The Texas Almanac for 1861 Page: 31
336 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS. 81
COMPENDIUM OF THE HISTORY OF TEXAS.
[Continued from the TExAs ALMANAC, for 1860.]
THE victory of San Jacinto was the culmination of the Texas struggle, the posi-
tive achievement of her independence. The event itself, considered as a battle
only, was of small significance. The loss inflicted on the enemy was trifling, rela-
tive to the capacities of Mexico; and would by no means have been decisive of
the contest, had that power been controlled by an efficient and.harmonious admin-
istration: Texas was more indebted to the rivalry of unprincipled chieftains and
perpetually recurring revolutions in Mexico, than to any conceivable .damage or
discouragement consequent on that battle. In its moral aspect it was but a repe-
tition of a series of triumphs, manifesting the superiority of the Anglo-American
over the Spanish-Aztec race, in which moral preelminence forms a chief element:
Among the wounded on our part was the Commander-in-chief, who was struck
by a ball in his ankle, and had his horse shot under him. The historic effect of a
wound received in battle, is well expressed by the following colloquy. Soon after
Gen. Houston received the shot, Col. Wharton rode up to him, when Houston ex-
claimed : "Col. Wharton, I am wounded !" With his usual naivet, Wharton re-
plied: "I'm glad of it, General:. I wish I was, too !"
The materials for a history of the period ensuing the battle of San Jacinto are
very imperfect, and the writer has no access to the few official documents that are
extant. Being desirous to avoid misrepresentations, he is averse to making any
statement purely on his own recollection, although he may claim, as justly as any
other, to " have had perfect understanding of all things from the very first." In
this absence of documentary evidence, he will be compelled to resort frequently
and perhaps quote largely from Ex-President Burnet's "Addresses to the People of
Texas," issued soon after the reestablishment of the Telegraph, the only news-
paper then in the country. These addresses are in part narrative. That the
facts they set forth are correct, is deducible from the further fact, that they .were
published soon after the events occurred, and while men's minds were still under
angry influences, resulting from the treaty with Santa Anna ; and not one of them
has been contradicted, so far as the writer is informed.
When the government ad interim, assumed its functions, there was not one dol-
lar in the public treasury of Texas, and very few in private coffers. The army in
the field was flying before the enemy, and the population from the western fron-
tier to the Brazos, was broken up and hastening eastward. A more forbidding
and unpropitious future has seldom spread its mantle of gloom over any people, at
any period. The Commissioners, Austin, Archerund Wharton, were exerting all
their powers "in theStates," to obtain funds on loan; but our disasters at the
Alamo and at Goliad and the retrograde movements of the army, created doubts
of ultimate success, which paralyzed all their effort. What moneys were obtained,
were disbursed by the agents in New-Orleans, in fitting out our few war-vessels,
furnishing volunteers coming to our aid, and occasioAally sending us some mili-
tary supplies. A tabular exhibit of the public finances at this juncture, would ex-
cite commiseration or ridicule, according to the temper of the reader. Still,
Texas was not destitute of a substantial basis for a large credit and ample re-
venues. Her immense public domain, comprising one hundred and eighty odd
millions of acres of land, was inexhaustible for many years, and only to be ex-
hausted by the accession of a large population, and the industrial products inci-
dent to it. To render the vacant lands available for fiscal purposes, two modes
presented themselves: to pledge them as security for money loaned, or to put
them in market for sale. Lenders cdhsidered the hypothecation too precarious
to venture large advancements, and purchasers would buy only at a low price, es-
timating the depressed condition of our public affairs rather than the intrinsic
value of the lands. These lands could be of no value to citizens of the United
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The Texas Almanac for 1861, book, 1860; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123767/m1/31/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.