Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 20, 1985 Page: 4 of 14
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Page 4-Palactos Beacon, Jane 20,1905
This Week in Texas History^
Chambers: the most undeserving of mortals
BY BARTEE HAILE
June 20, 1835, Thomas Jeffer-
son Chambers was granted the
land where three years later the
Lone Star Republic built the new
capital of Austin. But as a costly
part of the price he paid for being
one of the most unpopular men in
Texas, Chambers’ legal claim to
the site was ignored.
If losers are made not born,
Chambers truly was a self-made
individual. Talented, educated
and well heeled, greatness ap-
peared to be his for the taking.
Yet an insatiable ego and a
haughty habit of antagonizing
nearly everyone whose path he
crossed relegated Chambers to a
footnote in Texas history.
He left Kentucky in the early
1920’s with Mexico ratner than
Texas the destination. For sever-
al years Chambers taught school
in Mexico City and became a
citizen. Waking up to the oppor-
tunity on the other side of the Rio
Grande, he came to Texas as
Surveyor-General for the Mexi-
can government.
Chambers sided with the min-
ority of Anglo-American colonists
hostile to the leadership of
Stephen F. Austin. He regularly
raked the selfless empressario
over the coals and kept up the
public barrage during Austin's
long Mexican imprisonment of
1834-35. To his grave Austin took
the firm opinion that Chambers'
carping prolonged his hellish
captivity.
The Mexican authorities held
Chambers in highest esteem, as
evidenced by his appointment in
1834 as the highest ranking judge
within the jurisdiction of Texas.
With such close ties, he did not
share the burning dissatisfaction
of most Texans with the host
government.
Also, Chambers’ comfortable
position as a major landowner on
the province dampened enthusi-
asm for a radical change. The
eight leagues of choice Colorado
River land he obtained in June
1835 hiked his total holdings to
over 130,000 acres. To cast his lot
prematurely with the rebels did
not seem a prudent move.
Only after the struggle began
did Chambers come out for
independence. However, he did
not allow this tardy conversion to
stifle his ambition. The late-
comer unabashedly declared that
he was best qualified to lead the
uprising to victory.
Although the insurgents did
not flock to his banner, most kept
to themsevles their reaction to
Chambers’ stupefying announce-
ment. No one wanted to lose his
support and more importantly his
money.
Politely ignored for several
months, Chambers offered in
Jan. 1836 to recruit and equip at
his own expense American volun-
teers. Unable to pass up such a
good deal, the provisional regime
created the “Army of Reserve for
the Protection of Liberties of
Texas” and bestowed upon
Chambers the unwarranted rank
of major general.
Spending out of his own ample
pocket more than $20,000, Cham-
bers sent nearly 2,000 would-be
combatants to Texas between
May and Dec. 1836. Unfortun-
ately the fighting was over, and
the restless Army of Reserve had
nothing to do but cause trouble.
When Chambers reappeared
in the spring of ’37, he charactis-
tically dropped a bombshell.
Noting that Sam Houston, the
only other major general in the
Republic, had his hands full as
President, Chambers insisted he
was next in line for the post of
commander-in-chief. In light of
the well-known fact that he never
had held a battefield command,
few people accepted his warped
logic.
Never one to hold his tongue,
irascible David G. Burnet accus-
ed Chambers of using his US
travels as an excuse to avoid
Mexican bullets. Another obser-
ver called the paper major
general "the most undeserving
of mortals” The motion that
Chambers take charge of the
Texas army died for lack of a
second.
Construction at Austin was
well underway before Chambers
realized that he possessed clear
title to the land. Endless pro-
tests, however, fell on deliberate-
ly deaf ears and not until 1925 did
his heirs receive token compen-
sation.
After gubernatorial bids in
1851 and 1853 ended in disaster,
Chambers briefly bolted to the
American Party of Know-Noth-
ings. Returning to the Democrat-
ic fold by the end of the decade,
he became a shrill advocate of
secession.
At the state convention held in
Feb. 1861, Chambers denounced
Gov. Sam Houston in a vehement
tirade before casting his vote for
the Confederacy. Although the
other delegates were opposed to-
Houston’s pro-Union sentiments,
few endorsed such a vicious
attack against the old hero.
Later that year Chambers tried
again for governor but finished a
distant third in a tight two-man
race. After so many years of
repudiation, most men would
have withdrawn from politics but
Chambers.
not Thomas Jefferson t
In the 1863 election he went
one on one with Pendleton
Murrah, no prize candidate him-
self, and reached his high water
mark with 40 percent of the vote.
The balance of the ballots,
however, went to Murrah.
An assassin’s bullet in 1865
put a permanent end to Chamb-
er’s self-centered fantasy. He
was shot to death while playing
in his parlor with a granddaught-
er. The identity of the murderer
never was discovered though it
certainly was not for lack of
suspects.
Palacios Beacon
Editorial
Senator
Lloyd Bentsen
Watching
Washington
Before a young doctor s.t up practice seven years ago in a
South Texas community, most residents had to travel some 50
miles for medical help. That doctor remains today the town’s
only full-time physician.
An East Texas community paid to set up a doctor’s office ten
years ago and still picks up the office utility bills. A series of
physicians has provided continuous medical services there for
community residents.
The doctors were placed in these towns by the National Health
Service Corps, which assigns medical and dental school grad-
uates to clinics or private practices in areas with a health man-
power shortage.
These graduates went through medical or dental school on an
NHSC scholarship and agreed to either repay the money or work
a minimum of two years where there is a shortage of health care.
The national scholarship program has provided tuition and
monthly stipends to 13,500 students over the past 12 years. The
availability of these talented young people has been particularly
helpful in Texas where, as of last year, we still had 52 counties
with health manpower shortages and 11 counties with no physician
at all.
In several cases, graduates assigned to Texas have fulfilled their
commitment and remained in the community to continue practic-
ing medicine, achieving the programs’ intended long-term goal.
The NHSC has proven to be an effective program. But it is not
without flaws. I am disturbed by the failure of some participants
to fulfill the terms of their contract, or alternately, to pay back
their debt to the very program that made it possible for them to
acquire a lifelong set of very lucrative skills.
The Inspector General of the Department of Health and
Human Services recently reported that, by the end of 1983, 1,813
NHSC scholars had failed to repay, in money or in services,
obligations of $61 million. Seventy-one of these doctors are in
Texas.
The department studied a sample of the defaulters and found
that nearly a third had received Medicare and Medicaid reim-
bursements of between $1,100 and $309,000 during the last three
years.
The Inspector General frund one physician, for example, that
owed NHSC $50,324, yet had received more than $150,000 from
Medicare-Medicaid. Over the last two years, this doctor had made
only a single $500 payment on the debt.
I have introduced legislation that would allow the money owed
by doctors who have breached their contract with NHSC to be
deducted from the reimbursements they receive from Medicare
and Medicaid. This measure would be used as a last resort, after
all other collection efforts had been attempted.
It is hardly right for the federal government to provide a med-
ical education for people—an education that will ensure them of a
healthy income for life—then do nothing when they fail to live up
to their end of the bargain.
The National Health Service Corps has demonstrated its worth
down through the years, but it hasn’t always worked as it is sup-
posed to. I want to make sure that, from here on out, it does.
State Capital Highlights
By Lyndall Williams
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
AUSTIN—The days follow- The package also includes: tional, financial or psychology ros appointment, and had not
ing adjournment of the Legis- —$50 trillion in job training cal effect on a victim to be con- met with Caperton on thejissue
lature belong to the Governor, support over three years, in-
who signs bills into law alone eluding a mix of federal and
in the spotlight because every- state programs, and resources
one else has gone home. from Texas colleges,
Last week, Gov. Mark White, —A statewide search by the
among other official acts: Texas Employment Commis-
—Revealed the Texas pack- sion for workers with special
age to attract General Motors skills needed by the Satum
Corp. new Saturn plant to one project,
of 84 towns here, —Improvements to roads
—Signed a comprehensive and highways needed for ade-
anti-crime package, and quate access to the Satum fa-
—Filled a controversial post cilities.
and • because of scheduling conflicts.
sidered in sentencing
parole hearings. _ ,
—Increase penalties for pos- Campaign Hopefuls
session and use of toxic in- Some folks are lining up
halants, prohibit child abusers early to run for new offices
from any contact with their next spring,
victims as a condition of pro- state Rep. Tommy Adkisson,
bation, parole or bail, and allow D-San Antonio, said he will for-
the first adult a child told mally announce soon his candi-
about being abused to testify dacy to replace retiring state
on the child’s behalf. Sen. Glenn Kothmann. Another
. _ San Antonio representative,
Cisneros A Regent Frank Tejeda, is expected to
by naming San Antonio Mayor Some 84 Texas towns are White made his seventh pick join that race. A third repre-
Henry Cisneros to the Texas also offering incentives to at- of nine TAMU regents when he sentative, Frank Madia, is
A&M Board of Regents. tract the $5 billion plant to ’'------..... ’
their area.' “
Good News, Bad News
Meanwhile, two other offi-
cials split good news and bad
news.
The good news for Texas
Land Commissioner Garry
Anti-Crime Package
New laws created by the
anti-crime package signed last
week will:
—Authorize background
Mauro is that his Texas Veter- checks for workers in day care
ans Land Program sold a $175 centers to prevent child abuse,
million bond package to finance —Provide grants to commu-
veteran loans, including the nity groups for child abuse and
largest pre-sale of land bonds neglect prevention programs,
in Texas history. financed through an increase
The bad news from Agricul- in the marriage license fee.
named Cisneros, a former stu- named as Adkisson’s co-chair-
dent, to the Board of Regents, man.
Cisneros was in Taiwan at Democrat-tumed-Republican,
the tune, and White said he fonner stete Sen. Bill Meier,
will resign from the Texas Eco- gaij he may take another crack
nomic Development Commis- at defeating Texas Attorney
sion when he returns. General Jim Mattox. Meier said
That particular post was no to a governor’s race, adding
made controversial during the he had some “unfinished busi-
session when Bryan-College ness’’ in the AG’s race. Mattox
Station state Sen. Kent Caper- beat Meier in ’82.
ton was angered at White’s a relatively unknown poul-
ture Commissioner Jim High-
tower is that his agency is
threatened with up to 50 em-
ployee layoffs, casualties of
budget cuts by the Legislature.
A Hightower deputy com-
missioner said between 20 and
50 employees will be laid off
by the end of August, and the
agency is struggling to let
them know ahead of time to
prepare for job-hunting.
Most of the lost jobs are ex-
pected to come from the Austin
administrative headquarters,
rather than field personnel,
because the Legislature in-
structed Hightower to shift its
focus to field activities.
—Renew Texas’
and create the Crime
Bill of Rights, which includes
provisions for a crime’s emo-
refusal to name Bryan attor-
ney Don Mauro as a regent,
icense iee. especially since he thought
i, wiretap law, white had told him he would,
.rime Victim ^ ^ ]ast week he had
not told Caperton of the Cisne-
try industry man from Bryan
is visiting around the state for
support in his unannounced bid
to beat Jim Hightower. Bill
Powers hopes to get the GOP
nomination.
RINKING
'RIVING
b^s&Esa
Saturn Plant Package
The governor signed into law
last week a bill authorizing the
creation of a foreign trade zone
for the GM Saturn plant, if it
decides to call Texas its home
UEATH
A Combination we
CAN’T LIVE WITH!
Beaconiearly files*
20 YEARS A GO-1965
Members of the city council
agreed to lease 103.6 acres of the
airport property to the Palacios
Golf Association.
Raymond Mozley had been
promoted to produce salesman
for Groce-Wearden in Bay City.
A Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion school will be held here from
June 29 thru July 2.
Naomi Cartwright, Sue Ellen
Claiborne, Vicki Hildebrandt,
Carla Leadford, Lynn Meyer and
Odelia Stratton, all members of
P.H.S. graduating class, were
working at Wagner General
Hospital this summer.
Charles Shaefer, representa-
tive of the Bovay Engineering
firm of Houston attended city
council meeting Monday night
and gave a detailed report on
sewerage needs of the dty and
possible locations for a contact
stabilization plant.
25 YEARS A GO-1960
Over 100 local children were
participating in the Red Cross
swimming program which start-
ed Monday at the pool in Bay
City.
The construction of the water
mains were reported completed
by L.L.&B. Construction Com-
pany and the city council approv-
ed their work and payment was
made.
Evelyn Lenz was at the Lion’s
Clubs Crippled Children’s Camp
at Keerville.
30 YEARS AGO-1955
The retopping of East Bay
Sixth and Seventh
Boulevard,
Streets was completed this week.
Hugh Flewellen and Gaud
Collins, Jr. were rescued from
Tres Palacios Bay Sunday when
their boat was capsized by rough
water.
The personal belongings of the
Fats” Fountain family
"Fats fountain family were
destroyed Saturday when the
Red Arrow freight building was
damaged by fire.
35 YEARS AGO-1950
Census figures released listed
the population of Palacios as
2,923 and the county as 21,519.
The 49th consecutive session
of the Texas Baptist Encamp-
ment on Palacios will open
Tuesday, June 27.
Mr. and Mrs. Neis P. High-
berg will celebrate their 50th
wedding anniversary with a
reception at the Methodist
phurch Sunday.
40 YEARS A GO-1945
The ladies of the Chamber of
Commerce were sponsoring a
dance on the pavilion on July 3.
F.A. White opened an electric-
al shop at 32u Fifth Street.
Local Masons attended the
75th anniversary celebration of
the Victoria Masonic Lodge,
Monday.
Miss Dorothy Lee Curtis left
Friday for Chicago to attend the
Chicago Music School.
Lt. Glenn Peterson had been
awarded nine awards including
the Infantryman’s Combat
Badge, Purple Heart, two Oak
Leaf dusters, four Bronze Stars
and the Silver Star.
Local Boy Scouts of Troop 47
returned after a week of camping
U Camp Pierce.
45 YEARS AGO-1940
Thirty-five members of the
Lockhart Masonic Lodge were to
be guests of the Palacios Masonic
Lodge over the weekend.
A "Learn to Swim” campaign
under the joint sponsorship of die
American Red Cross and the
Palacios Beacon was to begin
' Friday, June 28.
Contract was let for the
construction of 20 miles of Rural
Electric lines in Matagorda and
Wharton counties.
The W.P.A. Canning Kitchen
was reopened Monday giving
employment to 21 workers.
, 50 YEARS AGO-1935
The continuous rains in central
I and west Texas put all rivers in
the flood stage and *»«■ Colorado
was the highest at Austin since
1912. Wharton and Matagorda
counties were expecting the crest
the latter part of the week.
Palacios was without train
service, but truck and auto travel
wa« going through from the
Valley and San Antonio to
Houston via Port Lavaca.
55 YEARS AGO-1930
Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Barr were
the parents of a boy named
Wallace Gene.
W.H. Clement was building a
house boat for Mr. Fletcher of
the Gulf Production Company.
Mrs. E.M. Kelley, a gold star
mother, was to be a guest of the
government for a trip to France.
60 YEARS AGO-1925
The Palacios Pavilion opened
for the summer with a big dance.
C.M. Fant was manager.
The merchants of Palacios had
agreed to close their places of
business at noon Saturday, July
4.
70 YEARS AGO-1915
The Palacios Summer Normal
had 73 students enrolled.
75 YEARS AGO-1910
The fad and fancy oi tne
season was the Chanticleer.
“The Regans” was the firm
name ot a new business to open
in the new brick building of
Duncan Ruthven at the corner of
Commerce and 5th Streets.
The Brownsville R.R. was
building a spur to Collegeport,
and the Beacon editor was
advocating a bridge across the
bay to encourage farmers of that
section to come to Palacios.
PUBLISHER
NICHOLAS M. WEST
OFFICE MANAGER
ELAINE TEMPLEMAN
Second Clue Pottage Paid At
Palacios, Tex. 77465
Published each Thursday by
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Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 20, 1985, newspaper, June 20, 1985; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth726683/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.