The Texas Almanac for 1861 Page: 49
336 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Also, whether he is in favor of the adoption of the Constitution as. it now stands,
or of its rejection or its revision and amendment by the Congress.
And as it is conceived important to the interests of the country that the people
should determine whether they are in favor of annexing Texas to the United States,
the managers are required to put the question direct to each voter, and make re-
turn of the number of votes for or against it.
The returns of the votes, as to the adoption or rejection of the Constitution, and
as to giving Conventional powers to Congress, and also as to the question of an-
nexing Texas to the United States, are to be sealed up by the managers, and direct-
ed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Senators and Representatives, so elected, are required to meet on the first
Monday of October, in the town of Columbia.
Done at Velasco, this 23d day of July, A.D. 1836, and of the independence of
the Republic, the first. DAVID G. BURNET.
Wu. H. JAcK, Secretary of State.
Soon after the promulgation of the above, two members of the Cabinet, Wm. H.
Jack, Secretary of State, and Col. John A. Wharton, who had been appointed to
the Navy Department in the absence of Col. Potter, tendered their resignations.
Both these talented gentlemen became candidates for Congress, and we think,
were elected. The State office was conferred on Col. Bernard E. Bee, the other
left unoccupied. We have omitted to mention that after the appointment of Gen.
Lamar to the army, Col. Somerville was invited to take charge of the War Office,
and he resigned his command in the army for that purpose.
No event of any considerable public importance occurred until the meeting of
the Congress which assembled at the day and place assigned for it. The Vice-
President Zavala was prevented by sickness from taking his seat as President of
the Senate, and ..... was chosen to preside. Ira Ingraham, of Mata-
gorda, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Soon after being
notified of the organization of the Congress, President Burnet transmitted a mes-
sage of some length, giving a brief account of his official transactions, and making
some suggestions relative'to the future.
Three candidates were presented to the people for the Presidency of the young
Republic-Gen. Stephen F. Austin, Gen. Sam Houston, and Henry Smith. Gen.
Houston was elected President, and Gen. M. B. Lamar Vice-President.
The Congress employed its time in making such arrangements and passing such
acts as were more immediately required for the complete organization of the new
government. There were several gentlemen of eminent talent and some legisla-
tive experience, in either house, and their qualifications found a suitable field for
exercise.
The government, ad interim, had been driven from its first and most eligible lo-
cation by what we must consider the unnecessary and certainly calamitous retreats
of our army, and the consequent advances of the enemy. Their retirement to Gal-
veston Island was an inevitable recourse, but it was necessarily temporary. At
Velasco they had some accommodations for business purposes, and here they were
sedulously engaged in the many and multifarious duties that devolved upon them.
In endeavors to preserve the army and navy in competent force, and to sustain
them in the field and on the Gulf, and in various subordinate matters accruing and
requiring prompt attention, their labors were arduous and sometimes painful,
and we are well assured that the President discharged more than his proper share
of them. For the principal part of the time at Velasco he kept two private Secre-
taries fully employed in copying the productions of his pen. His private affairs
had suffered greatly. The largest portion of his household effects had been re-
moved to New-Washington, at the mouth of the San Jacinto, for greater safety.
These were captured by the Mexicans, and what remained at his vacated house near
Lynchburg, was plundered by a party of tories in that neighborhood.
The present organization of the Government was incongruous; the Congress con-
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The Texas Almanac for 1861, book, 1860; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123767/m1/49/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.