The Lone Star and Southern Watch Tower. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 26, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 5, 1851 Page: 1 of 4
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TOL&ME 2.
WASHINGTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY. JULY 5, 1851.
MM1ÍKU •_>«.
£ont Star attfe Bootf)mt ttlatclj-íowcr;
Published weekly, by
D. H. RANKIN.
esw
|(MCliri: ><rN MKTUi - •
« « atmsm) • ■
$2 50
1 50.
1 00.
voir* ,
I ptyiag tm advance, will be chained four
i g||fci atetof Ik* year. Payment within two month
■ana(n Of the imt number, will be conaidrrr-d in advance,
i t,j ik fending us four nabeeribcrs will be mailed a copy.
XUtrs at fWirrtUtna:
In mar nMutne^ or a «ttclb ««labe—to co* irr
or M uni OB t1M
* kami amcb i9rbti05 1 * g®
Totko* Adfarflalng by the year, a tctjt liberal deduction
traaa the «ferré ratef will be made.
and despatch, and at
The foTfcJS/gSí&meí'íre*rcspwtfaHy re-
quested to set m oar
thought and feeling than tbey would if I had must be impelled to the conclusion that our tag- j my duty to enter into communication and culti-j our chief rivers at or near the bead .of .navign- ' T might be au oh-ta.-'o k> ilieir seiíish des;gn%
j been a profressional and hackneyed politician,
j has ma le me wvll acquainted with their opinions
and wík.cs upon matters of public interest,
especially upon the subject of our public
and I can confidently assert that the dishonora- j govern the old rights and interests of the coun- on several objects of great common interest and ; it would give the whole of xho interior of our m -t efficient ii.ir.n -r ;;
ble thought of repudiation has never yet been ¡ try, and yet they remain locked up in a foreign importance. The commerce of the Rio Grande j State the benefit of the navigation of all *ur I m!g! i u-.v : urv
entertained. And I do not believe that there language, wholly unknown to the people, and already amounts hnnually to many millions of' rivers, and through tbeui an ea«y ae<«>c* to any 1 Te ,ui > t. T ,v;¡ > -.vY li-
bas ever been a subject before them upon which ! accessible only toa few adept?, who it would dollars, and is rapidly augmenting. Nearly half' part of our coast. To tbi^ great trick any ' Surveyor of the a
their minds and wishes have been mose clearly ! seem, have had influence enough to prevent an the Mexican states are receiving importations : number of branches might be attached, which : po tant «?rv:c< « i :l;n- > n ;.,-"ty. v. hieh
by the cove "urn
_ . tod as ¡un -
people of Texas will discharge the public debt j them, although earnestly demandrdby the judges, ¡ that noble river should be improved to the ex-j be that already projected from San Antonio to ! people of Ivi. ! rn T. v s. a- 1
at its real value with a liberal interest; but they ¡ as being absolutely necessary to enable them j tent to which it is susceptible ; and the rich allu- i the coast, and the portions of the main track to i n ne* for my serví •<>, mm ,t i g
will not settle tt at its nominal amount; and they ¡ properly to dispatch the business of the country. ¡ vial borders would be converted, like those of the i be thus coiupi •.<. i, would be those passing tirro"! ten tiio --imd dollars, which 1
believe that justice neither requires nor would j After the establishment of our independence,i Mississippi^, iuto continuous plantations. The I'he eastern and middle counties, to give :bem ■ rend -re 1 with ■•¡it pi\ ¡a nt un-I^r r
approve of its being so settled. Some injustice ; instead of the adoption of a plan and simple j States I have mentioned are equally interested ; the beneiit oí the improved navigation >i oar a youthful generosity, mi aec :mi
and decidedly settled, than they are with regard ! appropriation sufficient to supply our courts with j through thnt channel, and the quantity would be j local convenience or public policy might re.jnire;! ni d!y no'enov k- iged
to the rate at which it shall be adjusted. The ¡ the books and authorities requisite to ascertain ! increased to a vast amount, if the navigation of j aud amongst the most important of these would during that time !
peopr
Agente:
I . D. Gulp, Ch«rokeeCo., Texa*.
I)a. Couuii, Houston Co., "
Hatch, Walker " "
1)k. Paicfc, Montgomery co., "
A. Buffiwgtow, Grimes " "
W. C. Boyles* Brazos " "
Da. W. K. Cook, Limestone co., Texas.
Mi. Armstrong, Hobertson " "
W*. H. Ccsmney, Tr TÍS " "
Da. J. W. Patios, Victoria " "
P. Bryan, Galveston " "
Ho . J. W. 8cott, Harris "
flow. G. M. Bryan,Brazorio " "
Col. H. C. Fontajn, Guadalupe "
How. W. E. Cac-MP, Bexar " "
T. H Munger, Austin " "
Ed. L. Moore, Fayette " "
Dr. C P. Rankin, " "
O. H. P. Keese, Caldwell " "
P. Smith, Seguin.
Vf H. Shadhurn, Cameron.
Wis. Thomson, Nashville.
C. 8. Valdek, Burleson.
L. L. Childs, Sullivan's Bluff.
J. J. Jackson. Belville.
M. Brantly, Selma, Alabama.
Wm. M. Ford, Perry ville, "
II. H Howard, Carthage, Mississippi.
Wilson Bratton. Eugene, Indiana.
J. F. Rankin, Columbia, Ten.
Mr. G. W. Gay is out authorized general
traveling agent,
Subscribers are aicare, or should be, that
a pajptr is not discontinued, except at the option of
the publisher, until all arrearages are paid.
Law on Newspapers.
1 fVnbnribm who do not give express notice to
tfcp-erateatj are considered as wishing to continue
fflefr *ab*r?pfion
2 If *nb«crib<>r« order the di^continupnee of their
paper*, the publisher may continue to send them till
all that is due be paid.
8—If subscsbers neglect or refuse to take their
papers from the office to which they are directed,
they are held responsible till they have settled their
bill, and ordered their papers discontinued.
4—If subscribers move to other places, without in-
forming the publishers, and the papers is sent to the
former direction, they are held "responsible.
5—The courts have decided that refusing to take a
paper or periodical from the office, or removing and
may and no doubt will result from the plan pre- I code, analogous to our circumstances and com
scribed by the act of March, 1848, for the as- j prehensible by the people, another antiquated
but enormously voluminous system was inflicted
upon us from England with scarcely any of the
improvements of modern times; and we have
subsequently added to these two systems, legis-
lation enough of our own for a century; still
with our awn in this great work, and would join j ' ra^ed
with us ia. urging before the governments of I propose that t..c other main track .shall de- j ward*
governments of
Mexico.*™**^ UnitqdPtateí, the importance
of the fisuifediate improvement of this great in-
ternational channel of intercommunication. Un-
der the treaty with Mexico, by which the gov
seeud
connect it at
ce.tainmcnt of the amount and the classification
of our liabilities ; but it would be difficult to de-
vise any general system under which special
cases of hardship would not arise to claim a leg-
islative intervention.—The mode adopted by the
auditorial board provided by that act in reduc-
ing the nominal amouilts of opr liabilities to
their real value at the time thc-y were incurred,
and their action under it have from time to
time been submitted to the public, and it ap-
pears that a larga majority of our creditors have
acquiesced in the adjustment, surrendered the. „ ~
, original evidences of thrir clams, and accepted ¡ erned people, thus to be perpetually on the hunt lie dormant until it may be waked up by the f-
ccrtificatjs for their par value. 1 would earn- J for law thus to rake for it in every sink of cor- j forts of the Star.-;; immediately interested. «l d tu a great extent the destinies of the city of
various points. This route, pro-' years, I finally succeed by poeiuir i
eminent of the United States has bound itself ¡ longed at the other eud oil the same right line,' of the luw of 1S34, of whíeh 1 Was th* author;
rendering confusion worse confounded. Of this j to defend that frontier and restrain its Iudians ' would pass by the Gila U> Sau Diego on the F t- ■ that during that titii-* I coftxliatt . d ánd defente-í
old English system, thus improvidently adopted ¡ from depredations, the propo^d w^rk assumes c'^c- A do not entertain a doubt that this ' the attempts of a foreign niiliionr.-y eompr.nv
by youthful Texas, an illustrious English phi- j an aspect of vast importance in a military point! the shortest, best, and indeed the only prac-j purchase their homes over their heads, and t!"i>
losopher, jurist, and philanthropist has said: of view ; and fund - expended for it> aeeom-! ticable route for a railroad across the continent saved to the country more th m twent'v uiilliens
'•But in your land of freedom and good govern-, plishmcnt, would be funds saved, by the facili-! tr°ni our Atlantic to our Pacific coast in Culi- ! of acres of land, wlim, by all-wing them to be
I sacrificed, 1 might have résrti* I <n\■■■!:' a
ment, for you aud your legislators, freely deput-; ties which it would afford for purposes of de- fo^^-
ed agents and servants of a free and selt-gov• | fence. But this important matter will probablv 1 hu?
Texas holds in her grasp, not only the
commorci of one half of the Mexican States,
estly and respectfully advise such of our public
c. editors.as seek to disturb this adjustment, and
call it repudiation, to desist. They make a
dangerous experiment upon the public patience.
And I apprehend that any remodeling of the
system adopted, and revision of the action of
auditorial board might produce a result far less
favorable to their wishes than the one of which
they complain.
The position, assumed by the Treasury De-
partment of the United States, claiming to in-
tervene between Texas and her creditors in the
adjustment of their claims, and menacing the
retention of the whole of the reserved fiue mill-
ions until releases are fil by all the creditors
holding claims against Texas for which the im-
post revenues were specially pledged, thus seek-
ing to give to any one of them the control of
ths whole five millious, is an insult to the sover-
eignty of the State, repugnant to the dictates of
common sense and justice, and cannot for a mo-
ment be tolerated. Texas needs no guardian to
to aid her in the settlement of her just liabili-
ties, or to watch over her morality. If-she did,
she would scarcely seek one amongst Wall street
"brokers or in Galpliin Cabinets; the honor and
ruption, thus blindly to keep on importing a
succession of deaf and dumb matter from-a
country of slaves, what is this but treason against
your free constitution And again he says,
you have happily broken the yoke of foreign
oppression ; but the yoke remains "of English
Either-sides, exalted into judges : the common
law, that tissue of impostures to which you still
yield your necks to be pinched and galled, un-
der the hands of one class among you, for whom,
while they are comforted, all others are tor-
mented. Day by day it continues—and so long
as you continue to crouch under it, will continue
to b<? more and more bulky—more and more af-
flictive.1' Even our last Legislature passed a
law known as the probate law, addressed to un-
lettered judges for its exueution, going home to
every family in the State, and controling nnd
regulating the rights and interests of widows
and orphans, so voluminous, so complicated and
obscure that it impresses us with lhe apprehen-
sion that their estates must be inevitably swal-
lowed up in the administration. It is a well-
known fact in the history of our legisletion, that
many of the laws seeming to have been enacted
for general purposes, were passed to affect and
A mutual good understanding with the States Orleans, but the control of the vast wealth
I have mentioned, with regard to persons held which is to fiow from California and the Pacific
to labor, is of vital importance to the AVest, for j ocoali across to the Atlantic. It is for Texas to
the advancement of its agricultural and planting ¡ determino whether or not the great movement
interests. At present, slaves cannot be carried \ f01" internal improvements in the State of Lou-
w.th safety beyond the Guadaloupe river; and ¡ isiana, and the mighty capítol ready to be em-
the Mexicans beyond the Piio Grande, engaged ! ployed to open a communication with the Pacific I ameliorating her condition; that by my efforts
largo fortune, by nc epting t!ui offer which w.t*
made to me by the compauv; that in 1833, to
■^avo the public domain from Win:: -acrificeti,
and to give to Tex;^ iho control of her own
destinies. Í set in moil <-i the great measure of
separating her iron (Vahui'r*, ti take ber ?rand
as a sovereign St tte i:t the Mexir iri Union;
that 1 procured the passage of a law wholly re-
organizing her public administration, and great!y
in agriculture, encounter great difficulties by the
desertion of their laborers ifcross the river; but
from investigations which I made last summer,
I am confident that such au understanding may
be easily cultivated and established, as will ren-
der slave labor safe and profitable throughout • convert its failure into a most fortunate occur
ocean, shall be turned to her own advantage,! in her behalf, I gave to her the inestimable
aud made the foundation of a prosperity une- blessings of the trial by jury, with a separate
quailed in any other country. Intelligence has
lately readied us that the Tehuantepcc treaty
has been rejected by Mexico, and it Is for us to
tho West, under the protection of an act of our
legislature, which should be passed to make the
desertion and flight of slaves a criminal offence,
so as to bring them under the treaty stipulation
with Mexico¿ for the mutual surrender of fugi-
tives from justice.
As your Governor, I should also deem it my
duty to communicate with the chief Executive
of our sister State Louisiana, to procure the co-
operation and aid of that State in the improve-
ment of the navigation of the Sabine river, our
common limit. This should neither ne neglec-
ted nor delayed. The facilities which would
safety of Texas require that die shuld adjust cover particular objects and interests. Indeed, | thus be secured to a large extent of country on
her own liabilities without pragmatic interior- jis times that a general reformation should both the borders of that stream, would greatly
ence of anv extraneous power, and that she take place, ano that a code should be adopted overpay the expenditure.
rence for Texas, Louisiana, and all the South-
ern States, by promptly adopting and vigorously
prosecuting the system of internal improvements ! which overturned the Mexican confederation and
which I have proposed. The two great railroad ' crushed the sovereignty of the States, and I
judiciary, and the free ex?rcise of political and
religious opinions; that in the distinguished po-
tions of Attorney General of the State, and
Superior Judge of Texas, I rendered services of
an important character; that whilst 1 was exer-
cising the latter oflicc, the revolution commenced
power,
should discharge them by her own officers her
own treasury.
The reports of our Comptroller show the en-
tire nominal amount of the claims against us to
bo $ 12.122,443; and the real amount of our
indebtedness according to the actual value re
leaving it uncalled for, is primi facie evidence
ten tional fraud. • • ^
Judge Thompson of Indiana. 3cci<1ed recently : j Ceived to be $b,818,7y8.
:**That Vhere a subscriber to a periodicaHí¡¡-eJ to no- , is nhtf f' '• l V^'í
tify th««<liV>r to discontinue the paper, at the eiid a «fr . fílkí.étri t>
of the time for which he snbscrihcd, or pay op the
arrearages, he was bound for another year.
A year or two since the circuit court of Tenn
eylvania decided, "That -whore a postmaster
to notify the publisher of newspapers, that their pa- I may ^ adopted.
pera were not lifted or taken out of the oflicc, he ren- j ^ ],¡5torv 0f ,
dered himself liable for the subscription.
comprehensive, yet tiuiplc, so that it may pass
into the hands of the people, be understood by
them all, and becomc a text book in the com-
mon schools of the country.
It is absolutely necessary that a complete col-
I lection of the Spanish and Mexican laws, under
latter estimate i wtich most of
j o be j.uMiv
• ~ r ,í < i ru-
tin the and .South* ? W U'tt
pablrs':<fd in the town v.f Wain
TO THE PEOPLE OF TEX VS.
Fellow Cjtizes—I an a candidate for your
aoffrages at tho approaching election, for the cf-
fice oT Governor of the State. In the exercise
of • constitutional right inherent in onr demo-
cratic form of government, I have spontaneous-
ly come before yon, uncalled by sny clique or
party whatever; and if I should be raised by
you ta the elevated and responsible station for
which I have offered you my services, I shall
watch over the honor of the State with a slcep-
les vigilance, steadily directed attention to the
i" ests of the people alone. For the last
twive years I have been entirely withdrawn from
public Ufe, devoting myself exclusively to the
a«i j stmeat of my private affairs which had be--
come greatly deranged by my efforts during onr
revolution, and the heavy advances of means I
then made tó maintain our liberties and estab-
lish our independence; and I have consequently
not become identified with any of the various
parties that have fought to rule the common-
wealth. I therefore expect to meet the opposi-
tion of the leaders of all such parties whose aim
has been the accomplishment of private ends
rather than the promotion of the common weal
and geaecal prosperity. Yet I do not seek to
be Governor for the purpose of waging war
against the plans of any party whatever ; and I
shall oertainly offer no opposition to any scheme
whioh may not operate against the genera] inter-
est of the people; for I am in favor of the ut-
most freedom of action, whether by individuals
or ofmbinations of fndividuals whose objects
may be in concord with the ¿ eaeral welfare.
I eame to Texas more than twenty yetrs ago,
whilst I was yet in the early dawn of manhood
and I have remained completely identified with
it in aH my hopes and interests; I therefore nev-
er became connected in action with either of the
feat political parties of the United States. But
was reared at the foot of Monticello and drank
at the pure fountain of Jeffersonian democracy
at an early age; and the principles I then im-
bibed have been confirmed by subsequent reflec-
tion. Having performed an humble, but zeal-
ous and active part m adding the lone star of in-
dependent Texas to the glorious conste lation of
my native country, I shall hereafter act with
the democrat party in strict accordance with the
prne^lk of the constitution. But I cannjt
jet discard the feeling that I am more a Texian
than n Democrat; and that whenever the inter-
est or honor of. the State may require a liberal
intevpiftalio^of a democrat principie, I shall
alway*b*; inclined to yield to it such construc-
I entertain no prejudices against persons
party;and I wish to
be judged rather by measuree, *1 ^
ceived to be ¡£¡6,818,798. This
M-t „< i ...nil uu';r
wv ynwklf
examine the rule by ^hich they should' be paid .
I am of opinion that one simple and just equal-
failed ' lv to the people of Texas and to their creditors,
Let ns glance back upon the
early history of our country for the resolution of
; this proposition, and we shall find that from its .
| earliest settlement to the present time, its rich ! ; J10 Í ,ou'"
i vacant domain has been the greA atraction the iii)C vl'nv 0 s tl rc euce
sllOtl1'1'
ly true, tii™^
ing is a dangerous thing."
In obedience to the wishes of many, of my
friends, I must allude to the present condition
of the Federal Court for the District of Texas ,
understood that
millions which we hare receir-
-I the United States for the surrender of a
of cor domain and sovereignty, seem to
diticians. and blind
public interest ; as
upon the biasing sun for a
ton to other olgeets we can per-
n darkened pistare <rf his ef-
toe sight. Whilst
r traat^ subject with leas
to keepmanj otlun at vast
<4f .1 f iu I I .. a
utercomse with tha peo-
who have honored me with
sole reliance, as well to the hardy immigrant
who, possessing no wealth, but sinewy arras and j
a dauntless courage, came to
an independent home, as to the
investi'íí his capital in its fortunes
the sni'ie source for a profitable return. The
first has given bis strength, his toil, his health
his courage, and his blood to secure his chosen
home, to redeem the counter around it from a
savage and wilderness condition, and to ercct it
into an independent sovereignty, fit to be the
abode of enlightened freemen, and prepared to
receive the luxurious capitalist who advauced his
means, but remained far away enjoying all the
blandishments of a refined civilization. The
work has been accomplished, the magnificent do-
main has been won, and the hardy and indomi-
table immigrant has m de himself its lord and
sovereign. Will it not be just, will it not be
generous, th? sovereigns having the absolute
control of'tLis domain should say to the capi-
talist, we will dispose of this domain equally for
your benefit and for ours—on your side, to re-
turn to you the means you have advanced, with
a profit in interest equal to what could have
been obtained for it in the best money markets
in the world ; and on our side to improve the
country of our homes, to sustain the govern-
ment, we have established, and to educate our
children r What then was the whole amount ot
this domain ; and what proportion of it has been
disposed of
F.om the best information at my command,
gathered from the reports of our Commissioner
Ot* the General Land office and other sources, it
appears that our entire State contained (242,-
OJJjOOO) two hundred and forty-two millions of
acres ; and the territory sold out of it to the
United States cantaids sixty-six millions of acres;
(45,000,000) forty-five millions of acres have
been located and surveyed by our citizens aud
others holding claims from the government, and
outstanding claims for aboot (10,000,000) ten
millions of acres remain yet unlocated, making
an aggregate of (121,000,000) of one hundred
and twenty-one millions of acres already dispos-
ed of, and leaving to the State the same amount
or just one-half of its entire domain, free from
all claims and encumbrances whatever.
I therefore propose that a pro rata dividend of
one half of the ($10,000,000,) ten millions of
dollars received from the United S tatas, be paid
to onr creditors according to the respective ac-
tual amounts of their claims; and that they be
paid the balance in State bonds drawing five per
cent, interest. These bond may be mtimately
dischargpl by future sales of the domain; or
by granting to the holders the privilege of sur-
rendering them at any . time to receive land scrip
at a rate sufficiently low to be an inducement
for them to make the operation.
In this manner we shall have five millions of
dollars left to the State to be employed in the
establishment of public schools, the improve-
ment of the means of ^intercommunication and
transportation, and the alleviation of the burth-
ens of taxation.
Amongst the most important objects of pub-
lic interest I reckon iMfcrude condition of our
km. No peopr;so young ever hada
_ of laws so complicated. Indeed, there
is not a nation on earth, hdwevér hoary with ago
' down with an ¿hormona mass of com-
obeolete, and undigested crudities as
The most dffi&mt and indefistigable
princi-
pies alone, not to persons. I feel bound to ex-
press my opinion that the great extent of our
1 am in favor of the prompt adoption of a ¡
vigorous and effective system of internal improve-
ment for our State, and I am opposed to all de-
lays for the purpose of wasting the interest ari-
sing from the means at our control upon feeble
experiments. Let us arise and advance to the
,a firm and resolute hand; the condi-
HSMGÉ&t nlK/fr..Ui r$tera means
.-r v 11 v "..ns'gti'ng of our
• 7 -.ic!, ... •, iu:s.iJo«- -.anct-ment
jM m lack ot the means of inter-
com uunication aud transportation. By its adop-
tion and bold prosecution, it will dash forward
in the career for population, wealth and power
with a speed unparalleled in the annals of States.
Why should we delay? The necessity for such
improvements is every where felt and acknowl-
edged, and their nature is well understood. And
why should we experiment? The means and
ern it, the means adopted to carry it into the
Federal Court for adjudication, and the deep un-
easiness which is extensively felt upon the sub-
ject, demand a complete re-organization of this
branch of the'judiciary within the limits of our
State, so as to secure to us the presence of a
mo in ber of the Supreme Court of the United
States as a Circuit Judge, and the selection of
the jurors connected wtih it from every county
in the State, in a manner analogous to that by
which they are drawn by lot for our State courts.
Constituted as our United States District Court
is at present, with the power of designating the
place at which particular cases shall be tried,
aud of selecting by its own officers the jurors to
t.y thjm, it ui«y well be apprehended that the
court may be converted into an engine of injus-
tice and oppression; and in fact, such an appre-
beusion does already prevail to a great extent
tiuough the country. The power to acquire and
maintain the confidence of the people is quite as
necessary in a court as integrity in the adminis-
tration of justice ; and whenever its organiza *
tion is such as to render it an object of suspicion
aud distrust, it looses its usefulness, ceases to be
a blessing and becomes a curse It is true that
our ótate Legislature has no authority to inter-
lere with the organization of this court; but it
has a right to represent its wishes to Congress
upou the subject, aud that body, there can be no
duuot, would respect them. If I should be
elected, 1 shall bring this matter fully before the
Legislature.
l'he western borders of our state claim by
many just and interesting titles ths paternal care
and regard of the government; and should I be
the favored depository of the confidence of the
people for the distinguished post to which I as-
pire, I shall take care that they are not neglec-
ted. The hope may be entertained, that the
peace and protection so necessary for the in-
crease of their population and their growth and
prosperity, will be secured to them before the
meeting of the next legislature, by the forces of
the United States. But should this not be the
case, it will beeome the duty of the State to
protect its own frontiers, and to claim a just in-
demnity for the failure on the part oí the Fed-
eral Government. Something should be done
to quiet and protect the old settlers in the pos-
session and enjoyment of their lands, claimed
in good faith. It is believed that this can be
done without detriment to the rights of others
by a little plain and simple legislation. Á long
and thorough acquaintance with the subject will,
I think, enable me to present a plan to the Leg-
islature free from objections. The original Mex-
ican population has certainly, now, many chums
on our benevolence. No people could be placed
in a more difficult, embarrassing and distressing
poaitwn than they have occupied during our
wan. Between pen tending and hostile forces,
their losses have been necessarily veiy great, and
to whatever aide they might be disposed to ídf
dine, the dangers by which they were every
where surrounded, were alike formidable. It is
time that a victorious and magnanimous people,
now controlling the destimes of these victims of
a revolution, should discard their animosities
and prejudices and convert them into sympa-
thies. ^
As* Governor of this State! I should deem it
uudertake and accomplish them.
The policy of hoarding up for the present, the
resources under our control to experiment upon
thé interest, would be as wise as that of the
wretched miser who garners up the proceeds of
his toils and vigils, depriving himself of the nec-
essaries of life, even food and raiment, to trans-
mit his patiently accumulated gains to successors
who love him not, but on the contrary laugh at
his folly and jeer at his sordid parsimony. The
present inhabitants of Texas who have won its
rich domain by their toils, their valor and their
blood, in a few years more will cease to control
it. Now that dangers no longer surround us,
and the way has been made smooth by us for
immigration, our country will soon be filled with
a different class of population, bringing with
them wealth and all the conveniences of life,
and feeling but little sympathy with the bold and
hardy pioneer who has prepared for him the rich
inheritance; and, soon forming a majority in
numbers, will wrest from him its control, sneer
at his incapacity to appreciate it properly, and
ridicule his folly for not having employed it at
once in the improvement of his condition.
Whilst I am in favor of employing our resour-
ces promptly, freely and boldly in the ameliora-
tion of our condition, I am fully impressed with
the necessity of a prudent economy in its use,
and the adoption of a most rigid system of ac-
countability, with all the guards which can pos-
sibly be thrown around its disbursement.
The works of most urgent and immediate ne-
cessity which I shall advocate will be the re-
moval of the obstructions to the free navigation
of our rivers so as to enable the people of the
interior of the State to send their produce to the
coast to market, and to receive in return such
supplies as they may need. I have given to this
subject a great deal of attention and reflection,
and I am satisfied that an expenditure of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars upon each of
onr principal rivers, would accomplish the great
object proposed, and that the saving in trans-
portation, and from loss of time, and the .gain
in the increased productions of the country,
which would result, would more than return
these expenditures in a single year, in the aug-
mented wealth of the State.
To connect and imite the navigation of our
rivers, thus improved, to meet the growing ne-
eesssities of the State, to give new impulse to its
prosperity, and keep pace with the spirit of the
times, a general and comprehensive system of
railroads should be adopted, and the main tracks
should be at once designated, and so projected
as to admit of a gradual development and com-
pletion. These great tracks should be thrown
across the country so as not only to connect the
navigation of our rivers, and supply their de*
ficieney, but to combine, reooncUe and identify
its various conflicting interests, and to link firm-
ly together the portions remote from each other.
To fix at once the attention of the people upon
this important subject, and make my views upon
it clear and tangible, I propose that the first
great route shall be marked out from a point on
the Rio Grande, near the head of navigation,
and opposite to the great thoroughfares and high-
ways leading into the Mexican States, a aa to
ran thence through the city of San Antonio, by
Austin, the capital of our State, and across all
routes suggested, aie sufficiently important in a
national and military point of view, to command
the co-operation of the government of the Uni-
ted States. But we should make the first vig-
orous movement ourselves, and we shall com-
mand and control the action and co-operation of
that government and of the State of Louisiana,
which will seek to avail themselves of the bene-
fits of our enterprise, by extending our work be-
yond our limits. But if we measure the pro-
posed Fv,-tem by a narrower scale, it will be
fouud that the completion of any portion of it
will be attended with great benefit, and that one
part may be added to another with increasing
advantages, until the full development of the
whole may be achieved.
To accomplish these great works, the means
of the State should be freely used; but private
capital and individual enterprise should be called
in aid of the public resources, by granting facil-
ities and offering attractive inducements; main-
taining, however, a superintending control over
the whole.
To deepen the inlets and channels, through
the bars of our bays, and to keep open the
mouths of our rivers, a permanent fund should
be provided, as there can be but little doubt that
the greater part of them will be re-filled by a
gradual and permanent process.
To provide this fund, our Legislature should
pass a law to impose a light duty upon the ton-
nage of vessel- navigating our waters, for which
the assent of Congress would be necessary. This
would not be withheld. The strictest construc-
tions of the democratic party recognise this as
the legitimate mode of providing the means for
such works; and it has been practised in the
coast states from the foundation of the govern-
ment to the present time.
In addition to the mighty impulses which
would be giveu to immigration and to our gen-
eral prosperity by the large expenditure of funds
within the limits of our State in these improve-
ments and the immense increase of facilities for
every branch of industry which will be afforded
by them, the profits arising from the tolls would,
pay the interest upon the amount expended, free
us from taxation, and ultimately pay back into,
the coffers of the State, the cost invested. The
limits assigned to this communication will not
allow me to discuss these things with figures and
analagous data; but I shall avail myself of a
futuie occasion to do so; and I doubt not I shall
be able to maintain the positions I have assumed
and to demonstrate the practicability of the
whole scheme with all its mighty advantages.
A brilliant scene opens before us for the ris-
ing generation of our country, promising all the
beneficient and potent advantages of universal
education. If we employ wisely the means un-
der our control, the day is not distant when the
light of science and general intelligence will
shine alike for the rich anu the poor, illuminat-
ing the plain habitation of the daily laborer
with the same bright beams which gild the gor-
geous mansions of the opulent. Education is
the great lever which moves the world,—it forms
the foundation of morals in society, and of the
free institutions with which we are so eminently
blessed ; and its general and equal diffusion is
necessary for the preservation of both. Fully
impressed with these great truths, I shall pre-
sent and advocate a system of free public schools,
which I have digested, suited to the sparse con-
dition of our population, and admitting of a
gradual developement proportioned to its in-
crease. For the support of this system I shall
recommend that one million of dollars be set
apart and held sacred, in addition to ten per
cent of the revenue secured by the coustitntion,
and the public lands set apart as a school fund.
These means provided by the constitution for
purposes of education should nev- r be permitt-
ed to be diverted from the wise and benevolent
objects to which they were consecrated by that
instrument; and I shall oppose every attempt
to change it so as to give the legislature the
power to divert these sacred educational resour-
ces from their ligitimate ends.
I might fellow-citizens, urge my personal
aImim upon Texas for your suffrages. I mig..-
show to you my long and complete identity with
all her fortunes: that I came to her at the very
dawn of manhood, and laid my heart at her feet
with a perfect devotioú; that I have ever stood
by her with heart and hand, through weal or
woe; that I have given to her my best services,
in a spirit of entire disinterestedness, whenever
she has deigned to accept them; that these ser-
vices, although not unimportant, have fallen en-
tirely short of my ardent desires, because she
has failed to afford me sufficient
boldly raised my voice against it as -Judge; was
the first to warn the people of Texas of the ap-
proaching danger, aud advised them to call a
convention to provide for their safety, for which
I was incarcerated and impeached for high trea-
son ; that Í resigned the office of Judge to accept
that of General in the army, where I sacrificed
a fortune in raising with my own means nearly
two thousand men for the defence of the coun-
try, feeding and clothing them, and furnishing
arms, amunition and other supplies ; apd that
although sixty thousand dollars would not re-
lease me from the sacrifices I then made, • an J
the consequences flowing from them, I have no
pecuniary claim to urge upon Texas; and what-
ever may be my lot in life, whether it be one of
splendid opulence or abject poverty, I shall alike
disdain to seek or accept pecuniary compensa-
tion at her hands; and that whatever efforts I
then made to sustain the cause of my struggling
and bleeding countiy, were the out-pourihgs of
disinterested and patriotic emotions, ilnd the
thanks which were twice voted to me by Con-
gress, recognizing in complimentary terms the
sacrificcg which 1 had made, were more highlv
appreciated by me thau wealth thrice told and
returned.
I might urge these and other ser vie 23 upon
your consideration, fellow-citizens of Texas, on
the present occasion ; and I might further show
that I am now the ouly one remaining among the
patriots of those times which tried men's souls,
who, having acknowledged claims upon you for
important services, have not received repeated
and substantial testimonials of your contidcnee
aud esteem; that, whilst others boast of the
multiplied favo is which they have received from
you, and refer to them as new claims for in-
creased honors, I alone have beeu permitted by
you to be driven back into obscurity, by an un-
just, ungeucrous aud unmanly proscription,
waged against me by an aristocracy of specula-
tors and professional politicians, who, actuated
by motives the most unjustifiable and selfish,
have, by artful combinations aud insidious and
covert meaus, sought to potsou the public mind
and feeling against me, for the purpose of ex-
cluding me forever from all participation in pub-
lic affairs; that to compass this, lawless and un-
principled men have beeu instigated aud encour-
aged to hunt me throughout the State, to con-
.test aud litigate my property until none should
be left free to meet the liabilities which I had
brought upon me to serve and save the country;
that when, at length, grown weary of persecu-.
tion, and become anxious to termiuate it even in
the grave, I went to Washington at the com-
mencement of the Mexicau war, and demanded,
nay, supplicated from your reprc 'utatives there
a respectable position in the army, where I might
win repose by an honorable death in the service
of my country—even this was denied me. An
hour upon a successful battle-field might have
placed me upon even more elevated grounds
than the heroes of San Jacinto. I might urge
all these, and many other similar consideration*
upon you, fellow-citizens, but I am conscious
that, although they might arouse your sympa-
thies, if given in detail, they would not entitle
me to the office of chief Executive of th:; State,
if the principles which 1 profess and maintain,
and the measures which I advocate are uot such
as would promote its prosperity, aul redound to
its honor and glory. In seeking your suffrages,
fellow-citizens, I have no private ends to accom-
plish. I aim at nothing but tho privilege ines-
timable to generous minds, of devoting my en-
ergies to the honorable service of my country,
from which I have been so long excluded. 1
have no personal animosities, ao private revenges
Which I wish to gratity. To me, fcYoag. is not
sweet, but forgivness is; and there !- nothing
which I more ardently desire than ü t my en-
emies should place themselves in a P">:'"> to-
wards me, where justice might approve forgive-
ness. When Caesar rose to supreme power, and
the friends and flatterers by whom le was sur-
rounded collected and placcd before him the
written evidences of the hostility and guilt of
his enemies, he refused to read them aud gener-
ously ordered them to be destroyed. None but
contracted intellects and narrow and cowardly
hearts could stoop from power to seek revenge
I have never thrown an obstacle iu the path of
any man in his progress to renown. If I can-
not keep pace with others in the career of hon-
or, I should feel degraded in my own estimation
by attempting to arrest them by casting imped-
iments before them. Whenever the opportuni-
ty has been afforded ne I have served my coun-
try with a disinterested and perfect devotion.-—
But my éervicce have been tax from being equal
I have been hemmed around by
opportunities,
and has suffered herself to be influenced against j to lay desires,
me by the machinations of designing and iei'i. an iron wall of proscription; and I now appeal
oqa man, who have persecuted, calumniated and to a just and generous people to tevcrcc the il-
proscribed me, because they haSupposed that liberal decree which seek* lo cut mc off from that
MM
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Crawford, G. W. The Lone Star and Southern Watch Tower. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 26, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 5, 1851, newspaper, July 5, 1851; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181371/m1/1/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.