Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 36, Ed. 1, Wednesday, August 4, 1841 Page: 2 of 4

From the Intelligencer, (Gdlvestori) t
The Civilian of Wednesday contains a long and labor-
ed articlein answer to one contained in the Telegraphof
the week .previous, vindicating thebiracfer of Judged
Burnet, in which the Editor commences br'a desireftodo-
that gentleman complete ytw.C.HowFfar2stnerJiy ob-
tains -in such a declarajionrnaybe inferredrain, the very .
nejrtaragnipTfofTjie article. Copying from the Tele-
graph he'statesT tnaltfudge-Bumet, while practising law
at San Felipe obtained the appellation of "the honest law-
yer," and.afier. calImg,fbrijpro6f3 of the fact oChisdiaving
btainlhejiaWhe says,LThe Austin Centinel, -which
is also jfwarm'supportor 'of Judge Burnet, says that he
has been galled a ihog thief,'We are satisfied that he has
been named1 as both, as an 'honest lawyer' and a. 'hog
thief,' but should'feel very awkward if required to-estab-blisb'either
statement."
Now the-Civilian is probably well aware that but one
man in this Republic has ever called Judge-Burnet by
the'Jatter'name, and tharthe'individual who lias applied
the epithet to him, has as often disclaimed it, and is not a
rnan.of veracity either-in his declarations or disclaimers.
'Those" who know the history of the early part -of Gen.
"Houston's administration, and who were at Colombia dar-
ing the first, session of' Congress, cannot have -forgotten
'that on one occasion, at a public dinner table, Gen.'Hous-
'ton applied this apithet to Judge Burnet, in a -public
speech, at' the very time that he had sent Col. Bee to.Ve-
lasco'to invite Judge Burnet to a seat rIn, his Cabinet,
-which the' latter declined, and the day following the
speech,' Gen."Houston, -supposing thatit-was.his duty to
nominate a.ChierJusticeno the Senate, "declared to some
of his friends; that' he should. nominate the very man whom
the-day b'efore;.he had -denounced publicly as -a "hog
tbief'-'to'thaitriportant office. There are some reminis-
cences of transactions which took place at that session of
'Congress; which it may be worth while to recall to mind,
andcwe'Svill take the opportunity to Teview a little as oc--casfon
may offer, and refer to some ofthem.
-As to the -consistency of the declarations of Gen. Hous-
ton, 'in regard to men and things, either at that time or
the present, it may be inferred from -the fact that within
the last three weeks, he declared, to-several gentlemen, at
the-Tremont House, in Galveston, that Gen. Lamar was
not in the battle of Sim Jacinto, lln confirmation of this
iveracious statement, we would refer to his official account
of the battle, dated ' Head Quarters of the Army of San
JacintoRiver, April 25, 1836. Our cavalry, sixty-one
in number, commanded by Col. Mirabeau J3. Lamar,
(whose daring and gallant conduct on the previous day,
had attracted the admiration of his comrades and called
him to that station,) placed on our extreme right, complet-
ed our line. Our cavalry was first despatched to the ene--myVlefl,"
&c. and again, "our cavalry-had charged and
routed thatof the enemy upon the right, and given pur--suit
to the fugitives." &e. And yet, as confirmation of
the 'declaration, that he was not there, Gen. Houston
-could have proved the fact by JohnH. Wharton, if he
Jiad'becn alive. Weanall take.ao opportunity of refer-
ring to thetestimony of this witness, while he was alive,
made to living witnesses, on some matters connected with
that'battle, and' Houston's condut, which will be letter
substantiated than to appeal to his testimony wh s dead.
But more of this anon.
The Telegraph says, Judge Burnet came to Texas in
1818-19, in pursuit of health. The Civilian says, "the
-real object of; Judge! Burnet's visit was to-sell trinkets
perhaps something "else to the Indians." The purport
of his visit, and1 the employment of his time during the
visit, are two different things; but the desire of the Civil-
ian to do him complete justice, precludes any discrimina-
tion. Again, 'tfn 1826-7, he went to Saltillo, and there
made a-contract,"r.c;i the Civilian remarks, "why the
-figure iV is tacked-on' to the date in this'paragraph, we
cannot imagine, .unless h be that the Telegraph-considers
that there was some indecent haste in applying for and
obtaining this contract The contract was completed and
signed-the 22nd Dec'r. 1826." We ask, does it follow
that. Judge Burnet could not with propriety remain six
days longer in the place, after his contract was complet-
ed? As to the disposition of that contract, it was sold in New
Yorkto a company who paid JudgeBurnet'86,500 what
cost him nothing so says the Civilian we ask, if it
costJudge Burnet nothing to go to Saltillo, and remain
there during his application, -until it was completed?
and'if the Civilian desires any positive -information and
particulars of the expense, we dare say he can get them,
vAth'some additional items, from Mr. Samuel M. Wil-
.liams' expense book, of 1335, during his land grant mis-
sion at Monclova. r
The Civilian in, doing further complete justice to
Judge' Burnet, says that the company to. whom he sold,
never complied with the contract, -but the company swind-
led the, people of the United.' States out of millions, &c,
-andihat Judge Burnet is as 'guilty as those to whom he
sold, Sec'. Here is a direct charge of swindling against
Judge Burnet, which it would be well for the Editor to be
prepared to prove; but we will close by asking him, if
Messrs Mc'Kinney & Williams and Dr. Jones, of whom
he purchased his press, &c. are as guilty of libel as him-
self, if he publishes one in his paper, and if they are ready
ito answer the damages if adjudged against him.
From the Intelligencer.
In advocating the claims of Burnet for the office for
which'his name hasAewi announced, we exjject to sub-
.mit.sucli facts alone as are capable of demonstration. If
it were evcnUu our-power we would not accomplish his
election 'by any but fair means; nor do we believe that
he Would accept office obtained upon other terms. As
far as he is concerned, it is known that -he never acts the
part of a demagogue in commanding .himself to the favor
.of the people. In fact, he has always .kept aloof from
. -political excitement and from party intrigue, prefering to
rest his honest. pretensions upon his known qualifications,
ihis'purity of morals and integrity of purpose. While
other candidates are trimming their sails to catch the fa-
worable breeze of public regard, he from Jiis elevated posi-
tion in the affections of his fellow-citizens, looks down
upon their artifices and manoeuvres with indifference to
the result, aslfar as his own popularity is in question. If
his virtue and patriotism should triumph over the petty
arts of his adversaries, to him it would.be a subject of
.gratification, so far only as the good ofthecountry would
jbe-lnereDy ,promoiea. j ne nour oi uis eiecuon woum oe
the hour of his resignation, if he thought he stood in the
way, as the incumbent-of the executive chair, of the na-
tion's welfare, or retarded inthe -smallest degree her ad--vancement
or.-happiness. He has ever desired rather to
adorn byiie amiable qualities, and-his many virtues, the
private circle of which' he was the ornament and the pride,
,tban to stem the waves of popular commotion.
Were the country in a prosperous condition, -he has
often been heard to say, and good and able men at the
head of her'afiairs, be would still move in the tumble
-sphere of usefulness so congenial to the social -habits of
his life and his retiring disposition. The stir, the bustle,
the .confusion and strife of political contests have no
charms for him. But when the voice of the people calls
him,- us their chosen agent, to assert and vindicate their
rights, to oppose theunhallowed projects of speculation,
to repress the wicked aspirations of the -ambitious, to re-
- store our -currency, depreciated by unwise legislation, to
a sound and heafiby state, and to establish upon a perma-
nent basis our national independence, he forgets his own
interest and sacrifices the peace and happiness attendant
upon a private station, for the assumption of higher and
paramount duties. Instead of trying to increase his own
limited means, and creato for his family a comfortable
support, he is willing to seize the helm of government,
conduct the vessel of state through the breakers that sur-
round her on every side, and dedicate to bis country, his
time, his energies and his talents For his reward, he
looks not to the mean gratification of party -applause, to
.ephemeral fame, or ambition, but to the innate conscious-
ness f having exerted, to the utmost, his influence and
abilities in accelerating the advancement of the Republic
to the high destiny to which, by wisdom, prudence and'
economy, she must' ultimately arrive.
A Profitable Business. The profits of the Connecti-
cuYstate prison, this year, has been 85.000. If all tho
banks were tamed into state prisons, and their officers
made to work, they might" make better dividends than
they do.
THE TELEGRAPH.
"i -"EDITED BY FRANCIS MOORE, Jr.
Houston, Wednesday? Hug. 4, 1841.
FOR PRESIDENT,
DAVID G. BUKNET.
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT,
EDWARD BURLESON.
On another page will be found an interesting tabular
view of the Receipts of Customs, the Exports and net
revenue of the Republic. It is worthy of notice, that in
this estimate the net revenue of the Ports of Galveston,
Velasco, Matagorda and La Baca, is more than thirty
times greater than that of the Eastern Ports of Sabine
and San Augustine: and yet the eastern sections are con-
sidered far more populous and wealthy than the western.
If the eastern counties contained only half the population
of the western, still the disparity in the taxation by the
customs, would be enormous. There is another item
deserving attention. The whole exports of the Republic
for the year 1840, are estimated at only 9220,401 15,
while the imports are estimated at 81,373,568 98. This
great disparity can. hardly be accounted for upon the
grounds that the emigration to the country has been so
great, that the excess of the imports over the exports has
been supplied by the money or other articles of value
brought in by them. Nor has this excess been supplied
by the cattle, horses, mules, &c. driven from the Republic
by land, and of which no account has been taken at any
of the custom houses. We have reason to fear a large
portion of it stands as a debt contracted against the Repub-
lic, which will have to be paid by the products of the
country. In addition to this private debt, we have about
87,500,000 public debt. How important, therefore, is it,
that our public expenditures should be reduced, and the
strictest economy .adopted in regard to the affairs of gov-
ernment. If the people, blind to their own interests,
rashly elect a careless, dissipated and extravagant Presi-
dent, this debt may annually increase to an alarming ex-
tent, and bow down the people with a burthen of taxes,
that will check emigration, chill the very spirit of enter-
prise, and fetter the energies of the Republic for years.
The Franco Texienne Bill. We are glad to find
that this odious "bill of abominations," ha3 met with a
general burst of popular indignation from every section of
the Republic. The candidates for Congress, are, we be-
lieve, almost to a man opposed to it. Even in the Coun-
ty of San Augustine, where the advocates of Houston
expected the greatest triumph, the candidates censure it
and its advocates in the most unmeasured terms. They
appear to consider that its advocates can be actuated by
no better motives, than either the most egregious folly,
treachery or base cowardice. When the opposition to
this bill is so bitter and so general, we wonder how the
advocates of Gen. Houston can sustain him for fathering
it, and defending it with his utmost ability, even in its ori-
ginal and most dangerous shape. Let those who regard
this bill as a project to charter away Texas to become a
French colony, remember that Houston was its main
advocate.
More Falsehoohs. It is a singular fact, that a part
of Judge Burnet's enemies are industriously circulating
reports that he is so connected with the administration that
he is in a measure answerable for all its misconduct: and
another part are circulating a report that he is so hostile
to the present administration, that even Gen. Lamar does
not speak to him, and is determined to vote for Houston.
This latter report was even circulated in Houston a few
days since. We wish these conflicting reports could be
circulated in all sections alike, for then we should be re-
lieved -from the necessity of contradicting either, as they
would contradict themselves. The fact is, however,
neither is correct. Judge Burnet being merely Vice-
President, has no control in the administration, and has so
little iufluence that his opposition to thq Santa Fe Expe-
dition had no weight, and indeed he does not attempt to in-
terfere in the administration of government. The faults
and the merits of the present administration, should rest
where they belong, upon the administration itself, and not
for base electioneering purposes be thrown on Judge Bur-
net. As for Gen. Lamar, whether he is friendly or un-
friendly to Judge Burntt, we do not feel authorized to say:
but so far from voting for Gen. Houston, he lately made
a declaration to a gentleman in this city to the effect that
he could as soon think of voting for the arch fiend, as for
the man who had so vilely traduced him.
Mexico. Many persons at the West are anxious to
renew the war with Mexico: if, however, they could be
fully apprised of her situation, they would content them-
selves to wait and see her fall by political suicide. Her
headstrong government is pursuing a policy that is rapid-
ly hastening her total ruin. By attempting to force the
states favorable to Federalism, to submit to Centralism,
she is gradually breaking up the confederacy ; and as
the insurrectionary spirit extends towards the capital her
resources as gradually diminish. She has never been
more weak than at the present. In the South, besides the
provinces of Yucatan and Tobasco, the adjoining provin
ces of Chiapas and Oajaca, have revolted, and are now
completely severed from the confederacy. In Mechoacan.
a province adjoining Mexico, the bandit Gusman at the
head of a large band of outlaws, wields almost despotic
sway, and has long set the power of the government at
defiance. This province, therefore, may be considered as
in fact severed from the confederacy. In lower Califor-
nia it is rumored, that Urrea has acquired control of the
whole province. In the North, the provinces of Tamau-
lipas, Coahuila, Upper California, Santa Fe or new Mex-
ico, New Leon, arc controlled by Arista, and probably
also Durango, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi, Chihua-
hua, is powerless on account of the hostility of the. formi
dable hordes of Commanches and Apaches, that hover
around it waiting for an opportunity to desolate its whole
extent In Vera Cruz the federal party has gained such
an ascendency, that the government is compelled to keep
a large military force constantly under arms, to prevent
insurrection. If Texas should at this time renew hostili-
ties, she could hardly strike a blow without injuring some
of the very enemies of the Central government; and by
this means might compel those enemies to seek the protec-
tion of the government they are now striving to pull down.
Every motive of prudence and sound policy, admonishes
us to remain silent and inactive spectators of the revolu-
tion that is now in progress in that distracted country.
Some may urge that our government should aid the revo
lutionists, and thus still farther weaken our enemy.
when wo take into view our own resources, and. the Vo I
poverished condition of the government, we can feel little
enthusiasm in urging forward expeditions that arc merely
to benefit the enemy and' increase the national debt, with-
out extending our own territory or augmenting ouc
revenues.
The Editor of the Colorado Gazette pretends that Gen.
Houston is in favor of "lopping off all supernumerary
officers." If this were the case, why did Gen. Houston
oppose the retrenchment bills that were proposed in Con-
gress to diminish the national expenditures? Is not the
Editor oftho Colorado Gazette aware that his vote stands
recorded against these retrenchment bills? If General
Houston were a friend of retrenchment, why did he keep
so many sinecures filled during his administration? Is
it not well known that while President, he had in service
an Inspector General, an Adjutant General, -a Quarter-
master General, a Commissary General of Purchases, a
Commissary General of Subsistence, a Paymaster Gen-
eral, a Surgeon General, and a host of other useless offi-
cers, whose aggregate expenses were greater than the
whole tax collected in the "Republic ? Such was the
waste of public money even during his administration,
that, according to the books of the Comptroller, the ex-
penses of government had amounted on the 10th of De-
cember, 1838, (when Houston's term expired,) to about
$3,759,571,00: whereas, if the supernumerary officers had.
been lopped off, and a proper system of economy adopted,
the expenses of Houston's administration ought not to
have exceeded 8500,000. ' Judge Burnet is the only
President who really practised retrenchment During
the few weeks that he lately held the office of President,
he did more towards retrenching the national expendi-
tures, than was done during the whole administration o,f
Houston and Lamar. It is for this reason, probably, thai
so many office-seekers are opposed to him, and endeavor-
ing by every stratagem, to render him unpopular with
the people. Wc trust, however, the independent voters
of Texas have too much discernment to be deceivtd by
the falsehoods that are intended only to prejudice them
against their own best interests, f
Lost Subscribers. We understand some wiseacres
have lately been circulating a report, that we have los t
upwards of a thonsand subscribers, owing to our opposinjr
the election of Gen. Houston. We have lost only nine
subscribers, owing to this cause, viz; Thomas F. Mc
Kinney, Dr. Hunter, Thomas Trimmer, A. McFaddeu,
J. Bartlett, T. J. Rucker, James Walker, J. D. Burkis,
and H. Higgins.
The first two have paid up all dues, the remainder at e
all in arrears. If there are any more of our subscribers,
who wish the Telegraph discontinued for similar reason:-,
we shall be glad to accommodate them, provided thoy
imitate the example of the two gentlemen first named, in
the above list-r-by paying up all dues. We assure oujr
subscribers we wish the patronage of none who desire to
control our political sentiments; we ever have been free,
and we are determimd while we continue to edit the
Telegraph, to express our own views and sentiments
of public men, and public measures, with perfect indepen-
dence. No man or set of men, shall turn us from tho
path of duty; we would sooner dig roots with one hand,
than be dependent upon a set of grovelling, sycophantic
partizans for support. And if there are any such who
wish to intimidate or bias us by the childish threat "stop
my paper," we can only say to them this threat is always
welcome, when it is accompanied by money due upo'n
past subscriptions.
Within the period that we lost the above mentione i
subscribers, we received more than a hundred new sufc--scriptions.
We have not the illiberality, however, to be -lieve
this was owing to our opposing Gen Houston. W-c
are rather inclined to believe that it was owing in part,
to the fact that the Telegraph is the oldest, largest and
cheapest paper in the Republic. Possibly the manner in
which it is conducted might have had some influence in
securing approbation. In returning our thanks to the
patrons who have so generously come forward to sustain
us in this season, when the country is suffering under
such uncommon pecuniary" embarrassments; we will avail
ourselves of the opportunity to assure them, that we
shall spare no pains to furnish our columns with a large
share of interesting and aluable information, which will
be found useful to all classes of citizens, whatever maybe
their political opinions.
The Mails. We were not a little surprised to notice:
in the last number of the Redlander, an angry communica-
tion from our old friend A. Sterne, Esq , relative to the
article we published some weeks since, in which we
causually mentioned, that we feared some rascally Post
master had stopped the mail; Mr. Sterne it seems is
Postmaster at Nacogdoches, and he thinks the ''classic
and chaste name of rascal," should not be applied to
Postmasters, mails, &c. We cordially agree with him
in this opinion, so far us it may relate to him, or indeed
any Postmaster on the route to San Augustine. We are
glad, however, though it stirred up the angry feeling of
our old friend Sterne, that it elicited from him the im-
portant information, "that there is at least a large horse
load of mail left at Cincinnati, for the Eastern counties,
which the mail boy could not take, because the mail bags
wire crammed full, and his mule could not take any
more. There remains now at the Post Office in Nacorj-
doches, many packages of newspapers for the Northern
and Red River counties, which the mail boy could not
carry on his mule."
As Mr. Mayfield, the Secretary of State, :s now in that
section, we hope he will take cognisance of the fact, and
make the nquisite anangements to distribute the mails
that thave thus bt en permitted to accumulate.
We learn by the Red-Lander, that an affray occurred
in that place on the 16th ult., in which a Mr. Phifer was
severely wounded by a Mr. George Martin, with a bowie
knife. We had begun to indulge the hope that the villain-
ous reign of the bowie knife had ceased in that place, and
that the citizens had taken efficient measures to ferret out
the miscreants who with the bowie knife and pistol had
completely prostrated the character and credit of that
beautiful city. It is worthy of Temark,' however, that
this is the only affray of the kind that has occurred during
several months, and the prompt measures that were taken,
to secure the offender, and the general sentiment of indig-
nation that pervaded the community, will, wo sincerely
hope, tend to prevent a repetition of a similar offence
The editor of the Red-Lander has taken a noble stand in
this instance. He says:
'But one feeling and sentiment pervaded the minds of
every good citizen in the community, on this occasion ;
and that was, that the heavy vengeance of the law should
be. visited upon the head of the aggressor, if found guilty.
This is a warning to him and to all otheis, who degrade
But 1 themselves by carrying deadly weapons, and giving way
to the worst passions on every slight occasion. They
may rest assured that crime cannot stalk abroad in the
land at this time, and go unpunished. Times have
changed, and all fop the better; we would as soon com-
mit murder in the most rigid law abiding states at this
time, as in this country ; for we believe a large propor-
tion of our citizens feel a deep interest in enforcing the
law in criminal cases. It will be tbe industrious yeo-
manry of the country who will hereafter have the arbitra
ment of these desperate casts; they have substantial
interests in the country, and will preserve her moral
character. Standing jurors can never again disgrace our
courts, or witnesses suborned to save the guilty from
punishment.
We are rejoiced to hear such sentiments expressed by
i our worthy coadjutor, and we are still more rejoiced to
' find that the community in which he resides, sustains him
', in the course he is pursuing. The people of that section
J have at length become convinced that their property has
depreciated in value to an alarming extent, by the bloody
I broils of a set of drunken, thieving gamblers, who for a
season held sway in the streets and grog-shops of that
' city. These scoundrels have been driven away, and the
citizens are wisely taking the proper steps to prevent their
, return. By thus promptly dragging to the bar of justice
every offender who resorts to the bowie knife or pistol in
giving vent to his fiendish passions, they are laying the
foundations of a good name that will tend more to ad-
j vance the prosperity of their city than the emigration of
a thousand such wretches, who instead of augmenting the
wealth of a community, invariably prove mere consumers
of the products of the industrious and honest citizen.
The following extract from a letter, that we lately re
ceived from a highly intelligent gentleman of Galveston,
will serve to show the effect that the late indiscretions of
Houston have had even among his friends in that city.
It must be mortifying to those friends in the extreme,
p. Iter all their efforts to keep the old gentleman decent, at
least, till the period of election, to find him thus giving
way to the loathsome vice that is apparently hurrying
him to the grave. If at this critical juncture, when his
own election in a manner hangs upon his conduct, and
vrith the untiring exertions of his friends, who have been
like a body guard around him, he will still break through
all restraints and indulge in the most gross intoxication,
what have we to hope when he is placed in the Execu-
tive chair, when so many new temptations will be thrown
around him, and when all restraint will be removed ?
We refer to this subject with deep regret, for we have
been among the warmest admirers and friends of Gen.
Houston. The back files of the Telegraph will show
with what cordiality and disinterested zeal we sustained
him ; but now, that we find him so changed, so prostra
ted, we should feel recreant to duty and to patriotism, if
we should join in with his kind but misguided friends in
concealing his true situation. It is our high and impera-
tive duty to publish truth, and we shall do it fearlessly.
If with a full knowledge of the true situation of this in-
dividual, the people can elect him to the high office he
seeks, upon their own heads be the consequences. We
shall at least have the consolation, that we have discharg-
ed our duty.
Extract of a letter from Galveston dated July 31, 1841.
The Houstonites begin to tremble here. Lately, hardly
a man dare avow his opposition, but now, you.hardly meet
a Houston man. The change is going on most rapidly, and
I believe his recent drunken frolic has lost him 50' votes
in this city. His friends begin to think that his rotten
reputation cannot be an' longer bolstered up, and they
despair of keeping him in training till the election. All
his temperance promises and resolutions, are as evanes-
cent as the waves of the ocean, and he is destined to
"Resolve and re-resolve, and die the same."
If tHo retriru-u.i lor which he no wrfs""are;insufficiear
to keep him within any reasonable limits, what would he
become after the achievement of the victory? But bis
chances for that are daily waning, like snow before the
sun.
We have often heard it stated, that Gen.;.Houston was
opposed to the issuing of patents to land, and the obstinate
resistance he made to every act of Congress tending to
aid the settlers in securing their titles, afforded pretty
strong proof of his opposition to the issuing of patents.
The following article, however, furnishes evidence di-
rectly to the point. The statements here made by Col.
Robert Smith, (whose character for veracity is above
impeachment,) should be well pondered by our citizens
We should like also for some of Gen. Houston's friends
to explain by what right he claims two headlights.
From the Austin Sentintl.
The General Lano Office of Texas. This
office is a large, wellarranged and most necessary depart-
ment of the government It is situated next door to the
Sentinel office upon Congress avenue, and owing to our
contiguity to it, we have frequent opportunity of witness-
ing its whole arrangement Besides the indefatigable
Commissioner General, there are about a dozen clerks
engaged in the different duties of the office some in trans-
lating, others in map making, recording, comparing field
notes, and filling up land patents. To walk through tbe
ample apartments of this office, and see each of its officers,
like clock work, pursuing his own special duty it look3
the very personification of industry, and reminds one, to
use a homely similitude, much of the complicated yet or-
derly operations of a spinning factory. The demand for
land patents increases from all parts of the Republic, and
so soon as connected maps from all counties shall be re-
ceived, double the number of clerks will be necessary to
supply them, for the whole country is anxious to obtain
their final titles, which it is hoped will save endless and
ruinous litigation.
It is the boast of Gen. Houston, that during his Presi-
dential term, he vetoed all the laws authorizing the issu-
ing of land patents ; and a few days ago we were inform-
ed by Col. Robert Smith, of Nacogdoches, and other
gentlemen of unquestionable veracity, that when Gen.
Houston was in the Red Lands electioneering, he held
up his right arm and called the ''Eternal to witness, that
if that hand should ever sign a patent, he hoped God
might strike it Irom his body." We are among those
who believe that the early issuing of patents will tend in
a vast measure to quiet litigation, and secure the peace-
able possession of every citizen's home. General Hous-
ton is of a different opinion, which opinion does appear so
extraordinary to us, that we are bound to believe it is in-
stigated by a selfish and most unholy principle. Gen.
Houston and partner, Philip A. Sublit, have eleven league
claims, as the books of our land office show, to a large
amount, and if patents issue, honest settlers will get their
headrights where these iniquitous claims overspread a
large tract of country upon Red river and the Trinity.
Besides these unjust and mammoth claims, the books
of our land office show that on the 9th of January, 1833,
Gen. Houston obtained a grant for a headright league of
land in Austin's colony, on the West side ot Carancahua
bayou, and East of Keller's bay. (See printed abstract of
land titles, page 24 ) And on the 5th of May, 1835, in
Burnet's colony, a headright of one-fourth of a league,
situated on the West side of Sand bayou. (Seo abstract
of land titles, page 115) We ask the question, by what
liw did Sam Houston obtain two headrights in Texas?
By what justice did he slip from one colony to another,
and practice these frauds ? We say frauds, because the
second headright was clearly a fraud, having previously
obtained one; and lxe first was a fraud, because he was
only entitled to one-fourth of a leairue, having no fimily
in the country unless it was that he claimed his Chero
kee wife and her children which according to the ritual
of the church and the law of the land, he had no right tc
claim. The forms of Cherokee marriage in the moun-
tains of East Tennessee or the forest .of Arkansas, are un--.
known either in the laws of Coahuila and Texas, or up-
on the statude books of our Republic We do confess that
we have viewed.this outrage upon decency and the laws
of the land, with the indignant-feelings of a freeman; and
more especially so, wnen mis mpiviauai ana nis reckless
partizans charge Judge Burnet with land speculating,,
when the books of the land office show that he has never
yet obtained a title to his own headright, although he is
one of the oldest citizens of the country, and his family
has been here some fourteen years. l
We are beginning to believe with the Telegraph that
the editor of the Austin City Gazette's perceptions of right
and wrong have become much less strong since the ad-
ministration commenced feeding him with Treasury pap.
He gets so much of it that his cheeks are growing out of
all proportion. They are covering his eyes. There was
n time when the absence of government patronage kept
him alive to infractions of law, which it is his duty to
hold up to the public gaze; hut he seems to have goneto
sleep at his post He has not now to depend upon indivi-
dualsor the success of his paper. Colorado Gazette.
LATEST FROM THE WEST. - '
We understand from Mr. Lindsey, who arrived in-
town to-day from Bexar, that our Commissioners, Messrs.
Van Ness," Seguin and Morris, who have been despatch-
ed to Gen. Arista, were pursued from the Presidio oftho-
Rio Grande, by a party of one hundred and fifty Indian's
and Mexicans, but fortunately reached the interior without
being overtakm. A small party of traders with wagons,
weie robbed by Mexicans a few days since on the Plata.
Capt. Hays with his company, had reached "the jjlace
where he killed the seven Indians, and entering the CaH-
on, found the main camp broken up. He continued on
the trail, and it is expected he i ill overtake the Indians.
His force is sufficient to defeat them. Mr Lindsev also
states that he saw a letter which Arista addressed to Cas-
tro, chief of the Lipans; from the tenor'of it, there can be.
no doubt but that Arista has acted towards this govern
ment with the characteristic duplicity so common to the
Mexicans. Sentinel.
In the following estimate, we think tbe majority al-
lowed for Burnet in the county of Nacogdoches too large,
but the majorities allowed in several of the other coun-
ties may be sufficiently small to supply the deficiency.
Austin, July 13r 1841.
Editor of the Texas Sentinel
Sir Having travelled over a large portion of Texas,
and being anxious to ascertain public sentiment in relation
to the next Presidential election, I have made diligent en-
quiry, not only in the counties through which I travelled,
but also others, from which I have had a good opportuni-
ty of hearing. The following table is the result of my en-
quiries. I have submitted it to several impartial and in-
telligent gentlemen from different portions of the Repub-
lic, who concur in the opinion, that if I have erred, it is
against Judge Burnet
I cannot help but remark, sir, that the most astonishing-
thing in this whoiecanvass, in the manner in which Judge
Burnet's friends for a while, permitted "themselves to be
humbugged into a belief that Gen. Houston's popularity
was overwhelming. When you Jiear them talk, they at
once cite you to his overwhelming popularity as they
call it in the counties oi Harris, Galveston, Shelly, San
Augustine, Montgomery and Washington; all of this is
admitted in the subjoined table, and still it shows an aggre-
gate majority in favor of Burnet, of 2,640 votes. My
candid opinion is, that the flood' tide of Gen. Houston's po-
pularity, which commenced its ebb about two months '
since, will continue to recede, until itiwi'IUeave him ina'
much smaller minority of votes than I have here set down
for him. The reason of this is plain. There were a vast
many voters in the country who were opposed to Gen.
Housion, but who were silent, with the view of taking
their choice in the candidates who might oppose him, '
when they should all be.placed before the people. These
are now concentrating upon Judge'BnrneL 1 am, 'very
respeciiuuy, your oo i senri,
S.
counties.
Shelby,
FOR -BURNET.
- 150 '- -
- 50 -"
175 -
V
FOR HOUSTON.
- 300 '
- 275
I Sabine, - -
San Augustine,
Jefferson,
Jasper,
Galveston,
Harris,
Houston, -
Burnet,
Robertson,
Montgomery,
Nacogdoches,
-i;
150 -
- 50 "'
150 ' '
- 300
- 500
- '200
- 50
- 100
- 400"
- 150
2G75'2675'
'200 -
100 -
250 -200
" -'
100 -
100 -
200 -
600 -
Aggregate in East. Texas, 2,275 2275
Brazoria, - - - 250
Fort Bend, - - 75
Austin, - - - 100,-, -
300,
200
200
400
75
125,
125
-100.,
50 '
25
200
- 25
- 75
100
150
25
- 25
- 10
'2210 2210
Washington & Navasoto 250
Milam, - - - 75 s -
Travis, - - - 225
Bastrop, - - - . 300 -
Favette, - - - 350
Colorado, - - -.200
Ward. - 150
Matagorda, - - 200 , - t
Jackson, - - - 150
Victoria, - - - 300 . - . -
Gonzales, - - 250 - ' -
Bexar, - - - 300"
San Patricio, - - 75
Refugio, - - - 150
Goliad, - - - 50
Aggregatevoteofthc mst.3450 3450 '
Tbe coun ties of Fannin, ht.-
mar, Red River, Bowie,
Harrison, Paschal, and
Panola, lying on Red Ri-
ver; and the new district
taken from Louisana, will
-vole 2300 2300
8025
5385
Majority for Burnet 2640
BOO BOO
5385
THIS YEAR'S COTTON IN MARKET.
On the 29th of July, Maj. T. S. Howard, formerly
from Mississippi, now residing in Washington County,
Texas, brought to this market the "first fruits" of the cot-
ton fields for 1841. A handsome price in advance of the
market was paid for it, by our enterprising fellow-citizen
A. S. Ruthven, Esq., of the English Importing House;
and the merchants ganerally, united, as will be seen by
the proceedings of their meeting, in offering a suitable
compliment to the enterprise of Maj. Howard. . This
action on the part of Houston merchants, exhibits them
in their true light, as liberal, high-minded, far-sighted
business men, and should satisfy planters that in Houston,
at least as good terms will be offered for cotton as in any
market in Texas.
The resolution proposing premiums for 1842, was con-
ceived in wisdom and will have the most beneficial ten-
dency. Destiny has willed it that Houston should be the
great interior cotton mart of the nation, and all the petty
spites of the petty rivals in Texas, can neither gainsay
nor resist it Houston has the advantages conferred by na-
ture, and superadded to them, she has those which-indomitable
preseverance, energy and wealth, hold at com-
mand. Even in these iron times, her trade is increasing,
and appearance improving-, and while our merchants
continue to manifest the same public spirit shown on tho
occasion mentioned above, Houston has nothing fo fear
her prosperity is certain. Star.
MEETING OF MERCHANTS.
At a meeting of the merchants of the city of Houston,
held in the Counting House of J. M. Robinson, on Mon-
day, 2nd August, 1841.
"Mr. A. S. Ruthven was called to the chair, and A. J.
Burke, appointed Secretary.
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