South-Western American (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 1, Ed. 1, Wednesday, July 9, 1851 Page: 2 of 4
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South Western American
- P. De CORDOVA Editor- v
AUSTlJf WEDNESDAY JULY 0. 1851.
FOR GOVERNOR.
COL. P. H. BELL.
ron Lir.uT. oovERxon
II OX. MAT III AS M'ARD
OF CASS CUC.N7Y.
ron CONGRESS
GE. HUGH M'LEOD.
TOR. COMMISSIONER.
COL. THOS. "VM. WARD.
In presenting tlie fifst number of the third
volume of the South-Western American to
our patrons we have no new pledges to
make. It has been our earnest desire to
make the paper under our control a truly
independent public journal having for its
object the public good.
It is a proud satisfaction for us to know
that our efforts are appreciated ; the satis-
factory evidence of which has been furnish-
ed to us in the addition to our subscription
hst of nearly one hundred new subscribers
within the last week most of the names ac-
companied with the year's subscription in
advance.
An independent newspaper has inetery
country proved a blessing: as heretofore
ve shall continue to expose all abuses that
ate brought under our noticein a proper
manner. As far as the support ol parties
who appreciate our course to the extent of
subscribing and advertising patronage we
are happy to be the recipient.
We expect to differ with our friends on
.some things : it would indeed be strange if
we did no't; but the editor of a paper who
seeks to please all would have nothing but a
namby pjmby sheet and still make enemies.
Our plan has been to please ourselves" and
bo far we have succeeded in pleasing nearly
all.
To those who approve our course we say
that printing a newspaper is very expensive-;
extend the right hand of friendship and se-
cure us the patronage of your friends.
BARBECUE AND BALL.
The 4th of July the glorious anniversary
of freedom was duly celebrated by our citi-
zens with a barbecue and ball.
The barbecue was held at the mouth of
Barton's Creek in a shady grove prepared for
the occasion by Messrs. Grumbles and Tar-
bor with due regard to the comfort of the
ladies.
Capt. Hall and his lady of the Orleans'
House superintended the banquet which
was both substantial and elegant.
About 80 ladies and 150 gentlemen sat
down to the table. The ladies wese ferried
across the river by Mr. Geo. Durham in his
admirable little skiff.
Rev. Mr. Fontaine invoked the divine
blessing in a very appropriate prayer.
Mr. John M. Costley read the Declara-
tion of Indepcndende in a beautiful manner.
The orator of the day Mr. A. II. Chal-
mers then delivered an address which for
purity of style and patriotic sentiments re-
flected great credit on his talents. Air. A.
J. Hamilton was loudly called for and re-
sponded in a most eloquent and patriotic
speech
A national salute was fired from the Ar-
senal at 12 o'clock. About 4 o'clock the
company separated highly delighted with. the
djysvproceedings. Wemay safely say all
were pleased from the'hpary headed grand
sire'Tdc-wn o" the JitHj&suckling. Notwith-
standing the 'heat of the weather there was
jl goodly company assembled in the evening
in the representative chamber dancing was
kept up until daylight.
The managers took particular care to
supply a sumptuous supper which was tas-
tefully laid out under the immediate super-
intendance of Mr. Calhoun one of the man-
A writer in the last State Gazette who
assumes the nom de guerre of "A Frontier
- Citizen" lias thought proper to take his text
from a report furnished a paper by Mr. Mo-
GftsEvans.which report has been contradicted
by Geo. Bernard thelndian trader.
Mr. Frontier Citizen would ha'e the peo-
ple of Texas believe that Gov. Bell has since
j;is election been very neglectful of their
interests when in-is a known fact that the
Executive has always felt a lively interest in
ihsir welfare and as far as he has been able
extended the protection of the troops
over them.
Wc refer to the commanding General of
the forces. Gen. Harney and to the archives
of the Executive office for the pi oof that the
Governor has done all that he could do for
the protection of our frontier.
The Governor was not put in office to
make laws but for the purpose of carrying
them into effect ho neither possesses the
power " to remove the Northern Indians
nor the military force to restrain their te-
turn."' Mr. Frontier Citizen is informed that as
soon as the commanding General signified
his willingness to put down illicit traffic
with the Indians that the Governor was
found willing to co-operate with him and
did do so to the extent of his official power.
The article signed Frontier Citizen looks
more like a political squib for electioneering
purposes against the Governor than an ar
ticle prompted by a wish fur the good of the r
State.
The text is false and has been proved so
and the-moit paitof the statements in it are
likewise based on erroneous data. We
hope the editor of the Gazette will do the
Governor justice.
The circular address of Gen. T. J. Cham-
bers which will be found on (lie first and
fourth pages of this day'- impression is a
mastcriy document and well worthy of pe-
rusal ; and as such wc recommend that each
candidate lor the legislature read it careful-
Iv. for although we believe the General to bz
ahead of the times there are many tiews
contained in it which if modified and adopt-
ed would inure to the benefit of the State.
The General's views" on the public debt
we cannot agree with because we fear lhat I
any attempt to alter the present scaling law
will work alike injury to the State and the
creditors. We want the Sta'c entirelysout
of debt.
With his remaiks on the wholesale manu-
facture of laws by the legislature the pres-
ent organization of the Federal court there
can be no dissent.
With regard to pubiic works the General
is considerably ahead of the times. When
our population is increased to about five mil-
lions then his plan will be feasible and
doubtless carried out. albeit the surnJusilL
the ten millions may have long disappeared.
The General has long been the victim of
a most despicable clique and his appeal to
his fellow-citizens is manly and waxeth
quile eloquent.
We should have rejoiced to have seen the
General anember of our Legislature not
but he would make a good Governor if elect-
ed but that we believe is impossible. The
General claims large bodies of land and'that
alone in this country prejudices his chance
for office ; in his case he is doubly unfortu-
nate for nearly all his lands are in litigation.
The accounts from the coast of a very
heavy gale on the 25th ult. and the devas-
tation committed by it are awful.
Several houses w!ere blown down at In-
dianoIaSaluria Port Cavallo Lavaca Co-
pono and Corpus Christi ; at the latter place
wcarc informed that there is scarce a ves
tige of a building left. Col. Mann is a very
heavy looser his large brick warehouse S5
feet front was down to the ground in a few
seconds several lives have been lost. '
Several .cssels have been wrecked Harris
c Morgan have lost two vessels the Mexico
and Portland. The Steamer Win. Penn
broke.in two. The Maria Burt was wrecked
at SabihePass.Phejiiext mail wc feat-wilj j
ormg us mucn worse accounts oi iiiccucuu
of the storm.
THE MAILS.
We mailed our letters at Austin for Hous-
ton notifying our correspondents in Hous-
ton that we would follow by the accommo-
dation stage the next day ; these letters did
not reach Houston until three days after our
arrival. This was occasioned by sending
the Houston package to Montgomery. This
shows negligence somewhere and ought to
be rectified. When people take the trouble
to write letters particularly during hot wea-
ther -they wish them regularly forwarded.
A letter of importance was mailed on the
Erth at San Antonio for Houston in regular
course of mail ; it ought to have reached
Houston bv the evening of the SO.th June;
it did not. however arrive until the eve of
the 4th July to the great detriment of the
interest of thevriter who had even paid
the postage so as to be certain it would be
received. As thistettr-r did not visit Mont-
gomery where was it delayed ? We ask for
information as we are interested. Ii it the
fault of the mail contractors or the post
masters ? THE WANDERER.
THE FEDERAL COURT CONTROVERSY.
We see a communication in the Civilian
addressed toll. B. Martin one of the per"
sons who came forwaid witli a certificate
exonerating Judge Watrous from the char-
ges made against him. It is reported that
2000 extra copies of the News containing
these certificates were sent through the
post office. Wonder if the law was coin-
plied with and the postage prepaid and if
so who paid it. We extract the following
from the communication addressed to H. B.
Mai tin:
In your certificate signed by you and Ma-
jor James II. Cocke the former Marshal
you say that Judge Watrous has given gene-
ral satisfaction to the officers of his Court.
Who ever doubted that? Why sir we all
know that at the expense and et en ruin ol
honest parties in his court he lips filled the
pockets of the officers with their money
His policy seems to be to absorb ev-rvthwg
that comes into his Court for the use and
benent ol" the officers and then the public
believes he goes and borrows money from
them. .
Unless I am greatly mistaken you have
aUo acted as a Receiver in the Court. Though
you reside in Galveston have you not been
appointed Ileceiter to take charge of the
large estate of Hubert Mooic in 'the county
of Fort Bend situated some sixty or seven-
ty mii.es distant from your place of residence ?
What peculiar quality do you possess which
would entitle you to -be sent so far from
h-iine to take charge of so large an estate ?
Nor is this all. lias not your partner
Judge Tolcr been appointed a Receiver of
the Court in a revenue cause ? Under that
appointment has he not hail the possession
without interest of from eght to twelve
thousand dollars for about three yeaisr
Has not Judge Watrous within the last
three years borrowed of you large sums of
money and have you not within the same
tune with your own fund' paid his debts
sometimes at amounts less than the full
face of his honorable obligations ? Docs he
not owe you from lour to seven thousand
dollars? Please state the amount.' Do you
not know or believe or have you not heard
Jutbe Tnler say that Judge Watrous has
borrowed from or owes him a large sum of
money ? Please state the amount. When-
ever an applicatiou lias been made fur the
appointment of a Receiver have )ou under
any circumstances known Judge Watiotis to
refuse such application ? After a Receiver
had been appointed did you ever know
Judge Watrous to tail to borrow money from
him r or to ask some fat or of him? or to
acquire some right under him ? Did you in
your certificate mem to say that the prac-
tice ofnjiiitfinling Serei ''r3 in H cases when
'applied for give- geneial s.uisfaeti in to the
oiiieers of tlie Couit? Is that what your
certificate means?
Your certificate would lead the public to
believe that in your opinion Judge Watrous
was an exemplary a mural and an honest
man. Have you never told any other per-
sons anything inconsistent with the contents
of lhat certificate ? Now'dn you not know
or have you nut reason to believe lhat he is
alike laithless to men and women ?
Having thrust vour certificate before the
public you can explain what is here charged
or admit it by your silence. HOUSTON.
GENERAL JOSEPH BATES U. S. MAR-
SHAL OF TEXAS :
Sir Con-idering your character for cau-
tion the pu'dic were not a little .surprised
at the very extraordinary certificate whieh
you put fourth in behalf of Judge Watrous.
in theNetvs and in the News Extra of Fri-
day last ; we were immediately led to in-
quire into the cause ol this departure from
your ordinary prudence.
The mystery was very soon unravelled
for wc wcir told that your certificate was
purely selfish that it was bised upon the
strongest personal interest. It was siid your
own declaration fully explained your posi-
tinn. We were told that when the editor of
the Journal had through the columns of
his paper suggested that it was proper for
Judge Watrous to suspend the holding of
court until the giatc charges that had lieen
pieferred against him in the memorial for
his impeachment could bfc heaid and deter-
mined. You ex ins!ulat"d strong! v with
the editor Mr. Gibson and lo'd him rnat
sucha course " would take ihs bread out of
your mtu thl ! '
Tlietffii' we understand you correctly your
certificate. w.is made to ' keep bread in your
mouth" under such circumstance- I think
that prudence would have dictated to you
it was nroner to cue vour certificate only
when it was strongly called for and that it
should have been then couched in the must
cautious and guarded language. On the
contrary you have volun'.eeied and gave
yours and you have given it in broad sweep-
inir and unmeasured terms. You could not
have given a stronger one for a Mansfield or
a Mar-hall. Has it not occurred to you
that your certificate is a satire upon Judge
Watrous ?
Was it made as you suppose to delude
the unsophisticated people of Texas ? if it
was you greatly mistake their character;
let me tell yu that you underate them en-
tirely take them as a mass tfiey are among
the most sigicious and intelligent people
upon the globe.
Now let me piy a more special attention
to the terms of your certificate. In the first
place you say " no chaige against the in-
tegrity of Judge Watrous can be sustained
by your testimony." Have you not made
declaritinns inconsistent withhi? Have
yon not told others the reverse ol it? You
add that "yo.u have no hesitation.in giving
as your opinion that he presides w ith as much J
dignity and sati-luciion as any Judge you j
h.ve ever known" wlm sou of dignity do .
you mc-.n r Is it iihhk dignity r in regaru
to the word satisfaction 1 am persuaded
you have made some mistake and that you
really intended io use in the place of it the
uonl dis-aii-faciioii ; did you intend to say
that lie gave satisfaction in the case of Far-
mer and Griffin a case m which an orphan
girl received slates worth ab.iut twelve or
tilteen thousand dollars and their whole
amount was absorbed by the charges of some
of the officers ol the court r Did you mean
that salisladi.'ii was given in the case ot
i aylor and ititclie vs. St. Clar a case in
winch the plaintiff lecovered about eight
hundred dolldis and judge Sweet counsel
for tlie delendaiu offeied to let the judg-
ment go for more than two thousand ddla s
which would hate enabled him to fake the
case to the Supreme Court of the U. States
wlieie it mu-t hate b--eii reversed and tlie
counsel for the plaintiff piudcntly declined
the offer ? Do you mean that great satisfac-
tion has been given in the numerous cases
in wliiv.Ii honest parties have been ruined by
the exactions of favorite counset of the
court by the evils which have been created
to enricn the officers who now so sedu'ously
support the court? Do you infer this satis-
fat tion from the withering anil blasting joint
resolution of our legisla ure almost unani-
mously adopted I or from the. deep and
abnlitig abhorrence for the man his conduct
and his character in the great mass of ihe
people of Texas ? Ifyour certificate is true
the legislatuie must hate been ftl-e and the
great mass of the people of Texas must be
slanderous and corrupt but I suppose you
will answer this ty raying when you wrote
it you thought chanty begun at home and
that " you must keep bread in your mouth."
You arid tou have the fullest confidence
in Judge W.itrous' integrity and impntiali-
ty. Now have you never told any person
any thing inconsistent wtih what you have
certified in legard to his ini-grityr when j
did that confidence spring up in your bosom? '
was it wnen you uiuugiu mere was "auger
that the indignation of ihe people of this
country would cause Judge Wat-ous to sus-
pend the bu-iness or his court and so " take
the bread out of your mouth-"
But now sir let us dtscu-s more partit ular-
ly your certificate in regard to the " impar-
tiality " of Judge Watrous. The memorial
was silent on the subject then why did you
allude to it ? Was it not because you knew
that this point was weak and it must be as
sailed ? Here lei me remark that all must
admire your wisdom m loieseeing the danger
anil the skill which you have displayed in
your efforts to aveit it it was certainly na-
tural enough that you should take a running
start and bate the point strongly fortified.
Have you never said anything inconsistent
with this part of your rertilicate. Pray tell
us when tlitl this r.x.ilted notion of hrs ' im-
partiality " for toe first time strike you ?
was it under ihe st'ess of appr (tensions of
having " the bread taken out of your mnuli."
It must have Certainly been sinte your
conversation with Dr. Rhodes and .Mr. Pease
ol Brazoria county touching t li.it. mater.
Did not a conversation of about this effect
occur between Dr. Rhodes anil yourself ?
The Doctor was compuiuiug to you of
having lost his case in toe Fulcra! court.
You asked hint who was his couu-el : he re-
plied Judge Sweet. Dpi you not tell Dr.
Rhodes in reply that Judge Sweet toulrl
gain no case in Judge Wutmus' iourt? In
this opinion it is thought that those who aie
disinterested an i well-iulormed on the sud-
ject would veiy generally concur.
Did not you.ai the agent ol Dr. Graves
in Ins case against tiiu-piaid i' the i'edeial
Court take the tase oui of the hand- of
Me.A' lluiri& f ease r Will ou not give
tu .' I i
to . j!.is. Harris ot fease v'ur noie fori
their fee ..; order that y -u .nig .1 t.ke the
case out of their hands and phce it in the j
liainis of some altomm who was uv re of a '
lavonte with Julian Wairu-? Did you
not give as a ica-oii to -Mr i'ea.sc. tor mak-
log Ins change lliaiyou ihougut ihe case
woultl progress bstlti it placed in the hamls
of some a toiney with whom Judge Watrous
was upon belter term- ? Was not this a
suit upon a note of hand t. win. Ii there was
no deleuce ? ill" tin be conversations be not
correctly stated please state as they actu-
ally occurred.
Do you believe that the well-informed por-
tion of tne community concur in the opinion
expressed in your certificate in regard to
the impartiality of Judge Watmus? Do
you nut believe that a large majority ol the
members oY too bar would differ must witle-
ly from the sentiments conttinediu the cer-
tificate ? Do you not know that some of
them have even abandoned their business in
Judge Watmus' court because they felt af-
ter sore experience that his partiality for
others and His prejudice to them were such
as to leave no hope that they could obtain
justice at his hand. ?
Now General would you be willing to
swear that in Judge Watrous' court Judge
Sweet for example could have justice as
fully and as freely measured out to him as it
would be meted out to the universally ad-
mitteil favoutes Judge Hughes and Mr.
Hale ? It any man were to cine into court
and state that he could would you believe
such a man even upon his oath ? Would
an honest and intelligent jury beiieve him?
Would not this be even harder to believe thn
that Thomas M. League is a citizen of Bil-
timore? And you know this they would not
believe; nor do I think you woufd state lhat
on oath though your fnilure to do so ' might
take the bread out of your mouth." The
man who would swear to it would have the
mark of Cain branded upon him.
I he question of partiality is one which
the sense of the community has fully settled.
The docket will clearly show that the buii-
ness of his court is almost entirely monopo-"
Ii-eri by lawyers who are universally known
to be Judge Wa'rou- peculiar tavonteg and
pets. Hit whole recoms oi in court will
snow who are his favorites and who are nof.
In your certificate you farther say tiat
you believe all Im are dispo-ed to do Judge
Watrous justice will a-tmit hrs ability.
'Why discuss Judge Watrous' ability when
the memorial makes no a!lusin to tnatsub-
iect ? Without discussing your capacity to
judjjt correctly in a matter of the kind
which to say the least would be exceedingly
delei table "i must say that ery many in-
telligent lawyers of Texas entertain opinions
widely different from yours. In addition to
this it has been stated and it is believed
that upon a most important matter Jndge
Watrous told a female f Philadelphia that
various streaks of insanity run through his fa-
mily anil it has been often said that some
of them are visibly marked upon himself.
Now General since you hate gone into
the public prints I in the exercise of ihe-
right which is common to every freeman
imagine that I can also appear there to cor-
rect the f.ilse impresion "thich I conceive
your certificate is calculated to protluce. It
is true that or interest in the matter is by
no means equal. If the business of Judge
Watrou' court be suspended during the.
pendency of his impeachment you as the
marshal of the State. ill probably consider
yourself injured to the extent of about six
thousand dollars per annum : quite a hand-
some sum to fall into the pockets of one who
has no claim on the people of this country.
If Judge Watrous be remoed fiom office
and tins ran 't fail to be done then uiy
only regard will be the satisfaction in see-
ing Texas delivered from a scouigc worse
than a pestilence. TRAVIS.
A. F. .TAMES. EX-CnTEF JUSTICE OP
-GALVESTON COUKTV :
As you have presented ourself to the
public as one of t-iose who hive thought pro-
nr ... .. rpr.fi(..p : r..nr .r iutr
Watrous you must allow me to propose To
. r quer;cs tie answers to winch may
tend to show what your testimony is really
worth.
Was not John M. Allen the first marshal
of the Urtiied S a'es District Court for Tex-
as a defaulter to the United states for more
than four thousand d- liars ? and as ya say
the b isiness of the office was entirely un 'er
your control during-the whole time he held
office are you tint legally re-ponsible for the
whole amount of the defalcation.
A suit his neen so e.time since brought
in the U. S. court against Mr. James and
the rest of Mr. AHeu's -ccuritics but nine-
how or other it lias been always continued
If 'he certificate is not the conidera'itn for
further delay is it not conclusive evidence
agiinst Mr. James f r the whole amount of
the defalcation? We won i-r wli-ther his
fel'mv-certifier Mr. Mallioger (the U. S.
district attorn-y) will oil'-r it in evidence
against him on the trial. S.
THE FEDEK IL COUT.T.
Two communK ati tis appear- to-day a I-
dressed to parties who have thirst the-n.1
selves before the public a? tefcii.!ers of J'-tdge-Wntrniis.
Friends without discretion are a tnan's-
orst en-iiiifs and to tins 'ncusi -n we ex-
pect thtt Jutig- Watrous will come to before
long. In admitting these communications wer
are actuated but by one motivr the good of
the State. It it nKces-ary 'we conceive that
the Feder.tl Judge should establish his inno-
cence if pos-ible or the court be purged t
he le guilty of only oneiialf of the barges-
. v -i . - i
mauc iiaui-i nun. mic a tnuu is- uoui;r
--pciot. ot tiinS corrupt it is necessary
that Ft should be tlo-ed. Will the Judge
i u;e p
Let his friends so advise'him and they will
p'ove themselves sincere one3 fir more so
than priming certificates. We would hive
preferred the communication atldres-ed to
A. F. James had been sent to some other
paper but as an independent editor we
must sacrifice private predelictions to the
public good. Were our b other placed in
tlie situation of Mr. James' we would follow
Uhe same line of conduct. .
' ir4 ;
Houston JuIJlhT8?-X'
From La Grange to this point thje corn
crop promises to be very poor despite the
repeated showers we have had during the
last week ; this is to be regretted as the an-
ticipated immigration will require all the
corn we can possibly raise. It is however
expected that the recent rains will have a
salutary effect upon the coming crop of cot-
ton. Old Sam the veritable Sam Houston
arrived in town yesterday he is in fine
health and spirits and we are looking for-
ward to the glorious fourth for a rich treat";
the corner stoueif the new Masonic Hall is
to be laid on thai day and the old veteran
is to deliver the oration which if it be an
extempore effort will be sure to please as
his oratorical abilities are of that character
which are sure to please his heare.r3 parti-
cularly the Iariies. To-morrow evening
there is to be a grand ball at the Houston
House. The fancy dry good store keepers
are busily engaged in supplying the ladies
with the necessary paraphanalia to hs used
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de Cordova, P. South-Western American (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 1, Ed. 1, Wednesday, July 9, 1851, newspaper, July 9, 1851; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth79701/m1/2/: accessed June 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.