Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 10, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 8, 1845 Page: 6 of 8
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78
TEXAS NATIONAL REGISTER.
February 8
Burnet; also a bill for the relief of E. Mc-
.Lean. Mr. Sutherland from the committee on
public lands reported favorably on the hill for
the relief of W. D. Thoniason ; also reported
unfavorably on the bill for the relief of the
heirs of Elisha Roberts.
Mr. Smyth from the committee on finance
reported favorably on the bill to make navy
scrip receivable for dues to the Government
that accrued prior to the 1st Feb. 1842; also
reported unfavorably upon the bill for the re-
lief of Thomas W. Key ; also reported favor-
ably on the bill for the security of the cus-
toms. Mr. Scurry from a select committee re
ported favorably on the bill for the relief of
Thomas Tomlinson.
Mr. McLeod from a select committee
made the following report.
"The special committee to whom was re-
ferred the memorial of the citizens of Galves
ton and Houston praying a modification of
me tantt have had the same under consider
ation : and after a mature consideration of
the whole subject have instructed me to re-
port: The memorialists set forth very justly that
the present duties fall unequally upon that
portion of the people .of Texas who import
their supplies through the port of Galveston.
This fact the investigations of your commit-
tee fully sustain : a reference to" the best data
within the reach of your committee proves
that twenty-three counties (having 7796 vo-
ters) paid of the import duties' of the last
year $162902 or $23 46 per voter; and
that twelve other counties (having 4968
voters) paid but $15187 or $3 06 to the
voter.
The returns from the custom-houses show
that the imports of last vear were into Gal-
veston " 501734;
Into San Augustine and Red River 70610.
The population who receive their supplies
from the United States by way of Red River
is equal if not greater than the population
who receive their supplies through the port of
Galveston ; and the difference exhibited in
the custom-house returns between the im-
ports into Galveston and into San Augustine
and Red River show that a very small por-
tion of the actual imports by way of Red
river are entered at the custom-houses.
ample means to improve our rivers and bays
and to construct roads nnd canals connecting
j all parts of the Republic with our seaports :
l time tvinL'iMM .. I...I !.-! " l
imio 111. living us iruiy a uuuuu people in in-
terest nnd feelings. AH those who seek pop-
ular favor would then be compelled to address
the public intelligence instead of laboring
and unfortunately succeeding (as too many
now do) to create conflicting sectional inter-
ests that they may arouse the worst passions
and swim on currents of local prejudice thus
excited.
By the report of the chairman of the Fi-
nance committee of the Senate it appears that
the ordinary expenditures of the Government
should not exceed the sum of $84000. From
the best information your committee can ob-
tain they are warranted in estimating the
cotton crop of the next year at one hundred
thousand bales ; this at $25 per bale would
give two millions and a half of dollars ; ten
per cent on this would give two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars a sum far exceeding
the current expenses of the Government.
Your committee believe that an average duty
of ten percent on imports would put a stop
to frauds on the revenue ; and that a larjje
amount of merchandize imported into Texas
would be consumed in the United States and
in Mexico; so that instead of paying duties
into the treasury of the United States upon
goods smuggled into Texas and thus de-
frauding our own revenue our merchants
would pay into our treasury all the duties
upon goods consumed in Texas; and they
would also pay a large amount of revenue
on merchandize consumed elsewhere.
The imports of 1843 were $471205 ;
1844 685503.
The current year will give more than a
proportionate increase because the new lands
put in cultivation must increase our exports
in a much greater ratio.
In accordance with the foregoing views
your committee report a bill reducing the
duties to ten per cent. ad valorem and res-
pectfully -recommend its adoption."
Mr. Wallace from the judiciary committee
reported favorably with amendments upon
The bill rcfrulatinff arbitrations and references.
Bills Introduced.
individual who has been almost exclusively
the creator of that trade ; who has given to it
the best years of his life has experienced all
its vicissitudes and has invested his all in it?
or shall we be deprived of all the advantage-
ous effects of that settlement and the opening
of the natural channel of trade? If gentle-
men insist upon striking out that portion of
the bill it must be remembered thai it is only
by this settlement that we are enabled to as-
sert the shadow of a claim to the territory
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. If
the settlement at Corpus Christi is broken up
our claim by right of occupancy is destroyed.
It is a question affecting the interest of the
whole country; it is by no means a sectional
measure. It is one which may involve our
interest as a nation at least the extension of
our government over the territory to which
we lay claim.
Mr. Jones of S. P.: Before the question is
taken standing as I do there I will make a
few remarks. Whether this unexpected op-
position is prompted by a regard for the good
of the country or not I do not know. The
gentleman who made the motion has not
thought proper to give any good reason for
pursuing this course: I believe it would be
found difficult so to do though I should be
most happy to hear it. If we destroy that
post we give up the only hold we have upon
the territory west of the Nueces. It has been
argued in the Congress of the United States
thut we have no right to it. That portion of
the bill proposes the protection of a trade
which will bring double that amount of reve-
nue into the treasury The individuals enga-
ged there have been driven about and op-
pressed in every way in the world and
denounced as every thing that is bad. It is
true they came out as pure as molten gold.
They ask nothing but protection and that is
denied them by gentlemen living in security ;
denied to men living upon the frontier men
who protect them. I hold that the Govern-
ment is as much bound to protect that as any
other point. Within the last three weeks the
very troops stationed there have been called
forty miles into the settlements to protect the
people against Indian depredations.
Independently ot these considerations the
By Mr. Bourland to incorporate the town j occupancy of this post is the only hold we
of Paris in the county of Lamar: rule sus
pended and passed. "By Mr. Gage for the
relief of the minute men raised under an Act
A system of taxation operating so unequal
ly on different sections of the Republic nc- j sipprovcd Feb. 4th 1S4!. By Mr. McFar-
:essarily creates adverse interests and fosters ! kmc establishing a mail route therein named:
local and sectional interests which furnish I rule suspended and passed. Bv Mr. Smith
have upon that territory in the world. It is
the only proposition General Vvoll dwell upon
in a conversation with mo at Matamoros that
we had no right there ; that it was a portion of
Tamauiipas; that we had no force there and
held it only by their courtesy ; that they could
ical
Experience has demon-1 !nl punishment of refugees. By Mr. Bour-
straled that without public virtue it is impos- flat id to authorize the appointment of a com-
demajoiues.
anno to preserve pui:e liberty. 1 he lact
that our revenue system cannot be enforced
proves it to be radically vicious and subver-
sive of the public morals. We are instructed
by Him who taujrht as never man taught to
pray "Lead us not into temptation." It is
the duty of Congress to reconcile with each
other as far as it can be done the interest of
every section of the country. Our system co-
erces the people of Red River to defraud the
revenue; because by doing so they can im-
port their supplies from the United Slates
cheaper without paying duties than they
could import them through Galveston paying
the duties. If a merchant in San Augustine
could make a profit by purchasing his mer-
chandize in our own ports paying the duties
instead of purchasing them in New' Orleans
paying no duties he would not defraud the
revenue.
The wholesale merchant in New Orleans
pays a duty to the United States which is
added to the price paid for it by the merchant
in San Augustine. This duty goes. into the
treasury of the United States ; for although
the merchandize is consumed in Texas there
is no draw-back allowed: the consequence is
that the merchant at San Augustine defrauds
the Texas custom-house;' fur otherwise he
would be driven from the market by merch
andize imported through Galveston prying
but one duty. If he paid the Texas duty his
goods would be charged with the duty at New
Orleans and the duty at San Augustine also.
This course would never yield a profit and
consequently is never followed.
Your 'committee can see no remedy for
such a state of things but to put down the
duty on all merchandize so low as to enable
all to import their supplies through our own
ports cheaper than they can he obtained by
defrauding the revenue. The effect of this
would be to unite the whole people ; to de-
prive those who would array the east against
tiie west and the west against the east nnd
thus create sectional passions and prejudices
of the power o do mischief. We should
.then bear no more of the conflicting interests
of eastern and western nnd northern and
southern Texas. The money which now goes
in the shape of duties on our imports into the
treasury of the United States or into the
pockets of merchants in New Orlenns as
profits commissions and charges would then
go into our own treasury ; or accumulate as
nus?ioner to examine into the validity of the
contract of Charles Feuton Mercer &c. By
Mr. Wallace to authorize the Pre.-ident to
receive volunteers into the service of the Re-
public. By Mr. Armstrong to establish a
certain mail route: rule suspended and pass-
ed. By Mr. Cooke of R. for :hc relief of
clerks of the district courts.
Orders of the Day.
The bill for the appointment of patrols:
substitute adopted rule suspended and pass-
ed u .
The 'bill to incorporate the Texas Cotton
and Woollen Manufacturing Company was
taken up and substitute adopted.
Mr. Williamson moved the referencejo the
committee on retrenchment. Lost.
Mr. McLeod moved its engrossment. Thel
ayes and noeswere called for.
Mr. Millican said he intended to have offer-
ed an amendment as he could not vote for
the bill with the time specified : thirty years
was too great a length of time to allow. He
should vote no. . .
The bill was engrossed by the following
vote : Ayes Messrs. Cazneau Cooke of B.
Dunn Erath Jones of G. Jones of S. P.
Lewis McFarlane McLeod Mabry Mene-1
fee Ogden Perkins Robinson Sadler Suth-
erland Smith of F. and Williamson 19.
Noes Messrs. Speaker Armstrong Cooke
of U. Cunningham Ford Gage Hardin
Johns Johnson of G. Johnson of S. Means
Millican Scott Trult and Wallace 15.
The bill for the support of Government for
the year 1845 was taken up and passed.
The bill for the protection of the frontier
was taken up
Mr. Perkins moved to amend by striking
out the 4th 5th nnd Gth sections of the bill.
Mr. McLeod : It is that part of the bill
making provision for the support of forty men
at Corpus Christi and giving the control and
disposition of these men to Col. H. L. Kinney.
It would be unnecessary at this stage of the
bill to attempt a discussion at length of the
individual merits of this portion of the bill or
the objects proposed by it. no doubt they are
fully understood by every gentleman on this
floor. The whole question resolves itself into
this: shall we expend a small portion of the
income arising from one port for one year in
order to nurse the importations of that port
until it will finally become the whole and en
tire Mexican trade ; nnd shall we entrust the
the most dangerous weapons to corrupt polit- j f Fannin to provide for the apprehension j drive us off: and so they can if the Govern
ment is not disposed to extend protection to
that point; and this amount is a poor pittance.
I am astonished to see this opposition coining
from the quarter it did.
Mr. Perkins: I can give a good reason
for this course. This bill proposes jto divert
a portion of the duties now collected and paid
into the treasury to the protection of a single
point upon the frontier. No man upon this
floor is readier than I to extend protection to
the proper frontier; but to extend it to the
Rio Grande in detached posts at a cost of-
fifteen or twenty thousand dollars is further
than I am willing to go under present circum-
stances. For the protection of the frontier
proper I am willing to go any length. But
this bill contemplates only Uz protection of a
few mercantile men not that of men settled in
the country for purposes of agriculture. It is
merely to foster the interests of a few men
engaged in the mercantile line of business.
Mr. McLeod : It seems to me the argu-
ment of the gentleman -defeats itself. What
he may understand by frontier proper I do
not exactly comprehend. I understand by
the frontier all the outposts within the terri-
tory of Texas. If he means by the expression
frontier proper that he as a Texiau is not
willing to claim beyond the Nueces river I
hope he will not find a majority here to agree
with him. Mr. Perkins explained. He did
as much ns any man claim to the Rio Grande.
Then go in with ns for protecting if. His
sentiments conflict in another point. He is
willing to defend a portion of the frontier but
is only willing to go for a certain small
amount for that purpose on the ground that
we are so very poor in answer in mat I
would say it is our policy if so poor that we
cannot defend it all to defend that portion
which will remunerate us. I am ready to go
for entire -protection ; I believe that every ex-
posed portion of the country is entitled to it
and I include Corpus Christi. I do not pause
to discriminate between the merchant and the
farmer. Every one who stands in need of
such assistance is clearly entitled to it. And
further this in itself will be the means of in-
creasing the revenues of the Government. It
will be actually an advantageous investment
of the funds of the Government which is not
the case with other portions of the frontier.
The question is whether you will invest
the sum of fifteen thousand dollars (deducting
two thousand for the past year) in order to
divert the trade of Mexico from its present
channels through the Mexican ports on the
capital among our own people furnishing expenditure for that object to the hands of the Gulf to one of our own. Gentlemen of this
House are aware that the bill was opposed as
first introduced because it asked for the entire
amount of the duties collected at Corpus
Christi and because another bill had been in-
troduced which would have enabled those
engaged there to have increased their business
largely. In order to meet the objections of
gentlemen the bill was modified in the Se-
nate. Mr. Williamson: I believe it has been
conceded by every gentleman who has ad-
dressed the House that the Rio Grande is our
frontier proper ; it is the south west and north
western boundary of the Republic of Texas
over which we have declared by law our exer-
cise of jurisdiction. I hope the motion to
strike nut those sections will not carry. 1
hold it to be u proposition undeniable from
the very nature and genius of our institutions
thut the protection of the subject is due him
from the Government. It is a matter of fact
undeniable that many estimable citizens of
vnrious pursuits in life are now wending their
way towards the point to which these three
sections in the bill contemplate extending
protection. They have selected that portion
of the country for their future homes. Many
agriculturists even from the interior of the
country are making their way in that direc-
tion many citizens different in their char-
acter from those alluded to by the gentleman
from Brazoria ; men pursuing agriculture fur
a living.
Mr. Perkins withdrew his motion.
Rule suspended and bill passed.
The bill for the erection of a light-house on
Galveston Island: rule suspended and passed.
The bill establishing a light-house at Paso
Cavallo was taken up.
Mr. McLeod said the committee were of
opinion the amount contemplated was insuffi-
cient but in deference to the opinion of gen-
tlemen from the immediate section of the
country they had agreed to this report.
Mr. Cunningham hoped the smallness of
the appropriation asked for would not be a
bar to the passage of the bill.
Mr. McFarlane: Mr. Speaker I must
confess that I am somewhat surprised at the
opposition to the bill under consideration.
The principal objection the only one ad-
vanced in opposition is the meager amount
asked as an appropriation for the erection of
a light-house at Passo Cavallo. Honorable
gentlemen express their opinions very freely
relative to the inadequacy of the sum asked
for ; yet have not evinced a disposition to aug-
ment the appropriation. Twenty and thirty
thousand dollars have been suggested as the
amount necessary for the establishment of a
respectable light-house. I am Mr. Speaker
perfectly aware of the ridiculous attitude in
which gentlemen would place the bill and its
advocate on this floor by proposing an exor-
bitant amount for the express purpose no
doubt of defeating the object contemplated in
the bill.
I do not ask sir for such a beacon light as
the famous antique Pharos near the delta of
the Nile or the stupendous edifice known as
Eddystune Light-house on the coast of Great
Britain. No sir all that is asked for by the
bill is merely a beacon which the wpary
wave-tossed mariner may find to be a guide
and by which he may be enabled to ascertain
his proper bearings amidst the roarings of the
mid-night storm when the stars of heaven are
obscured by the dusky vapors that hang like
the mantle of death over the raging seas.
The utility and necessity of such a struc-
ture at the entrance into Matagorda bay is
not denied and is obvious to every intelligent
gentleman of this House. The harbor of
Matagorda is second in importance as a com
mercial depot to Galveston only and there-
fore has a claim on the generosity of Con-
gress. The amount really required is only
five hundred dollars in addition to a former
appropriation made fur the purpose of forti-
fying the sea coast which it is now contem-
plated to appropriate for sea coast security in
the erection of a light-house ; and 1 renllv
hope no further impediment will be offered
to the passage of the paltry bill.
Rule suspended and bill passed.
Mr. Scott moved to take up the hill amend-
atory of an act entitled an act to incorporate
Marshall University : as the session was draw-
ing to a close unless it should be taken up
now it might be passed over altogether.--Taken
up and read.
Mr. Scott moved to amend by striking out
the names read by the Clerk and inserting
others: bill amended rule suspended and
passed.
The bill to provide for the organization of
Golind county : rule suspended and passed.
The bill to incorporate the Rusk county aca-
demy: rule suspended and passed. The bill
for the relief of the Mier prisoners : rule sus-
pended and engrossed. The bill supplement-
ary to the several acts regulating impost du-
ties: rule suspended and passed. The bill
for the relief of Frank S. Early : passed.
The bill to re-organize the General Land
Office was taken up.
Mr. Smith of Fannin said : I hope the bill
will not meet with the concurrence of this
D
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Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 10, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 8, 1845, newspaper, February 8, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80104/m1/6/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.