A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination Page: 96 of 412
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80
GOVERNMENT.
[1827.
" State of Coahuila, and Texas" with the capital located
at Saltillo. As this arrangement caused the governor to
live so great a distance from Texas, a Chief of the De-
partment of Texas was appointed, with headquarters at
San Antonio; this officer performed many of the duties
of governor, but he was in all things dependent upon
his superior officer. The Congress (corresponding to our
legislature) of the State of Coahuila and Texas adopted
a Constitution,* which was published in 1827. The
State officers were not elected directly by the people.
The whole plan of union with Coahuila was unpleasant
to the Texans. They were promised, however, that as
soon as Texas reached a certain population she should
become a separate State. On the grants of land the em-
presarios, aided by the commissioner,t had almost un-
limited power until 1828; as the State Constitution then
went into effect, the empresarios lost their civil and
military powers, but retained their authority in regard
to land matters. Every town of 1000 inhabitants was
moral and religious culture among the females as among the ladies of the pres-
ent day. Many had moved in the higher circles of our large cities, and some had
filled stations of honor and responsibility. Some were incited to emigrate by a
spirit of enterprise and romance, and some having been unfortunate in their
pecuniary enterprises, sought to improve their circumstances in a new country,
and not a few were the votaries of health, who, unable to endure longer the
rigors of a cold climate, sought relief in the sunny climes of the South."
*On the second page of the pamphlet containing the Constitution was a
clause forbidding any one to publish the Constitution without permission from
Congress; this impressed the Americans as being a strange arrangement.
t This was an important officer. "His duties were to examine colonists' cer-
tificates; to administer the oath of allegiance to them; to issue the land titles;
and appoint the surveyor. He selected the sites for the founding of towns;
established ferries; and presided at the elections for the appointment of ayunta-
mientos of new towns."--Bancroft.
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Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/96/?rotate=90: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.