, be-
lCF the absurd. Jretence that. Douglas
frPi« ig i n prpgqKt the.northern people
•m prepare to be
mtm*
oral votes may
ratify 1 ®T so,
deceived.
If these tirades effect anything", it will
be a disposition on tlio part of Southern
Whigs to deserfsa party calling on than
to sacrifice the interests and constitu-
tional rights of their constituents, to a
question kept alive by sectionalism and
fanatical opposition io an institution re-
beenadepted.
Armington has retired . by the Bible, and protected by
is is lO conatitution and laws of the U. S.—
Party.—The anniversary of tie dec-
March
a party On that
The atten-
Why are the abolitionists so solicitous of
legislative interference in the matter of
slavery ? Are rtlfiey afraid to trust the
people of the territories with the format
tion of their own constitutions ? It would
seem so; else why lug in restrictions?—
Why curb the will and the free action of
the people of a territory by prohibitory
enactments, contrary to the spirit and
meaning o'f the United States constitu-
tion and the compromise of 1850? Is it
not prpbable the people of Nebraska will
be just as wise and as competent as those
of^Nftw Mexico and Utah, and just as
able to "judge of the kind of institutions
suked to their wants? Then why curtail
their freedom of choice ?
The people of the South will never sub-
mit wfllingly to be excluded from terri-
|pbe joint property of the whole
iiion—perhaps gained by the blood and
treasure of all the States; because they
own property which an unconstitutional
enactment would deprive them of, upon
entering its limits. There can be no
equality in a law favoring the people of
e beat plaiH
man might be induced by tho persuasions
of friends to forsake the use of ardent
spirits. He might forego the right of
vending, purchasing or drinking it, but
forty Maine Liquor Laws would produce
no such goood result. .With the present
population of Texas, ;we believe, the
Maine Liquor Law could pot be enforced.
The people are not prepared to receive it.
It would be worse than useless to pass
any such enactment for years to come.
The country is too new—too thinly set-
tled to favor its execution, to aay nothing
of the opposition an officer would be like-
ly to meet with in the discharge of its re-
quirements. The time may come when a
change will be made.
We do not wish to be misunderstood.
We practice temperance and are willing
to preach it. We have no disinclination
to join in any movement promising good
results to the caufse. But we consider
some of our enthusiastic friends ahead of
the times when tlicy talk of enacting the
Maine Law in Texas-
The Texians
rious appre
man settlers.
w
for a Wi*e—By ref-
with the above
higfi for
lent would have
her mouth down
decide the question of slavery
' if% ^ themselves, S
often*
it upon bis read-
brary is this place has been dis-
ijcassed by some gentlemen. The want of
a good library is seriously felt. It is an
inconvenience which can be obviated by
the united efforts of a few enterprizing
citizens. A small sum paid in annuallv
would soon draw together a number of
books. Periodicals and newspapers should
be taken aud filed. A room might be
rented ; a librarian elected, whose duty
see to the library, and al-
Plggg&i
~ . ■
RS, the apple merchant, di-
the week. He had received an
the spine dep
lower ex
fcr wmld be .0
,tng from po.M to pornt ^ 1Tolume
- '
mWf-
ilatmg in land certifi-
etc., by whieh means he amassed
and property. This is an
of what industry and energy eai£
tinder the most adverse cir
Chronicle says at a
stockholders of the
and Texas railroad in that
t one hundred shares were sub-
has an obit-
rs. Partington,
she came to her
scratched by editors.—
very true, but there were
to excoriate the old
cooJ « possibly have never
because they were dull and
.
*wk
is 3 S;. : i
&
SS* - -?/* .*•
t'.jjraS
■m-i
Md
m
9
i
Wmm
m
Wmm
, Hat.—Tke Bowie In diter has
in this town Van so high a hat,
he says he is going, to put on ft a
rod for fear the the tides will
For containing brickt, the ca-
«f«0d hat is unequaHeA." .
The Bowie Inditer eopafahiB of
stitutional. -
'The^ooner Congress shall be in favor
of letting the people of each and every
as they should do of con-
tiiutional right, the better it will be for
all parties. 'Any restrictive action on the
part of the government will be consider-
ed, by the people of the South, an unwar-
ranted usurpation of power.
* jf jTolnt Mock 'Library.
priety of establishing a Joint
wishing to r.ead could be furnished with
the. triced work, and allowed to read it
in'4he library room.' Such a room « oulS
soon be the resort of reading nun—of
strangers—a plaee of pleasant. re-union
of our own citizens—a point where news
could be heard—an interchange of ideas
had: in fact, it would be almost like a
school.
How pleasantly and profitably persons
might spend their evenings in the exer-
cise and improvement of their intellectu-
al faculties, would they, only ftdopt-sucb! '
*a coarse, instead of whiling them away
at a sleight of hand exhibition, a groce-
ry or billiard saleon, joking, idling, or
perhaps engaged in less innocent matters.
It is incumbent on every man to culti-
vate the gifts of natare—more particu-
larly is it the case with one, who is a cit-
izen of a free government where the per-
manence and perpetuity of the institu-
f;ipi
for not giving ai _
to the people of Bostoh,
Bulletin gives \
of the progress,
of that
m-
, g- H,
adopt the
, climate, an^busi-
great deal <3T valua-
t weold be imparted, afid
to emigrate to
iare dependent-upon the enlighten-
ment of the masses^. There are individ-
vdfel desiring to purchase works of rarity
great cost, who cannot spare tho
mean#;—--by a joint stock company this
difficulty would overcome, and books
of every description and character, would
be placed within the reach of the stock-
holders for a comparatively trifling sum.
The subject commends itself to the con-
sideration of all. We hope steps will be
U*en to carry the suggestion into effect.
A touted effort will secure all the advan-
tagesto be derived from the use of a good
y* M<jney could not apppropria-
to a more noble and htndable purpose.
We have been taking a list of names
favoring theugjiertaking. When a suffi-
cient number siwll have expressed a wil-
lingness to aicl in the matter, a meeting
will be had and measures instituted to
%e *C8rry 0Bt ^ object contemplated.
News is
Enquirer mys corn
.25 and potatoes $4 per
pW: •• 1
m
Shade Trees.—Our citizens should
adopt, more generally, the plan of plant-
ing shade trees near their dwellings. It
adds to the looks, Ihcfcomfort and health-
fulness of a residence to have it encir-
cled by trees yielding dense and refresh-
ing shades.
Our city could be adorned beaut2aDy,
and its comfortableness greatly enhance^
by planting trees upon all the. sMewalla.
Every one cab do jliia 'apon the strr«r
Wfmr ii-wecfit& j es
The price^if a lot woaid be
Saii Antonio cor1-
Tew York- Tribune in
ttleuient of the Ger-
>
data must be
chives of Neic Braun-
dence of the Prince
jtnfejs, which is still
f the first German
information must be
verbal accounts of
m entirely in lack of
id, however, be done
it will be too late, to
oblivion. They are.
^ enough, and even not
without historical ""importance. Let me
only allude to tha circumstance that it
really was the motion of Prince Hohen-
solma-Bra unfel^Ao establish an inde-
pendent GernmnjSColony here, and that
the English Gownment had promised
troops for the realisation of that project."
The "intentioifiof Prince Hohensohm-
Braunfeh" was not dreamed of by the
people of Texas. Its publication would
have produced or between the Ger-
man settlers and.the Texians. In the
event of British tio.ops having been land-
ed upon our shorts, the inevitable result
would have been hostilities between that
power and the United States.
r entertained any se-
s of danger from Ger-
introduction of large
jr«#riotvietfed ^fith
much fovor, p^Citularly when they occu-
pied large district# of country, in a state
of isolation from jthe other inhabitants.
The project of.the establishment of an in-
dependent Germaki colony, we believe,
would have been opposed bitterly by ma-
ny old German sutlers. Men, who had
left Europe in order to avoid living un-
der a monarchical government, would
not have aided in establishing one, with
a German prince &i its head, in America.
Of the complicity pf the New Braunfels
and Fredericksburg people in the matter
nothing is known, further than what may
be inferred from the above paragraph.
The following extract will give an idea
of what the German princes, engaged in
the introduction 0f settlers into the Re-
public of Texas, asked of that govern-
ment: .. L
William Henry \ Bangerfield, Minister
Charge d'Afftirs, to His Excellency,
Anson Jones,-decretory of State.
The Hag ii&, Sept. 23,1843.
* * ♦ # * .
1st. The society would engage it-
self, (ft) to introduce to Texas and to set-
tle there, within a Certain period of time,
from twelve hundred ? upwards to ten
thousand (10,000) German families and
single men, or about t@at cumber, suit-
ing the wishes of the government; (5) to
negotiate at suitable verms, and with the
necessary gufti-aatge -f repayment, given
by the 'Tsxas, a logc of
oijc million of io e
said
res
It is the purpose of some persons in ment may be a very impartial looker-on ern Texas, and extends across Western
England to procure the abolition of slave- of the contest now waging with Mexico, j Texas to the Rio Grande. Its form is
ry in Texas. They propose to accom- but it is nevertheless practically true that j determined by the low coast lands, and a
plish this end by friendly negotiation, j we have now to contend with Mexico, j range of mountains descending from the
and by the concession of what will be ' aided with British mercenaries and Brit-1 great central chain of the continent, near
deemed equivalents. I believe the eqni- : ish money. j Pike's Peak. On the east side of the
valents contemplated"are a guarantee by ; In France 1 firnl tlio best disposition i Pecos river to its mouth, and curving
Great Britain of the independence of to think favorably of us, and although j nt>rfh-east, north, and north-west, around
Texas—discriminating duties in favor of; they felt a little sore from the difficulty j the sources of the Nueces and the Gua-
Texau products, and perhaps the nego- ' between the late administration and their ualupe rivers, and crossing the Colorado
tiation of a loan, or some means by which ■ Charge d'Affaircs, they, would forget it '. four miles above Austin. The high pla-
the finances of Texas can be readjusted, all, and do us every good in their power, teaus'oi North-Western Texas, in which
They estimate the number of slaves in did not the opposition prints of Texas so some of her principal rivers have their
betray our country, defame our Govern- sources, are only extensions of this mount-
ment, and calumniate our administration a:n range. No geological survey of the
that persons in Europe cannot put confi- State has been made! and it must be
dence in the permanence of %our institu- borne in mind, that many of the obser-
tions, or credit our abilily for self-gov- ' " "
ernment. Tliey wait ftflther develop-
ments. \
My position, you naturally \vill con-
ceive, is not very j pleasant, lmviftg to coir--
tend agauist the niisrejji'e.sentations of
Texas by her Own citizens. But for
these calumnies of onr own, we might
been recognized bv nearlv every
Texas at 12,000, and would consider the
payment for them in full, as a small sum
for the advantages they anticipate from
the establishment of a free Stpte on the
southern borders of the tlaveholding
States of the American Union.
In- July last, in London, two matters
were submitted to me in conversation,
by a person then and now having rela-
tions with the British Government. One
was, whether the people of Texas would
listen to and consider a proposition from
the British Government to abolish slave-, have
ry, in consideration, of concessions and
equivalent advantages, to be offered by
that Government. The second matter
was, whether Texas would not be induced
to divide itself into two States—one slave-
holding, the other iion-slaveholding. It
was argued that but few slaves would
probably be tntrodnced into western
Texas, by reason of its proximity to
Mexico; and that therefore it would be
conceding^but little to establish " a free
Sta^e'' oil this frontier, and the Colora-
do as proposed as a dividing line. I
do not know to whomJs due the initia-
livu uf tlUjjia
power in Europe.
With sentiments of great esteem, I am
truly vours, (Signed,)
ASHBEL SMITH.
that The'propoSitions in question had been
asubject of conversation with'Lord Aber
doen; and I am aware that in another
The Natural Divisions of Texas.
Subjoined is a co&tini&tion of the lec
tare on this subject from the last number
The lecturer's views are extended,
indicate research and talent:
The coast lands border the Gulf of
rations which I may make in regard to
the geognosy of its different parts are
conjectural; and I hazard them upon the
evidence of a very partial examination,
and conversations which I have had with
surveyors 'and ofliccrs pf the army, who
have penetrated the upper regions'of it
in different directions, only to a very li-
mited extent. I think it probable that
the vast warped surface of Texas, making
an inclined plain to the south-east in the
direction of her rivers' course, received
its inclination from the same telluric force
which upheaved the Rocky mountains,
j and acted literally upon the earth's crust
in the direction" of the flow of the Pecos.-
and the summits of the mountain range,!
and I have described; and from which all tha
tributaries of the Nucccs, Guadalupe, and
the western branches of the Colorado de-
,r . j. c ,. , : scend. It is only upon the Pedernales,
Mexico from Sabine Pass to the mouth ^ th Lk and tlfe g'^ Saba, that i
of the Rio Grande. The shore forms the ; scen rock. There the crast of
. , , li-i fnv i i i | sedimentary rock has -been breken ap z
is three hundredmues. Inese lands, be-i A „ „t- •.
! —i —— ~i granite, syenite, gnfiisff,
These lands, be-
tween Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass,
except a small portion of them near that
conversation, in which Lord Aberdeen outlet, are destitute of timber. They are
took part, it was maintained that the
population which would flock into this
"free State" from Europe would be en-
abled t? vote down the slaveholders, and
thus the Texians would of themselves es-
tablish an entire non-slaveholding coun-
try.
Although I carefully noted these con-
versations from the mouth of the person
with whom I had them, I did not proba-
bly fully estimate their signifiesncy.
I may be mistaken in regard to the
equivalents to be offered by England, as
they were not dwelt upon in detail; but,
in regard to the1 two propositions, one to
abolish slavery throughout the entire ter-
ritory, the other to establish a non-slave-
holding State in western Texas, aud in
regard to the personal standing and re-
lations with the Government of the gen-
tleman making the propositions, I cannot
be in error. " •
Until within a few months, the British
Government undoubtedly desired the es-
tablishment of peace between Texas and
Mexico—Texas remaining a slavebold-
ing country—chiefly from an apprehen-
sion that, if the contest continued, Texas
might be thrown into the American Union.
That Government is now convinced that
Texas cannot be admitted into the Union,
and that a decisive attempt on the part
«c the Southern States to receive Texas
wo&H_ endanger the stability > the
k3S5si£#;r-"G yernj?Sgi£
rising
of the
low prairies covered with
only a few feet above the level
ocean, near the mouth of the Sabine, but
ascending gradually until they-foriwhand-
some bluff shores around Galveston Bay,
iind yet higher coasts as
iiriyToi- 41
S&Sreen Texas and j^fexieot
'sot imatgrne thati the "present dw-
* t.Tu.'Kwl ^tintry continu-
the Rio1 Grande. Picturesque .islands of
timber afford beautiful building sites, and
form prominent land-marks at intervals.
The whole coast is lined wi?h long, low
and narrow islands and peninsulas, form-
ed by the conflicting tides aud storms of
the Gulf meeting tfce drift of the bold
rivers, poured down by their annua
undations. These narrow strips of
aud masses of
and other plutonian rocks form mountains
whioli rise several thousand feet above*
the ocean's level.—TI use the terms adop-
ted by Sir diaries Lyell, in preference, to
those of older geologists.] Mr. Kennedy's
remarks on the rolling or undulating re-
gion of Texas, much of which had been
ran eetoii ex.imjne,\ ;n 1840 are so correct that I
they approach I ,,, R
shall quote them. He says that it "forms
-the largest of the natural divisions of
Texas. North and north-west of the le-
vel section lying between the Sabine and
San Jacinto rivers, the country undulate*
towards Red river. The thickly timbered
land extends quite to Red river, and as
far to the west as a line drawn due north
freta the heads of the Sabine." This
shore, are level
grass.
fowl.
lio'of Texas, tOim £rtb:ev.Y pwducts ^turped conditw. of our!
it a easiberof umbrageous trees.
a little public spirit, a lit-
and some labor prevents Aus-
rin from becoming one of the most beau-
tiful, picturesque and agreeable towns in
the whole South. Nature has done much
for us. We must do something for our-
selves.
Filth.—Austin can vie with any place
of its size in respect of filth. In the
streets, alleys, back yards and out-houses
of this place there is a sufficiency of de-
caying vegetable matter, putrid flesh and
rubbish of every description to generate
a plague. Should the cholera visit it
while in its present conditio, the victims
will be numerous. Go where you will, a
noisome, nauseating stench, frofh a privy,
a heap of festering filth, salutes your
nose. Fowls, hogs, dogs, horses, cattle,
are sometimes found huddled together in
close proximity.
The City Marshal ha| been ordered to
notify residents on, and o wners of lots, to
remove all offensibe matter from off them.
In case of failure, they wiU be subjected
to fines for non-abatement of nuisances.
Should our citizens disregard the regula-
tions of the corporate authorities, they
stand a chance to pay dear penalties
to the ravages of disease. They may
rest assured the place cannot remain
healthy with the present amount of fecu-
lent matter within its limits, rendering
the air impure ; and poisonous to the
lungs.
Market House.—The Corporation
have decided on building a market house,
on tire rots speetneo foar*fnat porpose on
the town plot. The' building w31 be
about 36 by 80, with 24 stalls in the
lower story; the whole of the upper con-
stituting one room, to be used as a town
hall.
The money now in the treasury and
the city taxes for the present year, will
be appropriated to that objeet.
The Texas Western Railroad.—
Gen. T. G. Broocks, President of the
Board inserted a notice in the Cherokee
Sentinel requesting a meeting of the
stockholders at Rusk on the 20th Febru-
ary. A. ... 5, '
The Sentinel remarks:
"Arrangements have been made which
will secure the Bpeedy construction of the
road. It is hoped that -every stockhol-
der in the counter will he at the meeting
on Monday." '*
The Huntsville Item says:
"Anderson, the county seat of Grimes
county, is justly noted^Mit great place,
both for pretty women and enterprising
or pretty women i
men."
That the Trinity river is rising—
that there is cotton at Tuscaloosa to be
taken off—that corn is scarce and horses
poor in Walker coonty—that the Item is
started to its subscribers with regularity
and precision '--that he wfwld build a"paf-
p<?r mill it proper' r encouraged, and a
great many other things which people
BisSfegfallfe
_ Ocantry, aadt* &&&&■
in&. into the
Geirnan QistomsjeZ^ it-'
as cmfits ^duK^cagi _
yield to the society gs .ot It ffr ;r.<rtiea
to the number of ifes! ia the
contract, to be graated and colonised on
the same terms andfeonditions heretofore
made, with especial regard that all lands
not fit for cultivation shall be omitted;
(b) to allow the society as such, besides
the free introduction or importation of
the property of the single settlers, to im-
port, free from any charge or custom,
during a longer period of time, to be
fixed in the contract, productions of Ger-
many, to the amount of two hundred
thousand dollars per annum.
Mentz, (Mayence.) September the
14th, 1843. Authorized by the Society
for protecting German settlers in Texas.
. (Signed,)
Charles, Prince of Solms.
Victor, Count of Leiningen.
Charles, Count of Castell. ...
The ultimate result is too'well known
to require mention. .
No difference what may have been the
intention of Prinee Hohensolms-Braiin-
fels, in introducing Germans ^hto the
country, the people of Texas have no
cause thus far to regret their settlement
among them; on the contrary they are
regarded as industrious and useful citi-
zens. When welcome to speak of Great
Britain, of her wishes and designs, an en-
tirely different feeling was entertained;
it was that of distrust and dread. A
great many Texians knew her desire to
interfere with the institution of slavery.
The annexed correspondence, the exer-
tions of the British and French ministers
to prevent our denationalization, the
proclamation of the British Consul at
Galveston to prohibit British subjects
from holding slaves in Texas, in accord-
ance with a law. ftf. that government, all
contributed to hasten—to precipitate, the
consummation of'the measure of annexa-
tion.
We had no doubt of our ability to sus-
tain ourselves again'st Mexico single-
handed. We had just cause to dread
her when aided by British money and
British mercenaries. . We knew it was a
matter of great importance to the Union
generally, of life or death to the south,
therefore we never hesitated or faltered
in our endeavors until we accomplished
the work. HoWfcver, this is hardly rele-
vant to the subject. Annexation owes
nterpifc- and jjy}
lyzed—-our (niiztms
with a harra33®Sf jf3a-,
_ _ 'ife. eilltivs'B;
llie <fert33pE!f-nt"0n ur*re-
sources, we seny beniiore ready to yield
the points of slavery in >excliange for
England's guarantee of our indepen-
dence, and some commercial and finan-
cial advantages. Whether the equiva-
lents mentioned will be those proposed,
I repeat, I do not eertainly know ; but
rely on it as certain that in England it
is intended to make an effort, and thit
some things are already in train to ac-
complish, if possible, the abolition of
slavery in Texas. And might Tiot Tex-
as, exhausted, as just described, listen,
in a moment of folly, to such overtures
from the British Government ? In the
meantime, rely on it, we have nothing to
expect from tho continued offer of British
mediation to Mexico, on its present basis.
As little have we to expect from the
good offices of France, although sincere-
ly and faithfully employed, so long as
they are separately exerted, as at the pre-
sent time.
The independence of Texas, and the
existence of slavery in Texas, is a ques-
tion of life or death to the slaveholding
States of the American Union. Hemmed
in between the free States on their north-
ern border, and a free Anglo-Saxon State
on their southern border, and sustained
by England, their history would soon be
written.
The establishment of a free State on
the territory of Texas, is a darling wish
of England, for which scarcely any price
would be regarded as too ,great. The
bargain once struck, what* remains to
the South? (Signed,)
ASHBEL SMITH.
To Hon. Isaac Van Zandt, Charge
,d'Affaires of Texas, at Washington City.
Accompanying this is an extract of a
letter to our minister at Washington.
Ashbel Smith to Mr. Van Zandt.
' * * * * *
The subject of the accompanying let-
ter, and the purposes there mentioned,
will perhaps occasion some surprise, and
at first be difficult of belief. You may
however rely on the facts, and that some-
thing has been brewing for some time
past in England, having for its end the
establishment of a non-slaveholding State
in our territory. Whether these pro-
jects will ever assume a definite outward
form, and be put into action, or whether
the English Government has taken any
further part therein, further than to have
had information of the same, I am yet
unable to say.
If the southern States are wise, they
"LUL®!' J1*] j river rises in the high rolling prairies of
which run parallel to the c^tmental, mmty wide rolling
e.e prauies $<neie \vi ; an(] thinly wooded prairie,extends west-
aboundmg wither and ™ter- ward of ^ 15ne) al<U U* rtargfc ef .tte
They are al contiguous to the «- j Rft(1 ^ ^ mtfef.the ^unties of
nest oyster-beds m^hejrorid. Immense | eastem Texag) ^ hnndre
of the coast, are well timbered and afDun-
schools of the red-fiish, jew-fish'. silver-
fish, flounders* pomppoeaus, whitings,
sea-trout, bay-bass, rock-fish, mullets,
and other fine varieties Which frequent
the gulf between the peninsulas Of Flori-
da add Yucatan, fill these bays and sur-,
round these islands at all seasons of the
year, in countless multitudes* Chrystal-
ized salt is abundant in the lagoons on
the southern parts of the coast; and on
the rest of it, every facility is afforded for,
making it by evaporation, or by boiling.
This is destined^to, be one of the finest
nsheries in the worid. The fishermen r^,r^r€d by Wooded bottom*
can+^oy a m.ld- and ^uteous c«mate , oft^ - ^ ^ leogthfemS
k-"
;«it b seen%^^^ up.d ptmsi';. Ai ^ J®*L ;;_
abundant sup^ha|'J "fsol r.:#: j
their shores by tl^yides asd e«r-i>K- —. • 1 ti;i
•The pasturage fo^^Jtle is %
%wttt.o# ^rgreeQ
,._nts can 'pursn#* their'ocei^; Inn'
"^fBole'year,TimffitffiS^ted nwife-
mencies of the seasons.- With th
the wants "of the, inhabitants. ^ Ifi West-
ern Texas, the conntryvrises ii^ tle and
beautiful undulations ^bove* the alluvial
region of the Brazos, Colorado; and Gua-
dalupe, extending in a north-westerly
direction up those rivers, from one hun-
dred and fifty to two hundred miles, as
far as the hilly district. Here is a de-
lightful variety of fertile prairies and va-
luable woodland, enriched yith springs
and rivulets of pure and sparkling water,
which*-like the larger streams, are gene-
its consummation, in a great degree, to | wiU "V™.the, ffenera.1 Government to
, . °. . express a decided opinion in regard to
and clear-sighted-;th(J jndepemW J Tcxtl8, an(f to^ the
termination of the contest between us
and Mexico, and further to declare that
they will not permit Texas to become in
any way a dependence upon any for-
eign power.
The contest with Mexico has now as-
sumed a much'graver character than for-
j merly. The British holders of Mexican
j stocks were the securities of the Mexican
Such extracts will be published as re-1 Consul at London for the building of the
late to the slavery policy effect Britain' Guadalupe and Montezuma steamers.—
in connection With Texas and the\rnited I Tbis !s.a known fact. Large
Sta^i
Conn? mtial.
PARI?, Pi ace vsyegime,
the abujiy,. vigilance
ness of the Hon. Ashbel Smith.
for his full and able exposition of British
policy, in regard to slavery, as given be-
low in his correspondence, it is not pro-
bable the administration of Mr. Tyler
would have set about the accomplishment
of the measure Math one half theearnest-
ness evinced.
mencies ot tiie seasons^ , VIits tlieexecp-.l ^
tion of Galveston, these islands at present. | differing
are almost uninhabited. Oh Padre isl- «n"ke any whi^
and one man has foraged a settlement;—
an industrious hermit^ who is making a
fortune by working into shingles^ the Cy-
press logs floated by the tropical •cuVjrent,
and stranded on the shore, and shipping
them to Brazos Saint Jago, and other
ports. This island is .one hundred miles
long, and not more than two or three
wide. This is somewhat singular, as, in
addition to the advantages which I have
mentioned, they possess a soil which is un-
surpassed for fertility. For ages they
have been, as they are yet, the abodes of l'phinds and bottoms of the same hoe.
rviwijlfls nf C:vi}lirdtt vl>inK o-nHere the
... .. ^^er i
Especially is this tSe case as he travels
south-west from the Trinity. He first
crosses the Sabine, a deep river, of a
brownish - hue, about fifty yards wide,
bordered by a heavy growth of pine
mixed with the usual timber of the Bot-
toms of South Alabama, and Mississippi.
He then enters what are termed the Red
Lands, which do not lie on Red river;
but are intersected by the Angelina and
the Neches, which are deeply colored '
the "red oxide of iron, and flow
- \i
springs are free-stone, slightly
chalybeate to the taste. Narrow ridges
8f pine-covered hills pass through this '
country, which is welj settled, but which
offers few inducements^** the stock-raiser;
' the-woods has been
Mexican
the first
myriads of seabirds, which have enriched
them with guano of the finest quality;
whose fertilizing properties enable them
to produce all the most valuable, esculents
of the South temperate zones, and many
of the vegetables and fruit3 of th© tropics. ! as range of ^
The industrious descendents of the set- j destroyed by grazing, and the hnprove-
tlers of Cape A^n and! Martha's Vine- : wen.ts of tlie ovmprs of the land.J This
yard, aud the hardy occupants of the ! sect'on ^le Stale, being the most
bleak and steril shores - of Maine, New remote from the da.ng^rs of t.
Brunswick, and No* JScotia, sfem to
have ova-looked this elysium ofifishermcn,
and beautiful birth-place tnuTmirseiy for
the future seamen of the South. v
The coast lands of Texas commence
about thirty miles alwvellie mOuth of the
Sabine, Slid bend around the gulf to the
Rio Grande, about one hundred miles at
the widest division of their belt on the
Colorado, and ending in a narrower south-
ern extremity, where the shores are ele-
vated into bold prairie head-lands at the
mouth of the Nuoces, and the tributaries
Of the Laguna de la Madre. The soil is
well mixed with sand and loam. It is
sufficiently rolling to be drained. Un-
derlying beds of marl are convenient for
enriching it with lime. The Trinity, Bra
zos, Colorado, and other streams, inter-
sect it with their timbered bottoms of
differently colored and—prolific aljuvial
soil. All these- streams differ widely in
the appearance and taste of their waters,
and bring their tributes of soils from re-
gions widely separated, and varying great-
ly in their chemical properties. The
whole of this post-tertiary level coast, in
and Comanche front
which was well-settled
grants. Another day's y&iirney
him through extensive forests, and
prairies surrounded by pine trees, and
well mixed with sand and a dark loam,
to the Trinity, which rises like the.Sa-
bine, in high rolling prairies; but is here
bordered by can<?-brakes and a heavy
forest. It is nearly one hundred yards
wide. Its water has a dark hue when it
is clearest; but when it is swollen with
rain, it is a turbid, ash-colored stream,
such as all the waters of rich grey and
black prairies are in wet seasons. His
route will then carry him through a sac-
cession of larger prairies of better qua-
lity, and bodies of fine timber, until he
approaches the Brazos. This rises in the
unexplored regions of upper Texas, and
derives its p -inciple tributaries from sour-
ces" near those of Red river andlhe"Red
Forks of the Colorado. I think it pro*
bable that the streams whieh give their
coloring matter to the longest of the north-
western branches of the Colorado, the
Upper Brazos, and Red river, pass
another half century, will probably be through extensive districts whose soil is
covered with vast fields of rice and sugar stsined with the red oxide of iron, from
cane. Imigrants from Louisiana, South 'hsintegrated iron sandstone; much of
Alabama, the loiter parts of Georgia and j which is found on separating the gray
the Carolinas, accustomed to the annoy- ! sandstone, and in the cretaceous districts
ances of musquitoes, and the attacks of j Texas, between the city of Austin and
intermittent fevers of southern and insa- I Grange.
lubrious climes, can better their condition
by settling here, where the lands are
cheap; where the air is rendered cool and
pure by the sonth-eastern breeze-Wowing
for nine-twelfths of the year over the Ca-
ribbean sea", the gulf, and the open prai-
ries whi<;h bound it. No heavy forests
and marshy flats generate the malaria
which poisoijs the sea-coasts of portions
To be Continued.
Pistol Shooting.—The N. O. Pi-
cayune gives the following details of good
shooting with a pistol:
A most remarkable feat at pistol shoot-
ing occurred on Friday night, at Cullum's
Lake House, end of $e new Shell Soad,
of these States; and the climate is not Kn. ,yhich Captain John Travis, of the
socoh] in winter, nor so warm in summer, j Pistol Gallery, in Common street, oppo-
as it is in them- Yet the annoyances and ! s'^e the City Hotel, "snuffed a candle
disiid v bearable from such a j twelve timefe suctjpssively at twelve pMM.
locality, ariilwhich a;
m flsmr in oor city, - ; learn by taking that paper.
r ^
There no\ ex"
has been eni -r
England v.;
iod I
a ,'pai«tc
J.v
■\
/
2/5, 184-3.
f * #
nother matter which
for lit
" ;u.-t ior a longer
*uy. I will devel pe
iagraph'
are not regarded as I ^ het of §500 was made that he conld
serious evils by those who have been n<^ it; -but some of the Capteins
reared in similar situations, make it very friends backed him that he could, aad
obeje tionabk- as ar Abode for one whose sure enough he "brought them out. —
early year- have been spent in a higher ^-!lPt- Gravis had no part of the bet, ®S
' quantities of Mexican stock were issued latitude, andicold nd dashing waters, | we understand.
| in London secretly, as you have proba- } and ifloui/tlia. peaks. The natives of! Ihe agreement was, that any shot
j My seen, and sold, as was believed, to fur- midland? and region*, sueh as arc j touching the stem of the^candle should be
nish Mexico the meatisto operate against I formed*bv utarY strata of rocks, jeonntcdas "noshot. ±he shooter made
" - " ' " - - • ^ ^ thc oceaft and | thirteen shots-^one touclyng the stem.
s. j.ir*-fer the middle" di- { The twelve that siMtffed the-candle could
r-lW between the coast )liave heen covered o|r t£e iron plate be-
H i^teaufvW hills of the ! hllid the candle, with a fiftyec.,; piece I
'* ! We call •* extraordinary shOotUi^. <.*%
_Id«8e or undulating regronllj Ihin ;• j^fi^jJ g-dlery^s crowded -
embraces nearly the whole of F.^st
Texas. Most of the bond holders are j and sif'
violent anti-slavery men, their hostility j mount,
to Texas as a slaveholding couvtry is ex- ! vision •
tremc, and while it continues such, th- v and th<
would spare no money to subjuga^ the j ripper
country, as they believe it would l>e do- j
The English Gvnern- j
mg God service
K -
A
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Ford, John S. The Texas State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 14, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 4, 1854, newspaper, March 4, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth235726/m1/2/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.