A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination Page: 238 of 412

                                
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QUESTION OF ANNEXATIONN.

[1840.

went to work to build up a metropolis. In August, the
first town lots were sold; by November; Congress and
the officers of the Republic were settled in the new
capital; * and in December the town numbered 1500 in-
habitants.   That the committee made a wise choice is
proved by the fact that twice since that date the people
have voted to retain Austin as the capital.
Progress.-In spite of many drawbacks, Texas was
steadily progressing.  Trade gradually increased. During
three months of 1840, ninety-two         vessels came into
Galveston Harbor. Houston grew rapidly. The Brazos,
Trinity, and Colorado were alive with steameLrs. Texas
imported less and exported mlore.
Education.-During this administration, the first effort
was made to establish a systeml of public schools.t        In
1839 each county was granted three leagues of land for
school purposes, and in 1840 another league was added,
while fifty leagues were set apart for a State university.
Question of Annexation.-Lamar was bitterly opposed
to the annexation of Texas to the UTnited States. In his
inaugural message he said: "I cannot regard the annexa-
tion of Texas to the American Union in any other light
than as the grave of all her hopes of happiness and great-
* The men who surveyed Austin were delighted to notice a strong resemblance
between the view south of Capitol Hill, in Austin, and the landscape south of
the United States Ct pitol at Wrashington. As one stalnds on Capitol Hill, he sees
Congress Avenue, similar to Pennsylvania Avenue, Coloralo River and Heights, a
match for the Potomac. and Arlington Heights.
t Anson Tones says, in a letter written from New Orleans about this time:
"The lack of schools keelp thousands of immigrants from T'exas. Congress imust
take active steps in the m rtter, or the future of the Republic will be gloomy."