The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 2, July 1898 - April, 1899 Page: 117

                                
THE QUARTERLY
OF THE
TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
Vol. II.                OCTOBER, 1898.                    No. 2.
The Publication Committee disclaims responsibility for views expressed by contributors
to the Quarterly.
THE CAPITALS OF TEXAS.
O. M. ROBERTS.
[This is an unfinished paper, which Governor Roberts was preparing for
THE QUARTERLY at the time of his death.-G. P. G.]
While Texas was under Spain and Mexico, it can hardly be said
to have had a seat of government within its territory. The Consul-
tation of 1835, by which the first provisional government of Texas
was organized, and which represented the different municipalities,
met at San Felipe de Austin on the Brazos river. That continued
to be the meeting place of the executive officers, i. e., the governor,
lieutenant-governor, and the members of the executive council, of
whom there was one for each municipality, until their powers
ceased upon the meeting of the Convention, March 1, 1836. The
most remarkable circumstance pertaining to. this temporary govern-
ment was the violent controversy between the governor and the ex-
ecutive council.
The Convention of 1836, which made the declaration of indepen-
dence and organized the second provisional government with a pres-
ident and cabinet, was held at Washington on the Brazos. There
was no capital then established, nor did the executive officers remain