Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 36, Ed. 1, Thursday, August 14, 1845 Page: 3 of 8
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The heat lias been excessive throughout the
United States. Numerous deaths are ascrib-
ed to this cause. The drought has also been
unprecedented in its duration and extent.
From Virginia lo Mississippi the corn crop
fin many sections has almost totally failed. In
many places farmers have been compelled to
go frojgforty to ninety mfes to mill.
5A
The steamship Alabama from Aransas
caineto anchor outside Galveston baron Wed-
nesday cvenimr and remained! until Thurs-
lay morning when she proceeded to rev Or-
leans. The troops taken from New Orleans by the
Alabama were landed on St. Joseph.s Island
i here they remained when' she left. Gen.
Vaylor had gone on a tour of inspection to
Corpus Christi and other points to selectthe
inst suitable place for the permanent station
f the troops. The steamer Undine ennvey-
d him to Corpus Christi. The most impnr-
int object in selecting a location for the ar-
ty is good water which it will probably be-
Vfficult to fiudimmediatply on the coast as
is mostly brackish. The wnter of the Nue-
es some twenty miles from Corpus Christi
robably affords the best means for aupply.
?he settlers upon the coast rely mainly upon
lin water winch is not to he had at present
.:i sufhcict quantity to supply an army. 4-
ni. -nrii.u;v!At h am
ji iic li Miiiiamuuvu j
ed of eight companies
.officers and thoseof the
the whole number of
dred.
The sail vessels with the rernnindervof the
coops Inid not arrivedJvandHVerennksfen by
the JUabamn. From the nprevalencernf west-
.rly winds at nd for lomi days after the I
taanr -t
m Zap
SOWS
ibama consist-
idded to "their
i's staff moke
nearly six hun-
ARE WEfANNEXBDI;
The following 'sound and judicious obser-
vations. iu reirurd to the sovereignty -and pres
ent political altitude of .Texas we takel
from the Brazoria Planter : r
The old question of annexation has put
on n new form. It.is not now shall we bej
annexed but are we actually so.? Is it
the Republicof Texas or is it the State of
Texas the Territory of Texas the Province
of Texas 1 If 'none of these what is it 1
It is said that the propositions of the Uni-
ted States having been formally accepted
and the government of the Union having been
invited to send in its troops and take posses-
sion the matter is closed we are part of the
Union. - We do not see that this conclusion
follows. True we have accepted the propo-
sitions but they are themselves conditional
and the condition is yet to be complied with.
By the first of January IS46 we are to pre-
sent to the Congross of the United States a
Constitution winch does not conilict wilh that
of the Union. If we fail to offer such a Con-
stitution within the appointed time will not
the Uniled Slates he discharged from all ob-
ligation to receive us? Will not the question
be again thrown open to discussion? Will
not the battle have to be again fought over
there. It is true the United Stales will soon
be in. actual possession of this country. But
will they not occupy it on our request and for
our defence; not iu virtue of any right of their
own ? t
Suppose our constitution to be rejected by
congress what will be our position ? Sure-
ly not that of a State for we shall be with-
out a State constitution or a State govern-
ment and without a representation or a right
to one in the congress of the Union. Our go-
vernment will then he as independent of that
of the United States as it ever was before the
question of annexation was raised. We
should not become a territory. It has never
been proposed to us nor have we ever con-
sented to become one. In the very act of re-
jecting the constitution we tendered as a
State they would hardly venture to legislate
for us a Territory without our permission.
Our present attitude is that of a separate
nation and we claim and exercise without
contest all the rights of sovereignty. We
have a president and congress of our own we
may make treaties with other countries col-
lect duties and imposts and maintain an ar-
my Mnd navy. Can u State or Territory of
the Federal Union do all these things? Every
3f article of the produce or manufacture of the
United States pays a duty which goes into
our treasury and is expended under our own
laws. The veiy vessels which transport the
forces of the United States to our shores can-
not enter our ports without the payment of the
ordinary tonnage duty.
Such is our position even since the act of
the Convention and such will it continue un-
til our constitution is accepted by the Con-
gress of the U. States. That acceptance
will admit us a Slate. Until then we are the
Republic of Texas. Negotiating for admis-
ion to the Union looking forward to it with
ope as an event almost inevitable to take
ace we arc still the Republic of Texas.
time they were to have tailed theywtn .pro-
hably:.detinedBt the Balize. Otherwiai they
must have had a lbnj'aad disagreeable pas-
sage being ranch crowded and the weather
being warm. Civilian of the 2d inst.
We cannot employ terms too strong to ex-
press oiirheaity concurrence in the following
wise and seasonable suggestions from the
Brazoria Planter. They are such as a' long
experience has established to be true and
such too as the' intelligent and order-loving
part of the community will approve. Dema-
gogues and men who rely upon other appli-
ances than those of talent and merit to raise
themselves'into elevated positions may object
to the plan of selection named by the Planter
but none others will. The people hitherto
harassed and disgusted by the ceaseless and
shameless importunities of oflice-seekers will
approve it ; and we trust that the present
Convention will not close their labors without
adopting the system here recommended for
THE SELECTION OF OFFICERS.
tu We have already expressed our opinion
in favor of the appointment of District Judges
by the Executive with the consent of the Se-
nate. But we would go further and declare
our opposition to all selections by the people
except for governor members of the legisla-
ture and members of congress.
We are opposed to them because they are
not calculated to ensure the choice of compe-
tent persons to fill other offices because they
i-re unnecessary and because frequent elec-
tions are injurious to the people themselves.
We think there can be no doubt of the im-
policy of resorting to a popular vote as a
means of choosing the best qualfied men for
office. In such a proceeding in respect to
many offices now elective there is a total ig-
norance of the qualifications required for the
discharge of their duties and in respect to all
of them there is a total want of that imparti-
ality caution and dircrimination so indispens-
able for the proper exercise of the power of
appointment. People vole for a man because
they like him because he is a clever fellow
and a friend because he is of their own sect
or party because his election will be advanta-
geous to themselves because he is the least
obnoxious of those from whom they have to
choose for any reason in short but because
he is qualified for the office and will execute
it faithfully In this country mobocracy
has heretofore flourished in full perfection.
Judges magistrates sheriffs coroners and
constables those who are to declare and those
who are to enforce the law all have been
elected either by congress or the people. The
result has been just what might have been an-
ticipated. The complaint has been almost
universal either of the incapacity or corrup-
tion of those who are charged with the admi-
nistration of justice. The alleged ignorance
of the bench and partiality and inefficiency of
the executive officers of the law have brought
our courts into contempt. The honest have
been deterred from resorting to them for the
protection of their rights the wicked have
ceased to fear the consequences of their mis-
deeds. Contracts have been violated without
a prospect of redress and crimes committed
without an apprehension of punishment.
No doubt there are shining exceptions
men of ability in every grade of office who
deserve and enjoy the confidence of the com-
munity; but this does not diminish the evil:
it only makes it the more bitterly felt.
Let the power of appointment of all con-
nected with the Judiciary except clerks of
courts themselves be vested in the governor
with the assent Wt the senate and this depart-
ment will soon occupy that position in the es-
timation of the people in which it should stand
in every well organized and well ordered go-
vernment. The experience of other 'States
approves the change and our own imperative-
ly demands it.
The present system is injurious to the peo-
ple themselves even beyond those evils which
result from bad appointments and the conse-
quent loss of confidence in. those tribunals to
Vhich every citizen must Idok for protection.
We regard frequency of elections as in itself
an evil. They tend to produce strife and dis-
cord in a' -community to excite and keep
alive unfriendly feelings amongst its members
and array them in hostile attitude against each
other. They .lead to a waste of time and mo-
ney they cause dissipation riot and disor
der. " So far as we have heard an expression
of opinion on the subject it is unanimous in
favor of their being discontinued. In this
county all classes of men seem sensible of
their ill effects mid anxious to see them.termi-
nated. gk
These constantly recurringfppeals to the
ballot box with their accompanying solicita-
tions to individuals are calculated to increhse
unduly every man's sense f hisown import-
ance lo make him believeJiiraseJf n very im-
portant fragment of sovereigntyWto tixjjpon
hit mind an idea 'that at a good citizen it is
his duty uot only to vdte in every election but
to spend a great part of his time in political
discussion and to keep a watchful eye. upon all
the servants of the public high and low. As
he becomes important in the eyes of others
he grows wise in his own. A very good citi-
zen is thus converted into a very bad and very
vain politician who like all of his class
thinks himself much more competent to deter-
mine upon affairs of state than those entrusted
with their management who can decide at a
glance in perfect ignorance what ai ordinary
statesman would hesitate to determine upon
with all knowledge and upon mature conside-
ration. He views a secret act of congress or
a negotiation not published to the world as a
direct encroachment on his rights; a treason
against the majesty of an independent citizen.
How much of the anarchy which has prevail
ed may ha traced to the restless curiosity of
such characters their disposition to rash cen-
sure and hasty nndgoJent action?
$
CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr. Allen to Mr. Donclson.'
Department op State )
Washington 26th June 1S45. j
The undersigned Attorney General of the
Republic of Texas charged ad interim with
the direction of the Department of State "ac-
quaints the Hon. Air. Donelson Charge d'
Affaires of the United States near this Govern
ment that since the receipt of his communi-
cation under date of the I3ih instant a note
from Gen. Z. Taylor of the United States
Army commanding at Fort Jesup dated the
13th inst. enclosing a copy of instructions
from the War Department of the U. States to
him has been conveyed to His Excellency the
President by express stating the circumstan-
ces under which the troops commanded by
that officer will be caused to enter the Texian
territory and to act as contingencies or emer-
gencies mny require for the protection or de-
fence of the country against Mexican invasion
or Indian incursions.
These instructions correspond with the as-
surance contained in Mr Donelson's note un-
der date of the 11th inst. thr.t "so soon as
the existing Government and the Convention
of Texas shall have accepted the terms of an-
nexation now under their consideration the
President of the United States will then con-
ceive it to be both his right and his duty to
emlpoy the army in defending this State a-
gninst the attacks of any foreign power.
Mr. Donelson is aware that the propositions
from Mexico to negotiate' a treaty with this
Republic on the basis of her separate and
continued independence and the preservation
of tier distinct nationality without annexing
herself to any foreign power hae been re-
jected by the Senate now assembled ; that
the existing Government consisting of the
Executive and Legislative branches have
cordially and without dissent embraced the
terms of annexation proffered by the United
States; that the people throughout the Re-
public have with unparalleled unanimity and
enthusiastic ardor e'vinccd their consent to
those conditions; and that nothing remains
to be performed on thepnit of this country
prc-requisite to the introduction of the United
States troops for her prrtection excepting
that the Convention of Delegates about to as-
semble at Austin shall also manifest its con-
sent lo the pending overture.
This consummation is guarantied by assu-
rances too .strong to be doubted and is certain
to follow as a necessary consequence to the
causes enumerated. But the very preference
manifested by the Government and people of
Texas for annexation to the great Republican
confederacy and for a participation in the
benefits and efficacy of her free institutions
when contrasted with the alternative of sepa-
rate and acknowledged independence and
-vhen the latter alternative was commended to
the acceptance of the nation"by ihe pariialitvj
of mighty powers must be mortifying to ihe
pride of Mexico and may very probably in-
duce her to commence against this country
sudden and active hostilities. For the last
six or eight yearn her warfare has consisted
of irregular incursions" across our western
frontier her forces entering and retiring from
m ts
wr"
it AMI tsvr
our territory at wide and uncertain intervals
of time and occasioning ruin and distress
alous the immediate line of their marches.
A new irruption of this kind may now be
reasonably expected. Austin the place de-
signated for the meeting of the Convention
being on the immediate frontier of ihe settle-
meats is consequently utterly open and ex-
posed ''to attacks ; and the very circumstance
of assembling the Convention will attract the
attention of the enemy to that point. Mexico
hitherto held in check iu the prosecution of
her marnudmg warfare by" that moral force
incident to the strong and dreaded disapproba-
tion evinced by the (great European powers
may not improbably at the present time have
the svmnathies and encouragement of some
of those very powers in her favor; for it can-j and capable of being concentrated at.any.re-
not be supposed that Texas while disregard- quired points. 4 ..-
ing the evident wishes of the triaf-AtlaatiC
sovereigns by joining shtf American tJnkw
can tetainas she haa heretofore done their
cordial5 friendship. Heir interests he rela-
tionsher very identity may be considered
as already merged in those of the United
States so far as her own action i concerned.
Under such circumstances the undersigned
would suggest to Mr. Donelson- the propriety
and necessity of an immediate introduction of
the troops referred toand that they may pro-
ceed at will to occupy positions upon the Rio
Grande and at other points of the frontier
without waiting for the action of the Conven-
tion relative to the measure of annexation.
Were there any reasonable or possible room
for doubt that the Convention will accede to
the proposition with the same unanimity al-
ready displayed by the Government and the
people it would be improper to entertain this
suggestion liut as it is there can be no
cause for delay ; nor can any procrastination
be required by a fair interpretation of the in-
structions referred to. Should the troops not
commence their march until the action of the
Convention could be made known to the com-
manding officer an incursion and retreat of
Mexican troops might not improbably be ef-
fected before their arrival.
Having submitted the preceding views to the
Hon. Mr. Donelson by the direction of His
Excellency the President in accordance with
the late Joint Resolution of the Texian Con-
gress the undersigned avails himself of the
occasion to renew the assurances of the very
distinguished regard with which he has the
honor to remain
Mr. Donelson's
Obedient servant
EBEN'R ALLEN.
Mr. Allen to Sir Donelson
Department of State
Washington 28th June 1845. J
The undersigned Attorney General of the
Republic of Texas charged ad interim with
the direction of the Department of State is
instructed by the President to inquire of the
Hon. Mr. Donelson Charge d' Affaires of the
United States near this Government whether
in the event that it should be deemed necessary
or expedient in the existing posture of affairs
to call into service the Texian troops for the
protection or defence of the country against a
foreign or Indian enemy his Government
would approve the course and assume the pay-
ment of the expenses consequent upon the
measure?
The necessity of such employment of the
military forces of the State is a contingency
which may not be unreasonably appreheuded.
The action yet requisite for consummating
annexation upon the pending basis may occa-
sion resistance or a hostile interference on the
part of Mexico with the design of preventing
that result or interrupting the progressive
steps which lead to it. Even the changes
which Texas is at the present time effecting in
her foreign and domestic relations the dis-
continuance of her connexions abroad and
the reorganization of her institutions at home
may incite the aggressions and machinations
of her foes.
The attitude of this' Republic in relation to
the U. States renders the concurrence and
Consent of that Governmeut in the measures
adopted by this for the benefit of the country
both necessary and desirable.
Such are ti.e causes which have induced the
President to call the attention of Mr. Donel-
son to the subject matter of this communica-
tion. The undersigned trusts that the con-
templated contingency will not occur to re-
quire the employment of troops and that the
cause of annexation will be conducted to a
successful but peaceful issue alike honorable
and propitious to the communities of Texas
and the Union.
To Mr. Donelson the undersigned renews
the assurance of his high 'regard and con-
tinues His obedient servant
EBElVR ALLEN.
Hon. A. J. Donelson
Charge d1 Affaires of the U. States c.
Gen. Houston. This distinguished mart
left here a few days since with his family on
a visit to his relations in East Tennessee he
will remain there some weeks and then make
his way homeward through North Alabama.
He was detained in Nashville snmetine in
consequence of the sickness of his family.
The papers announce that he was elected a'
member of the Texas Convention now fn ses-
sion. He did not receive any information of
this fact until it was too late to reach home in
time to take his seat nor had he at the date of
his departure from Nashville received any of-
ficial notice of his election. -Nashville Union
Sthult. - x
"fan the first of June there were in commis-
sion in the British Navy two hundred and
thirty vessels. Of these upwards otfiftyiyes--sels
carrying- one thousand guns are upoatbe
Eastern and Western coasts oi inis continent
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Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 36, Ed. 1, Thursday, August 14, 1845, newspaper, August 14, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80130/m1/3/: accessed July 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.