The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 232
341 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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232 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
and the constitutional provision of this Republic on the sub-
ject.
This attempt to evade the prohibition of the African slave trade,
contained in our constitution certainly will not be sustained by the
tribunals of this Republic, but it is also desireable that the Govt.
of the U. S. should be apprised of such attempts to carry on a
piratical commerce by her own citizens through her territory and
in American vessels. I am therefore directed by the president to
instruct you, to lay this subject before the Govt. of the U. S. and
to request its co-operation on the Sabine frontier and in the gulf
of Mexico to enforce the laws for the suppression of the African
slave trade."
January 6, 1837, Wharton reported: "The complaint it is said
we are about making to. this Government in regard to the African
Slave trade, has already silenced our traducers and rendered us
great service."2 What persons were involved in this illegal traffic
there is no record to show. It was important, however, that the
Texan government should disclaim all responsibility in the matter,
because of the conciliatory effect it might have upon the non-slave-
holding sections of the country. Apparently the scheme was ef-
fective.
In his report from Maysville, Kentucky, December 11, Wharton
gave still further evidence of the fact that by this time the issue
between the free and slave states in regard to Texas was beginning
to be fairly well drawn. In striking contrast to the glowing ac-
counts that the former commissioners had given of the universal
enthusiasm for the Texan cause, Wharton now spoke definitely of
the friends and the foes of Texas. He said:
Our foes namely the leading prints of the North and East and
the abolitionists everywhere oppose . . [annexation] on the
old grounds of an opposition to the extension of slavery and of a
fear of southern preponderance in councils of the nation. Our
friends by which term I now mean those of Louisiana Mississippi
Kentucky etc (for I have seen and conversed with no others as yet)
oppose our annexation, on the grounds that a brighter destiny
awaits Texas. That she would be more happy and prosperous and
glorious as an independent nation than as a portion or tributary of
'Austin to IWharton, December 16, 1836, Garrison, Dip. Cor. Tex., I, 155-
156.
2Wharton to Austin, January 6, 1836, ibid., 172.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910, periodical, 1910; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101051/m1/252/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.