Texas Presbyterian. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 42, Ed. 1, Saturday, January 1, 1848 Page: 1 of 4
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Vt'J
TEXAS; PWESBYTEittlAW.
A FAMILY NEWSPAPER. DEVOTED TO RELI&ION TO MORALITY. TO EDUCATION. TO AGRICULTURE AND TO THE NEWS OF THE DAY.
VOL- 1.
HOUSTON TEXAS SATURDAY JANUARY 1 1848.
NO. 42.
Ccran iJrrtrtmtetfan.
A Family Newspaper iteruieu lu Christianity to
Morality to Elucatioo to Scirncr. to Agricul-
ture an.1 lo the itiaiisUn of useful Knowledge.
PUSSiESHED WEEKLY.
Bcv. Andrew J. McGowx
Editor & Proprietor. -
TERMS
The Tsxi Fsc BrreaiAN HillbefitblisIieJ tin
a lare fine iinpeiial sheer with new and beaolilol
type at 3 per annum in advance or SI at the ex-
piration ot ibe jear.
Subscriptiom received at any lime and the pap-
er to-wanted until the subscriber orders its di-uoii-tin
jiucc and pars op arrearages except at the op-
tion ot the Editor. '-
Leuern through the Post office mut be postpaid
otnerwise tney iu oe aitenaru 10.
"Q-Advertisement. inerud at the usual prices
th: KJtior rcscnfazlhe rfchtlo reiect all adrcr-
ti.emeuu not deemed compatible vilh the charac
ter ot the puotication.
Ag-cuts for the Presbyterian.
IB TEXMo
Jas M. Biker Esq Cuero De Will co.
A. Jonos Clerk Gonzales
Tiios. H. Dj;$ and AnJrewNeill Seguiu.
R-r. Mr. McCullough. Bexar.'
John. F. McKijstv.UoJiad.
Beapmin H. Stri&Ting. Sutbling'a Mill. "
Post Master Matagorda.
Simurl Blvthe Peach Creek.
Win.J.E.'Heard.EypL
Georee W. Gardner Columbus.
Robert Harris Christina's si Itlement.
EIJi-r Jas. H. Sttiblinj Indfpendm:e.
A. JaL Lewis. Bi enhint.
Hon. H.E.U Baylor upper Brazos country.
Dr. Titos J. Heard Washington.
Mr Monger Clerk. Sm Ftlinc.
Jam's Buike Brazoria.
E FloyJ Fjnthorpe's Gtirfle county.
Stm'l McGonrn Uunisrillc WjlLcr couDty.
Re. .Mr. Neril. CrockctL
James Shtrpe Douglass
Isaac L-o and Gen. T.J. Rnsk Nacogdoches.
Rre. Finis E. Foster San Augustine.
Kef. John Bamctl Sabine county.
Charles Stewart and Rev. Mr. Henderson.
Galveston.
Sim'l Carley and S. F. Donncll Rid River.
DiviJ Love Robertson county.
Judge Grasg Burleson connlv.
.DvJ-W'TPhloust'on.
T. M. Bagby. J
Thaddens C. Bell. Columbia.
Rer. Henry Rentek. city ol Austin.
James Planti New York.
R-r. R O. Watkins. Nacogdochrs County.
Rev. J B Harris. Cherokee County.
Dr. J. B Miller. Richmond.
J. B McFariaud. Esq. Li Grange.
Rev. Messrs. T. N. MrKce.
Samuel Handl-y
G S.'IVmpleton
A. IL Walker.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
ExECTTITB OFFICE AcTU TzxXi.
Gentlemen of tic Senate
and Hq4 cf Rrprewentalitet :
1 a again ejecting the represenUtircaj'f the people
uf Texan I congratulate you upou the pro-pcruns and
happy condition of our couulry. At uo period mucc
the people of Texas declared their independence and
established a government of thetr own catr.ee has tht ir
legislature met under circumstance better calculated
to call fortli thru unbounded grat tnde aud praise to the
great Creator and Ruler of tho Uiurcne. Let u in-
voke a continouice of the favors of Heaven and to
couduct ourselves as a people that wo may dencn e lU
bounties.
A my official couneclion with you U about to ter-
minate iu malting thin communication imposed upon
ino by the Constitution 1 wd confiue it chiefly totjuch
mcauxe as baa been acted upou tuace the adjourn
ment or our legislature ; leaving it w ith tuy successor
lod-rrct oir attention to such other subjects for jour
coataderaliou a he may think required lrgujalite ac-
tion. About the dose of the last session of our Legislature
it ftu announced that the Mexican army had com-
mened hoU.ties against the Uuiled Mates by attack-
iag her Uooj) ou the Kjo Grande tutbiu the liuuts of
Uio Mate ol lexas. . the same time a requit-uou
uai cnaue upon tne kiceutire ot lexa lor two tnou-
tuid men to aid m the defence of our country.
That call upou tho chivalry cud patnottum of our Citi-
zens was nobly respond-d to by them. The tenniua-
Uoj of the campaiu ajjauat Mouterey which redound-
ed o much tu theffturvofthw nation and the part ta
Lru iu it by our ciltzeu .boldicra is well known tojon
all; uuirrrbal aud almost unparalleled success has
crowned the American aims muce the commeucement
of the Jiluxau war aud proclaims the justuea of our
cause.
The battles oT Palo Alto. Reaaca de la Palma Mon
ttrey Buena Vwta Vera Crux Cerro Gordo and the
city of Mexico hare entwined new laurels around the
Aioanean name and exwfinns the well placed confi-
dence of our goremtneut and people in the bravery
and patnotisni of our regular and citizen soldiers. It
is inlere-ftuigto the chmtian and the beneroleut to see
the humanity with which this war has been conducted
on the part of the American government ; a war loo
which hau been forced upou us by that rawonous
nation by tne many injuries wnicn sne nas so neapra
npoa ciuxem of the United Htateaand the insults which
he baa o repeatedly ottered to our officers and Gov-
ernment and' finally by attacking and making war
npon our army within our territory. But why should
I recur to facts which are so familiar to you all t It is
not necessary to make an argument to jostdy this war
before the people of Texan. We havo all seea and
felt the injustice of Mexico and fully justify every act
of our government towards that people. If we could
corneal to take any esceptwn to tho coarse pursued it
? woald be ngainst the forbearance shewn by our cor
mment and iu ion; annmiawon to ue repeaiea in-
oJUolred to oar ministers sent to treat with Mexico
'far an amicable adjustment of all deputes between the
tarn natieae a coarse which was dictated doubtless by
-4mtms ssInmiia toward Tain and weak people.
O fch ''privilege and it U the doty of eTeryxatzent
cnense iu- UMMUMircvcnwm r imiiwnu w "i
it at 11 tunes an evd whkh should bearoided as long
aw ltornearance is not the greater evil bat it is the esBy
efevWy ataeiitbatefermay bebisspioion hi regard
to the necessity or jjstnees of the war to give to bis
Government ha" sopporU'wheneversheToluntanly or
by eompaWon enjrmges in sock' a contest; and I sin-
cerely bop aud believe there in no citizen of Texas so
losttohwewn interest and ! duty or whose mrad is so
deeply imbued with treason a to be opposed to the
Tigorous prosecution of this war or to refuse to aid in
the presecatioa of ( any other which hi government
may think proper torntsr into whether it waged in
deicnce of his own individual rights or in the protection
W1 "" -i"tuBjwuuK- oi aooiiuonwu. mi issullicieut
for us now to know that our government m enjpgod m
war. with Mexico. In the result of th's war the peo-
ple of Tcias hare aud feel a deen uitri .! it :.
our diitj to give to our gerernmrnt in this contest our
liinmi cuergies.
lu conrpiy iog u nil the various reqiusitions made op-
uii ifto Cxecutire of the State for troons niuce tho mm.
weucsment of. the war much inconvenience l.a-t breu
experienced in providiug for the men and forwardiu
theni to the plare of rendezvous no nieaus having
.i inavrw my mc coinraaug tu me Ji.xocuL.re by the
mjmatuio iu tiriray mica expencrt. OUMtjucutly
Uiewholeof tho bartheu h fallen on a few uidiiidii-
a' who' have gencrouUy parted with their property
for tliat puriKMr. but few of whom have h-on iui.I r..r
tli e same. Such expenses kliould b shared eq'tally
by all. Theireueraliroveruinenl is liable to. trnd mil
pay those charges bjt it is imjMsIhIe fur her to pay
them iu the first inauce. And v it is Micrrd that
the coudilioa of our btate Treaiury is now such as to
enable its to pay the expenses which have been iliun
incurred I would teppectfully suggest that an appro-
priation he made for that purpose and hold the same as
a ciaun agaiiihi uie general government.
The Mexican nation being raiu of its own strength
and grcaUirssaiid ignorant of the cajwcity of the Tuited
State will douhtess be dwrHwed to continue the war for
MtiicumeioctmeandasoUicrcaiIs iimyb madonp-
ou cnir Suie fr IroojM I most raniertly urge umuou
ll)en?ccitYof niacin? amiils nieaus al the rommanJ
fmyMirceNrrtornalile hun to forward to the plare
it rendrzvotis with prunintnees such frcea as may
hcrealler be called for from Texiu t participate in the
uarorUguard utir fnmtr. Ahj adraucrtimade by
tbe Mate for these purpose will be refuuJcd bvthe
general goernuieuU
About the do of the lat or tho be?iuninzof the
prceut ear. I learned through the nenvmnrra that I
Gen. .Kearny who was iu chief command of the Uui-
led States forces in Santa IV had !hre ctahlhed a
Terntonal Government within the 1 nut of the State
of Texas and hai iug learned through the name tource
uiairomeaiarming aeuioii-trauous Had been niauu in
the Concmaofthc- United States soon after tliecom-uieuctiii-ut
of the last session which ecmed to ques
tion the n;fit of Texas to that territory and claim it
as a territory which wat conquered by and belonged
ioinf i. uiira iMairs exclusive ol Hie rgUUand juns-
dictiuu of Texas over the came. Having had no ex-
planations of that act cin the part of the central cov-
eritmeut nor any arsurance of its ultimate des ?n. I
regarded it as the duty of the Kxecutivc of the Stale to
atrn m due time our uui'icionaWo right to the sou
and jurisdiction ovrrthdt country. I accordin?lv ad-
drrswd n coinmunlcalton upou the subject to tho I'rcai-
deut through the Secrrtary of State of the United
State a copy f which together with the answer
thereto U hereuntU laid befom you1 for yortr luforma-
ton by wh-ch it will be seen that the Predout fully
rrctvmties the claim of Texas to the ltio Grande ac-
cordug tu her limits dVctared tbf tbe act of the
Cuiizrr of the Kepub!.c of Texas7paaed iu Decern-
b-r ltJli. U'heuTcxasconitcnted to enter Ihe Union
I it nxfu!!y nndTstood by both coutracting part.es that
urn uto mtauoc irom us moiiln toils source lormed
the rightful boundary between Texas and Mexico aud
Jex& counueiiuy expectrd that uo other boundary
n ould be consented to in any treaty between the United
outn anu .tirxico. e nave every reason ttUl io be
ratified tht we have confided those rights iu part to
the keeping and managementof the IVvwdent and tu
constitutional advUers.
Since the erganizatlon of onr State Government
our frontier teUIcmruts hae greatly advanced and
are stdl rap'dly advanciug under the liberal aud effi-
cient protection given to them by the orders of tho
Tre-tdent. Companies arc now stationed at all iwmts
where tier are called for to protect our people agaiwt
the thefts and hostilities of the various Indian tribes.
Tho General Government has found some iucouven
ie nee and embarrassment in the management of their
Indian affairs m Texas in couxeouencc of not owning
and having fultcoutrol over our public and unappro-
priated Una upon which the Iudiaiw roam. Thu in
convenience and erobim-sment mnst daily increase
until the obotaclejt are reinoird. This couMdcratiou
togttlier with the various other reasons nrged iu my
Message to the Legislature at the beginning of its last
Sckiu makes it my duty to call your attention asaiu
to the subject of the sale ofourpulic lands. Tlie
sale of our unappropriated domain to the General
l.oveniinent n ill enable tne Mate to pay her debt and
place it iu the power of that Government to give to
the fioaUcr of our Statu the most complete protec-
tion. During tho lat year a number of Indian tribe
chiflly of the Lipan Xatiou came from Mexico and
locauu tn empires on tne luo lrande and on Uie head
Haters of the Colorado river within the limits of the
felate of Texas and bcem to be deposed to remain in
Uiai region.
5-everut of the chiefs of those tribes visited the Ex
ecute e of the Sute at Austin m Janoary Iat when
they were informed that the lands they occnpied "be-
longed to the Slat of Texas and that they could not
bo permitted to remaiu permanently within the limits
oi in; cir. ucmr a now ever given iarm io re
um:n provided they would conduct themselves prop
erly an J make a crop of corn during which time it
u as hoped that the General Government could du-
poae of them by.rruwnuig them bejond tho luu.ts of
Uie Stte. Soon after that interview was had with
those IndiansI addreMcd to the Secretary of War of
tne Un.ted Mates a commuuicauou npon the subject
ot tueir removal a copy of u bicrt togeUier witn tne re-
nlv tlif-trtii in herenrilh laid before A ou.
Near tbe c!oe of the last semion therl4gBIatnre
pawed an act aouiortziug and reqninngthe Goveruor
of the State to appoint by end with the advice and
consent of the Senate one or more not exceeding
three persons cvmnusMOuers to select a proper place
ou which to erect a State Penitentiary and making
pruvtstous for commencing the proper buildings etc.
That act baring passed so short a tune bafure tho ad-
joarumeuloftrie Legislature andat atime when the
txecntive was mucn occnpied witn outer public DU'
siness the provisions of the Act requiring the Kxecu
live to nominate those comminsioners to the Senate
was overlooked consequently no step conld be taken
during tbe recess of the Senate towards 'carrying out
the provisions of that law; indeed it a questionable
whether sunlcient tuna intervened between the pas
sage of the law and the adjournment ot the legisla-
ture to have enabled the Executive to make a judi
cious selectiou of commifwionera under the law if
his attention had been especially directed to the sub
ject. The delay thus caused is to be regretted as
such a prison is much needed in the State.
The Legislature having neglected at it last session
to carry out Ute piovuuons of a law passed by that bo-
dy requiring the Commissioners of the General Land
Office to be elected by joint ballot of the Legislature
the office became vacant on the 23d day of December
last. It is by no means clear that the power to fill
that vacancy M invested in me tuxecuuvo ot ue owe.
As the Executive of tho State I would never exer
cise a deabtful power except in a case of great nece-
ity and would not even in ouch case couM it ex-
crcise prejudice the right of individual. In the in-
stance now considered the whole bnrioesa of every
department of the Land Office wa about to bo sus-
pended ; hundreds and perhaps thousand of onr citi-
zens were anxiously wishing to obtain patent for
their lands; the whole record and paper of that of-
hce which contain so many ue proou oi uo valu-
able riefcts of the people were about to be left without
akeeper. Moved by these cftswWitmns I determin
ed to exercise a douhtlul powr ana appawt a iom-
miss.oner nntil an election could be had by the Legis
lature to fill the place. I appointed Cot 'rhomos W.
Ward a gentleman who has for aeverat year filled
that office with great ability and fidelity. The right
ofnoindtvidiial can be prejudiced by baring the busi-
ness of that office regularly transacted whilst the Slate
and thousands of our citizeiw tare beta KCttimodsted
Several tbouaaud patruts have been MRied by the C-onj
iut!ium miner his Ivt app-Mulmcnt and inasmuch as
Jim right to act miller UmI appointment may be fine-.
iirurdI rcsjM-ctfuIly suggest to the Icgu4dture the
Irupnel) ofp4Muga law legalizing all of lint acts done
underpaid appointment.
The records and pajn rsoftlie tleneral IandOilice
ore now in met adnunJile order; balthey are unsafe
in tho wooden buildiiiguinliiili they are imw deput-it-ej.
Rf-conl-t end tnperso erj valuable to our cili-
zenx.bhould bekept intliemofl rrrurrmamirr. The
bn M ng now occuj'Ied w uncomfortable aud ill con-
structed far traatactiug the bn-tin-wiof the ofllce. I
therefore rtcommend that pronion be made fur erect;
iu; ahu-iM more secure sudo.mteueiit for Ihatdc-j
partment of the government.
M .. -- .. ..- .-
frcirrJuuiUliaTo Ikvb cniianiccj by iu.i.tiJuaW
ia the c'irts the object of n h'ch it is uulcrtood U to
prx-ure a uew.ou by the bupreme Court of Uie United
MUietibIibuig as legal jiiJ valid a large nnmbor
of headngftt cla nis to laud against the State ofTrx
as iifualK teriutl "fraudulent claims." It is pnJu.
M" that Mine uf t!tr-e Mills Will be taken to the Supreme
Court if the Unitt d States bffure the next meeting of
hi lygia'alurc ot lexas; audmluat rtent Uie State
will have no ennns I to repre-tent her interests in t'lat
court. Our Stale lias ad jitcrrsls luvoltedin this
pjetu and it u t'leduly uf the agents of the people lo
protect them.
I n order to di-cliargn that duly it will be uerrjwary to
nukeuitabls rovfcMjbyIaw to employ Uccoiium-I.
ItLt well known tlut UujshXi of these claims are in
existence and should the borstablmhed as Iwndiii-np-tii
the State our niut-l valuable public domiiii n it) he
rwepl ava h thrm frauds. If they can be legally
ueieaieu u is uie cui oi me repref ui mil oi tne Jci-
Ieto hcp that it i- done. Suits h ioImtii couimeucrd
inoiirMatecoiirts in various tarts of ihe Mate ( es-
Idliliohtmeof tlioie claims ajI it being all important
tit'ilatto have lite proper issues mlly and fairh
mide in tht rrcords and it neither bcingthedutv nor
rotueim! in all cam for the Attorney t.rniral of the
Mate to attend to thrm the Kxecutire rrgnrded it a-
Iiisdiity toemjiloy able coun-el tu aamst the Ihstrct
Atlonpes in thejw com . lie t;iTef"re r-taiurd uln-)
IHIoaardt Kl a gentleman well quiltfird for tin
task. uj I now rccommenu tiiat a euirabfo appro-
priat'ou be made to enable tin foecuTivc vf the Mat-
to have its interests ably defended in all sueh su.ts.
As the law stands at present the election fur Goi er-
nor I.icut. Guvenio- and members uf Uie lgiIaturr
txk;placeb:euniall ou the fin-t Monday iu Xovem-
lVr the IiejtaUture convenes ou the second Monday
of December next thereafter and the vote for fJoveraor
and Lxul. Governor must be ctunted and the names
of the ersous elected declared by the Speaker of the
HoUbCvf Rrpre-rutu!iv6duriiiglhe first week of the
i-eion. 1 tlunk it u ill be found irom experience that
tlieume allowed lor uakiug the returns o; the electo-
ral votes iu such Cjscs u too short. It would there-
fore bo well to change the lime of holding tho- elect-
ions or change the time of com rniug the irgs-Iiture.
Tho cleveuth section of the tilth article of the Con-stitnt'-ou
of the Stale provide that in ail coses except
in those of treason and impeaclimcnt the Kxrrulite
hliall have povier after connctum to grant reprtetes
and pardnnj ; and under such rules as the Iegilature
may prescribe he xhall have uwer to remit hiues aud
forfeiture. Tim legislature tailed at its Iat mmou
to prescribe the rates u hith are to govern the Ktr'u-
tne in reuUling Hue and forfeitures. And as bom
cases have heretofore aud others may hereiftcr Ie
prevented which require the exercrw of the power in-
t ink J to bo given to the Executive by the latter part
oisaiaseciion. uiaifject remres IcguUmc action.
I herewith lay b-fore ) ou the reports of the l-H-crc-
tary of Slate Coininiwioiier of tho General Ind Of
fice and the Adjutant Geueral each of which cuutaius
uggestions of alterations iu the laws which have rel
ation to the fUTcrcnt departments from uhicii thev
emanate. To each of these reports I coll yoar atten-
tion. I aUo transmit w.th thlirommun'cation tlieannnal
remits of the Comptroller and Treasnrcr of the Stato
n.ade to the Executiv e according to tho req J.ous of
uivmhi nuiui niww inn iinauciai con ail ion oi me
State. Each of these reports contain importatjl vug-
golions. It ri erpvMrially imortaut to notice the sug-
Cst uus contlilird at leu?tll iu the report of the
Comptroller to uhich I call the earnest allcuttou of
the IjeguJature.
A practice of interchanging laws decisions of the
Supreme courts and other public 'document ha
grown Lp amongst the States of tho Union uhich is
mutually beneficial. Under it an easy and cheap
Means uf obtaining the lansaud decisions of the court
of Uie fcuter Stales U establnJied which dl enable
our judges and other public officers to acquaint them-
selves with tho laws aud descisious of the court of
tho other Stale. Most of tho States hare regularty
tinder this custom transmitted to the Executive of
lexas 'for the n.e of the State since Us organtubou
their Ian s tho reports of their courts and oilier val-
uable public document. The Executive has in re-
turn only beu able to furnsli to each of tbe State a
copy cf the acta ef our lat legislature no provision
having heretoforo been made by law for tbe purpose.
1 therefore solicit tho attention of the Legislature to
this subject.
Courtesy toward a sister State requires that I
should lay before you for our consideration the ac
compui ing Joiiit Itesolutiou passed by the General
Assembly of the State of MnMHiri upou the subject of
the regular Army of the Uu:ted States.
Defers closing tin rouiniuuicetwn I must call the
atteuLou of the Legislature to a subject which is uVep-
Jy interesting to the people of Texas and to all the
Mare holding Mates uf the Union. It i not strange
thatwhilstsuiiio communities iu the Xorthefn nart
of tho Union are constantl and violently denouncing
mo w ar nun .uexico as nuueecssary anjusx uniioiy!
and immoral assailing and denouncing the Exesji-
live of the Union for nrosecuUnr the war and invox
ing the bttterert nutfurtunes upon all who favor or en-g-ige
in it ; they ore the firt who have raised adjpute
iu regard to the deposition whioh shall be made of the
territory which they anticipate will be conquered and
retained by ojr government and that they should
claim the right of appropriating such territory to their
owu exclusive use? It would seem to be more con-
sistent with their expressed feeling of holy horror at
this war if they should declare that they wdl never
pollute tlietnsclvesbyplacingtheir feet npon soil tho
acquired nor pocket one dollar of it proceeds. Yet
those people are makiog every oiTort to deny to the cit-
izen of the South any share in tbe benefit and priv-
ilege which may result from Uie acquwitioo of terri-
tory by the war with Mexico. The) do not say ia so
many words that we shall be excluded from sharing
in the benefit resulting from such conquest yet udh
would be tbe consequence which would result from
their doctrines. Adopt their views and no citizen or
the South wlio is a slaveholder wookl be permitted to
emigrate to any part of such acquired territory with-1
out parting with that portion of bis property which wo
generally regard as most valuable.
Am an evidence (comparatively slight) of what is
being done and said in portion of the North npoa this
subject I now by hcforeoucopie of resolution pats-
edbytheLegiataluremuestotesofKhOde Uttvl and
Vermont tfhd recently forwarded to the Executive of
Texas. It w proper too that they should be accampa-
iricd by a copy of resolutions passed in March last by
tho Legislature of the Slate of Virginia which 1 like-
wise lay beforeyou & towbidiaskyourmest favora-
ble consideration. hat right hu Congress to pass a law
which is unchangeable and perpetually to govern and
controll the domestic right and regulato the lutercal
policy of any state I What right has the people of oua
portion of the State to pas lam regulating and con-
trolling the right of the citizens of another State where
thos who make such law have no rights as citizens?
The Sooth does not ask the Coogreof the United
Slate to interfere directly or indirectly through
Ieglatiou orptherw.se either to establish or abolish
slavery in any Territory. All that we ask is that the
Kepab'naa prm ip' tl s?!f-Gorcrinnjut ahatl not be
abriged or trampled upon ; that the people of each
Territory aud Stale hhall bo left to pass laws suitable to
lliir own laUo and happiness restrained so far only an
tlicyhat exproNily parted with their political powers
hythfj luiistitutHiuoflhe United SUtes. According
tollio cunrttitution of the United Mates the eople of
every territory belonging to the Uuted States hare the
riIit to b admitted mto the Uiu'oj as a State when-
rtcrthey havon sudicient population and present to
C'uign-ss a Republican form of Mate Govrruinent.
toother nueittion can bo legitimate! v made hen the
P.jIe of auy territory claim adusuoti iuto tlto Union
on a State. I presume that the peup'e of Texas ore
ati-!ledtoinibiiiitthopie4timoftlietfr7aifii0ft tern
1 jry to lbs decision of the President and his couatilu-
tiuudl adruter ; but hen U is aoiuired they claim to
imiiai nm vni uui wiicu at. u atijuit mrj iiwu
Im jitoiirr with the other Slatea tliey claim
exclusive pnriledge iusuch Territory and should sub-
m tta uo such claims.
The people of Texas cannot be justly accused of be-
iug ivaiitingiii attachment to the Union. They have
fciuwn their attachment aud dcrotiou to it by volun-
tarily entering it.
The Swtith ha not sought nor did they u Uh thi dis-
pute. It Li Uie result of an unjut proposition ou tho
part of tfuine nt the Northern Mate to intermeddle with
the rights aud imlitution of the South.
Thtfec Northern people are the at"rrtnn and it i
ourduly Iu join with the other Mates of Uie South in
rwt.tmg their eflbrts Willi nnu'y firmnew. When lias
any portion of tho AouUi presumed tijlctate a change
! i any puhev of any Northern State or meddled with
their law or iostitutious I If our Legislature commit
polttical errors they are only rrpojahle to their cou-
tit lout-. if we rn by adopting any whey or law we
arrrpo)iilIeforlheiiin toGodalone. The people of
me .onn are neither our uuar&aus Loufetors or
otir rtiii-cimce keepers.
I ii concluding upon this subject I n ill repeat that the
South has u itsotight or commenced this context ; but
if the North u dl forso it upon us. ue will meet it wiUi
hearts prejMred for its very rt dangers confiding in
the jtii-tucssof our canv auiuir ability te niaintain
our rights.
J. TINCKNEV HENDERSON".
DeccmHer 13th 117.
gifjc M$
....c.....' ..
".rcnniiTinn
'J VVVI
For the Texas Prcsb) tertan.
"A IIAl'PY NEW YEART
J low many bright vision of happi-
nc clutter around tltoc few words I
How many fond anticipations 'arise in
perspecth c by the oft reiterated wish
of "A II.rrv New Yeae!" A happy
world this would bo could all thtK-e
jileasing aspirations be realized !
The expectation of future happiness
is as prevalent in the human brea-t as
is the. desire of it. Who does not weate
the future with bright garlands of flow-
ers indulging in the :not sanguine ex-
pectations of future joy.unminglcd with
a shade of sorrow I To a certain ex-
tent it is well perhaps that such is the
constitution of man for if all the sor-
rows to which life is exposed were ful-
ly anticipated there would evidently
be much less happiness than really ex-
ists. Moderate expectations of the future
best become beings living in a world
like ours.'1 If sorrow here had never
had its seat aud naught but bright
Elysian fields presented themselves to
our enraptured view then might the in-
dulgencc of the brightest visions be jus-
tifiable and the fondest anticipations be
followed by complete fruition. But ah !
the sad truth must be admitted ; this
exalted condition is forfeited ; man by
disobedience to his Maker has been
driven front 'anParadisc of flowers to
regions where nought but thorns and
thistles grow.
True happiness is a plant w hich will
not flourish in a soil like this: it is an
exotic which requires a more congenial
climate and never can be found in its
original vigor and freshness among the
noxious roots of sin and transgression.
It is too closely allied to God to be found
abroad fromHis dominions. The de-
sire of happiness and the capacity for
enjoyment are possessed in all their
original vigor: nothing has been im-
paired by sin but the inclination of
seeking it from the only proper source.
Wonderful as it is mankind rare so
strangely blind that they pluck the un-
wholesome fruit of woe in preference
to that around which clusters immortal
joys. It is even so this world presents
a mournful spectacle of the fall of man
from the exalted station of supreme fe-
licity to one in which sorrow has its
prominent proportion.
The experience ol "by gone years'
affords suflicient evidence that the en
joyments of this world are mingled with
many dark shades of woe. lonccd
not refer farther than to the record of '
the past year. Could the recording an-
gel of 1847 exhibit ihe variegated ac-
counts of the short. space of one year
the convincing evidence of a fallen
world would present itself to the entire
conviction of all who are capable of re-
flection. Though some bright scenes
might appear on Iho page of record yet
the retrospect would afford many a one
of woe disease' and death those fatal
cnemicsto earthly joy.havebeen abroad
and in our midst. How many hearts
that joyfully welcomed the new year of
18 17 with the most ardent expectations
of long years of future happiness have
been hushed by the grim monster and
compelled to yield up all earthly hopes
and by the realities of an eternal scene !
Ah ! the many new made graves attest
the painful truth that endearing con-
nections haw been dKIvcd and many
a heart has been made to bleed by Ihe
than life itself.
If possible a sadder spectacle might
present itself Io view. War that dread-
ful scourge of nation.-' has darkened
the peaceful horizon of our own beloved
country and caused many of her brave
sons to sacrifice valuable lives in hon-
or's defence. The soil of Uuexa Vista
and Cexru Gordo has drank the blood
of noble hcartsand covered the remains
of those who deserved a better resting
place than the country of an enemy.
Sorrows like these in all their varie-
ties haw been wafted on the breezes of
the past year filling many hearts with
bitterness and woe. Too many instan
ccs of blighted happiness appear to ex-
pect permanent bliss in this ever chan-
ging world. The fondest hopes arc sub-
ject to disappointment and the dearest
associations are liable to dissolution.
The page of the past year fully at-
tests this truth and shall we turn from
such conducing evidence to sanguine
hopes that the coming year will bring
scenes in which sorrow will have no
share ? The past is a criterion by w hich
the future may be juJged. Many who
haw hailed this new year with the most
delightful anticipations will ere its
close have bid adieu to earthly scenes
and entered upon that period which is
not measure by dajs and years. The
grave is destined to have its share of
triumphs in coming events and who are.
to be the victims for the ensuing year
time only will determine. Sad as are
such anticipations they are too true to
be disregarded ; and w hile standing up-
on the line which divides the old and
new year reflections so full of reality
should occupy the candid consideration
of rational beings.
Upon the subject presented however
a gloom might rest were it not for the
hopes of the Gospel. Over the desola-
tions which sin has produced in our
world the glorious bow of promise op
pears bearing the evidence that man is
not left in this dark and dreary condi-
tion but that a light has arisen bv
r which his pathway may be illumined
through the dark vista of coming events
glowing with hopes full of immortality.
A better portion" than earthly good
is here presented and an "enduring
substance" which outlives the changes
of thisshort and'uncertain life. It is a.
hope which reaches into Eternity and
plucks immortal fruit from the tree of
eternal life. He w ho has this hope in
exercise can look upon the changes to
r which human life is exposed with calm
contemplation and remain all unmoved
in the midst of conflicting scenes. ..Be-
yond the confines of this fading scene
a brighter and never changing world
appears in prospect- The eternal hHls
show their cloudless summits to bis ar-
dent gaze and bright hopes animate
him toprcssonward until immortal joys
ore won.
The victory won on Calvary prepared
the way for conquests and triumphs
over the desolations of sin and far as
the direful evil exists so far the immor-
tal remedy proves effectual.
The blessed Gospel of the Savioar
brings ''life and immortality to light :"
around it cluster hopes which never
fail and joys of which the immortal
spirit drinks to complete and endless
fruition. M. R-
SAVE OUR BELOVED YOUTH
Save our yountr men prcservo Ihe
i sons of our beloved Union is the cry
born to us on every breeze not only
from the hut of abject poverty and
wrctchednessbntfromtbc central ranks
of socicly and from the palaces' of the
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McGown, Andrew J. Texas Presbyterian. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 42, Ed. 1, Saturday, January 1, 1848, newspaper, January 1, 1848; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80421/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.