Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 11, Ed. 1, Thursday, March 15, 1849 Page: 2 of 4
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9
' in the presence of Iho corpse of our friend of oar
own corpse discussing, like a peaceful assembly of
philosophers succeeded our last sigh ; dying more happy
than Danton who will live than Robespierre who will
triumph. Whence, then arises this calmness in our
discourse, and this serenity in o'nronls"! "'Is it not in
us the result of a feeling that we have performed a
great duty toward humanity? What is our country
What is "humanity ? " Is it this mass of animated
dust which is today man, ta-morrowa heap of clay ?
No, it is not for this living clod of earth it is for the
spirit of humanity and our fatherland that we die.
What arc we ourselves but atoms of the collective
spirit oP the human race ? Each of the men who
compose our species has an immortal spiri imperish-
able, and confounded with that soul of his country,
and mankind, for-which it is so sweet, so glorious, to
deviate ourselves to suffer, and to die. "It is for
this reason," continued ho, "that we are not sublime
dupes, but beiugs who obey their moral mstiuct ; and
who, when they have fulfilled their duty, will live,
suffered or enjoy more immortality the destinies of
humanity. Let us die, then, not with confidence, but
serenity. Our concsience is our guide in this-mighty
trial ; our judge, the great Eternal, whose name is
sought for by' ages, and to whose designs we are sub-
servient as tools which he breaks in thework, but
whose fragments fall at his feet. Death is but the
greatest act of life, since it gives birth to a higher state
of existence. Were it not thus," added he, more
solemnly, "there would be something greater than
God. It would be the just man immolating himself
uselessly and hopelessly for his country. This sup-
position is a folly of blasphemy, and I repel it -with
contempt or horror. No ! Vergniaud is not greater
than God, but God is more just than Vergniaud, and
will not to-morrow suffer him to ascend a scaffold, but
to justify and avenge him in future ages."
Fauchet made au eloquent discourse on tho Passion
comparing theirdeath to Calvary. They were all
much moved, and many wept.
Vergniaud reconciled in a few words all different
opinions. "Let us believe what we will," said he,
"but let us die certain of our life and the price of our
death. .Let us each sacrifice what we possess, tho
one his doubt, the other bis faith, all of us our blood,
. for liberty. When man offers himself as victim, to
Heaven, what more can he give ?"
Daylight began to stream in at the window. "Let
ns go to bed," said Ducos; "life is so trifling a thing
thatitisnot worthjthe hour of sleep we lose in regret-
ting it." "Let ub watch," said Lasource to Sillery
and Fluchet ; "eternity is so certain and so terrible
that a thousand lives would not suffice to prepare for
it." They roso from table and re-entered their cham-
bers, where most of them threw themselves on their
beds.
Thirteen remained in the larger dungeon ; some
conversed in whispers, others wept, some slept. At
eight o'clock they were allowed to walk about in the
corridors. The Abbe Lambert, the pious friend of
iinssot, who had passed the night at the door of their
dungeon, was still awaiting permission to communi-
cate with them. Brissot pcrceiviug him, sprang for-
ward and clasped him in his arms. Tho priest offered
him the assistance of his to soften or sanctify death,
but Brissot gratefully but firmly refused. "Do you
know anj'lhhig more holy than the death of honest
man, who dies for having refused the blood of his fel-
low creatures to wretches? said he. TheAbbesaid
nolhiug more.
Lasource, who had witnessed thejntervrcw, approach-
ed Brissot. "Do you not believe," said he to him, "in
the immorality of your soul and the Providence of
God?" "1 do believe in them," returned Brissot ;
"and it is because I believe in them that I am about
to die." "Well," replied Lasource, "there is but a
step from thence to religion. I, the minister of an-
other faith, Jiave never so much admired the ministers
of yours as in these dungeons into which they bring
the pardon of Heaven to the condemned. In your
place I should confess. Brissot made no reply, but
joined Vergniaud, and claimed the aid of the priest.
Some sat on the stone parapets, others walked about
arm in arm ; some knelt at the priest's feet and re-
ceived absolution after a brief confession of their faults.
All awaiting calmly the signal for their departure,
and resembled by their attitude a halt previous to the
battle.
The Abbe Emery, although a uon juring priest,
had obtained permission to see Faucher at the gran-
ting that 6eperated the court from tho corridor, and
there listoued to and absolved and penitent, listened to
the confession of Sillery, aud bestowed on his friend
the divine pardon he had just received.
At 10 o'clock the executioners came to prepare
them for the scaffold. Geusonno, picking up a lock
of his black hair, gave it to tho Abbe Lambert, and
begged him to give it to his wife, whose residence he
named. "Tell her it is all I can send her of my re-
mains, and that my last thoughts in death were hers."
Verjjniand drew his watch from his pocket, scratched
with'a pin some initials, and the dato of the 30th of
October, in the inside of the gold case, and gave it
to one the assistants to transmit it to a young girl to
whom ho was tenderly attached, and whom it is said
he had intended to marry.
All had a Hame, a regret, a friudship; all had some
souvenir of themsolves to send to thosoj they left on
earth. The hope of a remembrance here is the last tie
that binds the dying to life.
Theso mysterious legacies were all duly deliver-
ed. When all was ready, and the last lock of hair had
fallen onhe stones of thedungon, the executioners
and gendarmes made the condemed march in column
to the court of the Palace, were five carts, sourroun-
ded by au immense crowd, awaiting them. The mo-
ment they emerged from the Couciergeie, the Giron-
dists burst into the Marsaillaise laying stre33 on these
verses, which contained a double meaning:
"Contra nous de lay tyrannic
L'ctcEdardjJsangiat est live."
-From this moment they erased to think of them-
selves, in order to think of tho example of the death
of republicans they wished to leave the people.
Their voices 6ank at tho end of each veroe. Each
cart-contained four, with the exception of the last, iu
which lay the body of Valaze. His head, shaken by
fie concussion over the stones, swayed to and fro be-
fore his friends, who were forced to close their eyes to a-
void seeing his livid features, but who still joined in the
strain. On the arrival at the scaffold they all em-
braced, in token of community in liberty,. life and
death, and then resumed their funeral chant. All
died without weakness. Rillery, with Irony, afrer as-
cending the platform, walked round, saluted thepco-
pie, as though he thanked them for his glory anddeath.
The hymn became feebler at each fall of the axe ;
one voice still continued it, that of Vergmaud, execu-
ted the last Like his companions, he did not die,
but passed away in enthusiasm, and hh life, commen-
cing by immortal orations ended by a hymn to tho e-
ternity of the Revolution.
One cart bore away their bodies, and one grave, by
the side of that of Louis XIV, received them.
Somo years afterward, in searching the archives of
the parsiii of La Madeline, the bill of the ffrave digger
of the the commune was found with the order oi tht
President on the National Treasury of its payment
"Twenty two deputies of Girouce ; the coffins, 148
francs ; expenses of interment, 63 francs ; total,
210 francs.
Such was thr priceof the shovelsfall of earth that
covered the foueders of the Republic. Never did Es-
chylnsor Shakspeare invent a more better derison of
fate than this bill of a grave digger, demanding and
receiving his pay for having alternately buried ull tho
Monarchy and the Republic of a mighty nation.
The editor, Mrs. Kirkland, now in Europe,
has a letter giving her "London. Experien-
ces," from which we extract the following
passages:
.Pretty children one sees in abundance ev-
erywhere and so nicely kept I It seems to
us, that no body knows so well how to care
for the physique of children as the English.
They feed them with the simplest possible
food, andare astonished when they hear that
our young folks share the rich, heavy, high-
seasoned dishes oflheir parents. Oat-meal
porridge is considered a suitable breakfast
for infant royalty itself; and a simple dinner
. at one o'clock, the proper thing for children
whose parents dine sumptuously at seven.
Exercise is considered one of Iho necessaries
of life; and a daily walk or ride (not drive) in
tho fresh air, the "proper form of it. It might
be superfluous to notice "anything so obvious,
if it were not that so many people in good
circumstances, with us neglect this, and keep
their children immured in nurseries, or coop-
ed up in school-rooms, with no thought of ex-
- ercise in the open air as a daily requisite.
'"We wish nothing so mueh for these benight-
ed parents, as they should once become ac-
quainted with the habits and principles of a
well-ordered English nursery. A reform in
that quarter is much needed among us, and we
'"ithow of no people so well able to be our in-
structors, as the English, who have certainly
jrought the nursevy system to great pertec-
tion, both as respects the comfort and advan-
tage of parents and children.
THE AXE AND THE SAW.
Early one spring morning, when the sun had scarce-
ly melted the hoar frost from the brown face of tho
wrinkled earth, an old axe happened to fall in with a
saw. There wa3 a 'cutting air' abroad, that threat-
ened the newly shaven chin with chaps! Ah! my
old blade!' said the Axe, 'how goes it with you? I
came purposely to see hoiv yon do.' 'I really feel
much obliged to you,' said tho Saw, 'but am sorry to
say that my teeth are very bad. My master has sent
for the doctor, who, 'twixt you and mo and the post,
is no better than 'an old file.' I was in the workshop
last night where,' 'Where, no doubt, you saw a
great deal.' facetiously interrupted the Axe.
Tho Saw showed his teeth in a sort of grim be-
twixt melancholy aud mirth, and resumed.
Why, I may with some truth, aud I consider it
no more than a duty I owe Mr. Carpenter, to do as
much I can, in spite of my teeth, for he is liberal- in
point ofboard.'
'And do you never grow rusty?' .asked the
Axe.
No with overwork,' replied the Saw, 'and indeed
I have always found that constant employment best
preserves our polish, which, after all, is only artificial.'
im. 1 ou aro quite a piniraopiier. .
'iNot exactly so; lor 1 someiimes ao grow excee-
ding!' hot and lose my temper.,
'And what says your master?'
Why he generally desists awhile and I soon grow
cool again, and then I cut away like a razor through
a piece of mottled soap?'
'You are a happy fellow,' said the Axe 'How dif-
ferently am I situated! My master is a chopping boy,
with a thick block, which is tautumouut to sayingho
is a fat fool. He is very sliarp with me sometimes;
and when he finds I am inclined to be blunt, he grinds
me most cruelly.'
'Alas!' cried "the Saw; 'it's the way of tho world
my friend; for I have invariably remarked, that tho
rich always grind the poor for the sake of tho 'chips.'
'Bravo!' exclaimed the Axe
You seo I've not lived in the world all this timq
withou t gettiug a notch or two, said the Saw.
'Nor I either,' replied the Axe; although,'in obtain-
ing the said notches, I have not only lost my courage
but a portion of my inula!, too!'
'Well, I never saw!' exclaimed my friend; 'how
you talk! I am sure your teeth do not give you any
trouble, at any rate.'
'Lax your pardou, old boy,' remonstrated tho Axe;;
'for, although I do not complain of my teeth exactly
my chops give me a pretty considerable de al of trou-
ble, I can tell you.'
The Saw grinned approval of the Axe's wit
. 'Peace!' exclaimed the Axe. 'Here comes Mr.
Carpenter; so 'don't show your teeth till you cau
bite,' I believe that is the maxim of a relation of
yours?'
Not a relation,' said the other: 'though they are
the words of a wis? old Saw. Scientific American.
Some ycare since, when money was scarce and al-
most evfry thing was done iu the way of trade, a man
named Jones called into the grocery aud dry goods
store of Mr. Brown, and asked for a darning needle,
and offered in exchange au egg. After recieving the
needle, Jenes said:
Come, sir, ain't you going to treat? '
'What, on trade?' inquired Brown.
'Certainly, a trade is a trade, let it be big or little.
' Well what will you take?'
'A glass of wine,' said Jones.
The wine was poured out when tho spong said,
'would it ba asking too much to request you to put an
egg in this wiue? I am very fond of egg and wine.'
Appalled by the man's meanness, the grocer took
the identical egg which ho had recieved for the darn-
ing needle, aud handed it to his customer, who, in
breaking it into his wiue glass, discovered that it con-
tained a double yolk.
'Look here,' said the sponge, 'can't you think you
ought to give me another needlo; you see this is a
double egg!'
'.It a stand.' "Who, but an Irishman,' writes dis-
tinguished judicial friendj'subject as they are to an ex-
traordinary confusion of ideas, could give such an an-
swer as this?'
Court 'How fast were you driving, James?'
Witness ,Oh, very slow! your honor; very slow!'
Court 'But how slow, prayl'
Witness Wny your Ipuor, betiocen a walk and a
stand?
Court I don't understand that'
Brandy, of counsel, suggested that it was very plain.
'A hackinan's stand is alwavs on the walk."
Whitney's Riilroad. Oertain resolutions in relat-
ion to Mr. Whitney's Pacific Railroad, were indefinato-
ly postponed iu the House ef Delegates ofVirginia, on
the 7th instant, some gentleman having constitutional
scruples, and others regarding the subject as not per-
taining to the Virjnuia Legislature.
DODGING A MILITIA FINE.
Br THE YOUNG vs.
In days gone by, when the objectionable militia
laws were iu force in old Massachusetts, the custom-
ary draft was made in a country town a few miles
from Boston, and a notice to "appear armed and
eqaippcd,according to law," was left at tho boardiuo--houseofa
wag, who possessed very little martial
"music" irf his soul. Determined that he would nei-
ther "train" nor pay a fine, and entertaining, withal,
a very indifferent opinion of the utility of tho system,
he took no notice of the summons. Having been duly
"warned," however, as he anticipated, at the expir-
ation of a few weeks the sergant waited upon him
with a bill of nine shillings for non-attendance at the
muster. -
"-You're fined, sir nine shillings non appear-
ance." "What is it?" asked the wag, pretending to mis-
understand the collector.
"Fined for not training!" bawled the other. .
"Shau't pay it, fellow."
"It will ba three dollars next time I call."
But the wag could n't hear a word he said, and in
the course of another month he recieved a peremptory
summonds to appear forthwith at a court-mi rtial in
the district, instituted for the purpose of trying delin-
quents, aud collecting such fines as could be scared
out of the non performers of duty. Having fixed upon
a filial plan to dodge the issue, at the appointed hour
he wailed upon the court to 6how cause, if any he
had, why he should n't willingly have toted a musket
aud knapsack about the town for twelve mortal
hours, and otherwise perform the leagel annual duties
of a livo "patriot"
He was ushored iuto tho court-room immediately
which was held in an old country house whero he
discovered some threo or four persons seated, attired
in flashy regimentals, and whoso awful "yaller epo-
letts" alone were sufficient to command the attention
aud respect of tho profoundest beholder. Though
sometimes disconcerted at this rather unexpected ex-
hibition of spurs and button's, ITe put a bold face ou
tho matter, and responding to the directions of tho
junior member of the augtlsl court, he advnnced lo"Hio
table, and the chief functionary commenced tho
examination.
"Your name, sir?"
The offender placed his hand quickly to tho side
of his heid, withojt uttering a word or moving a
muscle in his face.
"What is your name?" repeated tha questioner, in
a loud tone.
"A little louder," said the wag, without replying.
"Name?" shouted tho Judge.
"Taunton, Bristol county."
"What business do yon follow?"
"Main street," said the delinquent.
'Your huisnesi!" 'ellcd the officer.
"Kight-hand-side as you go up."
"How long have you boen there?"
"Ab tut two miles and a half."
"How old aro you, fellow!" continued the Judge,
nervously.
"B03S carpenter."
"What tho devil's the matter with your ears?"
"Doctor Scaqno's oil, sometimes."
"What, sir!"
"Sometimes Cure 'em's ointment"
"Why don't you answer me?'
"Nearly fivo years."
"Ho'h as doaf as an adder." remarked the Judge,
turning around to hts subordinates, earnestly "Clear
the lubber out!"
"You are not liable to perform military duty," said
the secretary, with his mouth close to tho wag's
ear.
"I know that," said the fellow, coolly.
"His hearing improves," ventured tho sergeant.
"What do you snpposo we sit hero for?" asked tho
Judge, in a loud voice, at last.
"A dollar and a half a day," said the prisoner.
"He may go, Mr. Sergeaut."
"You can go" Baid the under officer, pointing to
the door.
But ourfrioiyl took no notico of tho order. "
" "You mat go .'" yelled the Judge. "Good God! is
it possible a man can be as deaf as all that?"
"I can't say, continued the delinquent, pretending
not to understand yet; butl think
"Go go !" screamed tho Judgo; "thore's nothing
to pay. Tho Lord pity tho general who had a regi-
ment like you to command! Show him the door ma-
jor;" and our hero soon fonnd himself at hborty.
He was nevor again summoned to train, duriug his
residence in Taunton! N. Y. Spirit.
THE TELEGRAPH.
EDITED BY FRANCIS MOORE, Jr.
Houston, Thursday, March 15, 1849.
The steam ship Fanny, Capt. Scott, arriv
ed at Galveston on the Glh inst., and brought
dates from New Orleans to the 4th inst.
A telegraphic dispatch of the Picayune
says that Horace Bitlney, of Pennsylvania, is
to be appointed Secretary of the Treasury ;
William H. Crawford, of Georgia, Secretary
of War, and Abbott Lawrence, of Massachu-
setts, Secretary of the Navy.
We notice no important change in the cot-
ton market. Prices remain unchanged, and
the market continues active. Middling is
quoted at G to G, good middling 6 to 6J.
A company of California emigrants com-
manded by Capt. Webb, sailed from New Or-
leans for the Brazos Santiago on the 3d inst.
on the Steamer Globe.
Col. Weller, commissioner to run the boun-
dary line between Mexico and the U. States,
sailed on the 2d inst., on the steam ship Capt.
Baker, for Chagres, with 25 men.
Tho Mississippi had risen to an almost unpreceden-
ted height ou the 5th inst, and fears wcro entertained
that it might inundate a portion of the City. Tho
Picayune says "that nineteen twentieths of the inhab-
itants of New Orleans feel a deep solicitude for the
safely of life and property, continually menaced by
the uninterrupted rise of the waters of the Mississippi.
"The recent movements of the municipal nuthor-
j ities, with tho Mayor at their head, have given ad-
j ditioual forco to tho impression that wo are iu im-
, miuent danger of au overflow. This impression, orig
inally created by the unexampled height to which
the river had suddenly risen, cannot now be effaced,
nor tho alarm occasioned thereby be removed, unless
some measures bo forthwith tukju towards securing
our embankments."
A company of California emigrants has
been organized at the town of Preston, in
Grayson county. They intend to start about
the first of April, and travel by the old Chihu-
ahua trail from the Red River to the Pecos,
J and thence by EI Paso to the Gila. They
expect to make the journey from Preston to
San Francisco in Go days. Each .man is ex-
pected to bo armed with a rifle or double bar-
rel shot gun and a brace of pistols. One
pack mnle is required for every two men,
' and each person must take 35 pounds of ba-
con, and 40 pounds of flour to use on the jour-
ney to El Paso, 'and money sufficient to pur
chase another supply at El Paso, say 825."
We notice with poignant gtief. a long and
very touching obituary in the Northern Stan-
dard, written by its able and accomplished
editor, upon the death of his wife. The late
pride and joy of his house has been taken
from him at the very moment when he was
about to seek a new abode on the distant
shores of the Pacific, and when he most nee-
ded her gentle and soothing aid. We mourn
with our brother in bitterness wo mourn a
i
j loss that earth cannot repair : but we would
point him to another home where death can
ne'er intrude to mar its endless bliss.
We are again indebted to the Hon. T.
Pillsbury and Gen. Rusk, for important Pub-
lic documents.
New itouTi: bctweex New Orleans ap
New York. A company has recently been
organized and a charter has been obtained
from the Legislature of Florida for the pur-
pose of construcling a rail road across that
Peninsula from the Gulf to the Atlantic. A
line ofstpam ships on the Atlantic and another
on the Guif are to be established so as to
connect with the opposite points oi this road,
and it is estimated that the trip between the
two cities by this route, will be made in five-
days. The long and very dangerous coast
routo by the Cape and reefs south of the Pe-
ninsula, will thus be avoided, and the commu-
nication between these cities rendered com-
paratively safe.
The citizens of Galveston have held seve-
ral meetings, and arc raising subscriptions
for the purpose of opening a canal from the
-westljrty-of'Ga'vedtoii lo llie-Brnzos. We
are at a loss to understand how Galveston
is to be benefitted by the opening of IhisjCa-
nal, if there is already a good navigable
communication between Galveston and Ye -lasco
by the Gulf. If the object is to run a
a line of light draught steamers from the bay
to the upper landings on the river, and thus
avoid the cost and trouble of rcshipment of
ai tides at the mouth of the Brazos, would
not thi'sc steamers stop at San Luis harbor
and de'her the freight there, and thus build
up a rival to Galveston It appears to us
that capital thus invented will neither Jiencfit
Galveston nor the Brazos counties. For
whenever the. commerce ofthe Brazos valley
shall be increased to a sufficient extent to
warrant an outlay of capital sufficient to con-
struct this canal, this commerce can be provi-
ded with a ten fold belter and more natural out-
let through the harbor at the mouth ofthe Bra-
zos. We have long been of the opinion that
an outlay of forty or fifty thousand dollars to
deepen the channel on the Brazos bar would
open at that point the best harbor on the Gulf
of Mexico west of Pensaco!a. Tho river is
we believe about forty feet deep just within
the bar, and if its current were confined at the
bar by piers to a-width of one or two hundred
feet, the channel might be deepened with a
dredging machine, so that line of battle
ships might be brought safely into the har-
bor. There certainly could be little diffi-
culty in deepening the channel so as to
render it preferable to that of Galveston,
and if this were done, the commerce ofthe
Brazos would be of no more advantage to
Galveston than that ofthe Sabine. Indeed
we may reasonably expect that if the efforts of
the Brazos planters to open the navigation of
that rivor should be- successful, vessels will
soon be found sailing directly from Europe
and the Atlantic cities to the mouth ofthe
Brazos. This canal will then be of little
more advantage to Galveston than Taylor's
bayou.
The steamer Reliance on her last trip to the Trini-
ty was detained eight or nine days on the bar at the
mouth ofthe River. These detentions at the bar of
that river and the difficulty of passing the numerous
snags that remain in the river diminish the profits of
tho owners of this boat to such an extent that they aro
unwilling to reduce the freights. Whenever tho suags
aro removed from the river tho navigtion will be more
expeditious and safe "and consequently more cheap.
In the last number of the Brazos Guard,
we see it stated that the steamer Washington
took 713 bales of cotton to Velasco on the
I3lh Feb., and that the steamer Billow took
only 82 bales from Houston to Galveston on
the 15th. The editor commenting upon
this statement says: From the abo'e, it will
be seen that there is more than eight times
as much cotton shipped on the Brazos boats
than there is on the Bayou boats." He is
quite mistaken in his calculations. The
Washington, we understand, makes but one
trip from Velasco to Washington in a fort-
night ; but the Billow often makes three, and
sometimes four trips a week from Houston to
Galveston. Admitting, therefore, that the
Billow averages but -82 bales each trip, by
making eight trips a fortnight, while the
Washington makes only one, she conveys
about the same amount of cotton that the Bra-
zos steamer does. But there is another con-
sideration which the editor of the Guard seems
to have overlooked. When news arrives by
the New Orleans mail, of a decline in the
price of cotton, few shipments arc made on
the Billow, as the cotton might be sold at a
sacrifice, -and the merchants prefer to relain
it in the storehouses here, and avail them-
selves of any favorable change in the market.
This they can readily do, as the steamers on
the Bayou can take two thousand bales to
Galveston in a single day, if required. On
the contrary, the news ofthe advance in the
price of cotton does not often reach the Bra-
zos until two or three days after it has reach-
ed Houston ; and the planters being prevent-
ed from shipping their cotton oftener than once
or twice a fortnight, are compelled to hasten
their cotton to market whenever the boats are
in readiness to take it. This accounts for
the Brazos steamboat having a full freight of
713 bales, when the Houston steamer, on this
particular trip, had but 82 bales. If the editor
will refer to the market quotations ofthe date
alluded to, he may find that there was no in-
ducement, owing to the dullness of the mar-
ket, for our merchants to ship cotton on that
day. We have been informed that the Bra-
zos and Galveston steamers have taken but
3,000 bales of cotton to Galveston since they
arrived in the river. We believe about the
same amount has been shipped by the Hous-
ton boats to Galveston, and there is a very
large quantity in store here. We do no: men-
tion this to make insidious comparisons re-
specting the Brazos navigation and the Bay-
ou ; but merely to correct any erroneous im-
pressions that may arise from the statements
ofthe Guard. We have noticed with pleas-
ure the enterprise and energy that our Brazos
friends have displayed in their laudable at-
tempts to open the navigation of that river,
and we should heartily rejoice if their efforts
should prove successful, and alt-act to that
beautiful and most fertile region thousands
and tens of thousands of thriving and indus-
trious emigrants. If the population of the
Brazos valley should increase ten fold or a
hundred fold, and the river should be rendered
navigable from its mouth to its source, we
should have as much cause for gratulation as
any resident ofthe valley, for the prosperity of
the whole country would be proportionately in-
creased, and we should share with others the
resulting benefits. We have thought that the
country is yet too new, and the amount of trade
en the Brazos was too limited to warrant the
planters of that section in an undertaking, at
their own expense to sustain two steamets on
that river throughout the year. We fear that
the capital they have thus invested, will in-
volve them in losses that (hey are ill able to
sustain. And we still believe that the same
money invested in agriculture would yield
them much larger profits.
If we arc mistaken, we shall rejoice, for
as we have heretofore said, our own interests
are so identified with those of the Brazos
counties, that whatever tends to advance
their interests also promotes ours.
Curiosities. We are indebted to the
Hon. Jesse Grimes for a couple of peiccs of
bone that are found about filly feet below tho
surface of tho earth on his "hcadright league."
They are encrusted with small siliceous peb-
bles cemented with lime, aud the interior of
each peice is filled with semi-transparent
chrystals like tho interior of stalactites.
They are really great curiosities, and possi-
bly belong to some one of the antide'luvian
animals that existed in the days of Methuse-
lah. The deposit in which they were foun 1
appears to be more recent than the secondary
formations that extend through the upper
portions of the undulating regions of Texas.
It is composed of a conglomerate of pebbles
apparently rounded by the action of wa-
ter and indicates that the Gulf formerly cov-
ered that section to the depth of several hun-
dred feet.
New Steamship. We are rejoiced that
tho steamship Fanny ha3 been placed in tho
trade between New Orleans and Galveston,
and that tho prices of freight and passage have
been reduced to one half ofthe amount re
quired by the old company. The advantages
of this charge are already sensibly displayed,
and we are confident that the increased num-
ber of passengers that will be induced, owing
to the low prices, to come to Texas, by way
of Galveston, and tha increase ofthe imports
from New Orleans, will amply remunerate the
enterprising capitalists that have placed this
excellent steamer on this line. The prices
charged by the old company, as we have often
stated, were exorbitant, and tended not only
to check emigration from the Mississippi val-
ley to the fertile, healthy and beautiful regions
of Middle and Western Texas, but were, actu-
ally undermining the commerce between
New Orleans and this State. A few years
since, the trade of Texas was worth probably
nearly $2,000,000. to New Orleans annually
but within the last two or three years, freights
have been extravagantly high, and more
than half of this trade has been turned to New
York and other Atlantic cities. The mer-
chants of New Orleans might have reaped a
golden harvest in Texas, if they had estab-
lished a line of steamers four or five years
since to run between that city and Galveston,
carrying passengers and freight at rates as
low as those established on the coast lines of
the Atlantic. Thousands of emigrants that
have been forced by the extravagant charges
of the old monopolizing company, to settle in
the wilds of Arkansas and Missouri, would
have come to Texas, and by opening exten-
sive and thriving farms, in the bottoms ofthe
Brazos, Caney, Colorado, and other western
streams, would have laid the foundations of a
trade more lucrative to New Orleans than the
trade of the West- Indies. Goods and mer-
chandize to an immense amount would
have been shipped by these steamers from
New Orleans, and the cotton, hides, and other
products of the country would be taken back
to swell the large imports of that city. We
congratulate our friends on the Brazos and
at the West that a favorable change has at
length been made, and we urge them, as they
value their best interests, to do everything in
their power to encourage the capitalists who
have broken the galling chain that has long fet-
tered down the enterprise and crippled the re-
sources of the giant West. Let us all act in
concert to sustain this new company; and the
fertile and beautiful lands ofthe Brazos, the
Caney, Colorado and other western streams,
lands that will favorably compare in fertility
with the choicest lands ofthe Nile, and which
are favored with a more benignant climate,
will soon be filled with happy and enterprising
emigrants, and be checkered over with flour-
ishing towns and villages, ringing with the
busy hum of industry.
Cholera at Brownsville. We' regret to learn
that a fatal disease has broken out at Brownsville,
res'cmblingthe Cholera, aud that forty or fifty persons
had fallen victims to its ravages at the last accounts
Among those are Capt Thomas Stansbury and Col.
Lewis P. Cooke. Fears aro entertained that many of
the California emmigrants who have lately sailed from
New Orleans for the Brazos Santiago will bo attacked
by this disease.
Tho Hon. Auson Jones has authorized the editor
ofthe Brazoi Guard to state that ho will not bo a can-
didate for the office of representative of the western
district of Texas at tho election iu August next
The charter election in the city-of Galves-
ton took place on the 5th inst., resulted in the
election of our esteemed friend H. Stuart, of
the Civilian, to the office of Mayor, and
Messrs. Adams, Beissnec, Djirragh, and Do-
lesdernier, Fox, McLean, Parry. Smith and
Uflbrd as aldermen. 294 votes were polled.
The News says :
The contest yesterday, for tho Mayorlity was con-
ducted, on both sides, with a degree of coolness and
energy that indicated a dep interest in the result
Few, indeed, of our citizens stood entirely aloof from
tho struggle, which, though generally participated in,
was nevertheless too earnest to admit of excitement
Wo cannot admit that tho contest was on political
grounds, though some persons on both sides, endeavor-
ed to place it on that footing. But we know that
avowed party men, and not a few of thorn either,
voted for the candidate opposed in politics to ihem-
eelves, which shows that there were at least stronger
motives than those of party.
If we attempted to explain the nature of tho con-
test we would say, fiom our limited knowledge of the
movements, that it was botween the "Ins" aud tho
"Outs;" and the fate of the day shows they vere
closely matched. The former elected six out of
nine Aldermen, and the latter their Mayor by a
trifling majority. A few fights occurred in the
evening, at the Tremout Houso, and two or three
others in tha neighborhood of the market; with these
exceptions, the day passed offquietly.
Several companies of California emigrants
have recently sailed from New Orleans for
the mouth ofthe Rio Grande, intending to pro-
ceed by the route across Mexico tu Maiatlan.
We understand that more than three hundred
of the emigrants hud reached the Brazos
Santiago, aud about two hundred were wait-
ing at Brownsville, at the last accounts to pro-
cure mules and horses to commence their
journey. The impression has prevailed in
New Orleans, that mules and horses can be
purchased on the Rio Grande at lower prices
than at Houston, Port Lavaca, or other towns
of Texas east of the Rio Grande. We have
been informed, however, by a gentleman of
unquestionable veracity, that good mu'cs can-
not be purchased on the Rio Grande fiir less
than 30 to 835 a head, and good saddle hor
ses are much dearer than in any part of mid-
dle or eastern Texas. We learn too that it is
very difficult to procure many mules there.
During the late "war the country was, in a
measure, drained of these animals, to .supply
the army in the interior of Mexico, and the
Commanches, Lipans and other hostile tribes,
and their allies, the white freebooters, have
stolen immense numbers and driven them to-
wards the frontiers of Missouri and Arkansas.
This accounts for the high prices of mules
and horses in that section.
It appears from the late accounts from San-
ta Fe, that the people ofthe eleventh Judfcial
District of Texas, have refused to recognise
Judge Beard in his official capacity, and still
deny the right of Texas to exercise jurisdic-
tion over that territory. We had supposed
that the military authorities in that section
who had been p'aced in power by the Presi-
dent, would have been required by him to aid
the authorities of Texas in enforcing the laws
ofthe State. It seems however that Judge
Beard has merely been permitted to hold a
parley with the people of Santa re, and has
been voted down in a public assembly, acting
under the influence of demagogues. It-was
not to be expected that the people of Santa
Fe, instigated to opposition by a few petifog-
ing lawyers and gamblers from "the States,"
would submit to the authorities oCTexas.un;
less those authorities were sustained by the
strong arm ofthe national government. If
that arm had been extended to sustain the
jurisdiction of Texas over its State limits, the
opposition of those lawyers and their followers
would have soon yielded, and the laws of
Texa3 would have been respected there as
well as in every other portion of Texas. If
the general government is not disposed to sus-
tain the jurisdiction of Texas over the Santa
Fe territory, it is important that this should
be known, and Texas will take the necessary
steps to enforce its authority. The Governor
has the right under the Constitution to call out
the militia of the State to suppress insurrection,"
and it may be necessary for him to call out a
few regiments to suppress the insurrectionary -movements
in this fnsurrectionary district.
If the Judge should require a posse commita- -tus
as large as the army of Gen. Kearney, it
would soon be raised. in the Southern counties
to enforce the jurisdiction of Texas over that
section. We should only wish-the general
government to withdraw its troops to-the west
bank ofthe Rio Grande. The Texian Ran"
gers would soon show the people of Santa.
Fe the advantages ofthe common law.
We learn from Col. Milby, who has lately
visited Brownsville and other towns onthe
Rio Grande, that the settlements in that sec-
tion are rapidly increasing. Brownsville s
already quite a thriving city, and bids fair to
outstrip Matamoras. Several wealthy men,
weilding a capital of two or three hundred thou-
sand dollars each, have purchased property m
the town, and are making extensive improve-
ments. A large portion of theMexican trade
that formerly was directed toMataraoros, -is
now turning to Brownsville. f It is estimated
that the business done here will exceed that
of all the towns of Texas west of Galveston,
unless the Mexican government should im-
pose such restrictions as to render it impossi-
ble for the Mexicans to trade advantageously
at this point.
The trade of Zacatecas, Durango and
Aguas Calientas is worth more than two
millions of dollars annually, will probably be
directed to this place. The land in the vici-
nity of Brownsville is very fertile and wqll
adapted to the culture of sugar-cane, cotton,
corn, &c; the climate is so mild that the
Orange, Planten, Banana, Pine Apple, &c,
can be cultivated without difficulty. The
severe frost that visited this part of the State
a few weeks since was not felt at Brownsville,
and it is said that there has not been any frost
there for four years.
Edingburg Review. The January number of this
excelleut Jourual has come to hand. Among its con-
tents" are. a Charles Vernon, a trans-Atlantic tale. The
case of Jane Shore; The Saxons in England, Papers
relatin to the treaty of Lahore; Biographic notice
of Lord Molborne.
Ben. Hardin, of Kentucky, as a candidate for the
Constitutional Convontion, declares himself in favor
ofthe election of all officers, from Couuty Jailor and
Coroner up to Governor, by the people. Ho is for an
entire elective Judiciary.
The Slave Trade. There has been an alarming
increase in the Africanslave trade, during the year
1848. A small English steamer, called the Grappler,
of only 220 horse power, captured nearly twenty
slavers, and rescued three thousand slaves in a few
mouths.
Abolition or War. In Franco, M. Bouvet has
presented the following proposition for the aceptance
of the National Assembly: "Considering that war is
contrary to religion, humanity, and public prosperity,
tno iMationat Assembly decrees. 1. The French re-
public proposes to the governments of Europe, Amer-
ica, and other civilized countries, to concur in Con
gress for a proportional disarmament, the abolition of
war, and the formation of a Court of Arbitration.
Tho Congress shall open on the 1st of May, 1849,
at Constantinople."
The Cold Weather in Floridv. The Tallahas
see Sentinel of the 20th ult states that the mercury
stood in that city on the 18th 32 dg.,. and on tho 19th
at 22 dg., aud adds that it is doubtful whether, the or-
ange and lemon trees are not killed by the cold
The Apalachicola Advertiser ofthe 22d ult states
that the large and heretofore thriving orange plantation
of Capt A. T. Bennett, numbering about four thou-
saud young trees, has been entirely destroyed.
Picayune.
The steamer Reliance, Capt Webb, arrived hero
yesterday, having brought down tho Trinity 978 bales
cotton; aud a large quantity of hides, skins, etc
Passengers Doct Hays, lady and 2 children,
Kaufman, Rongers, Hemit?r, Hoggott, James Tyran, .
Matthew, Col. Long, Gibbs, Tillett, Prewett, N.
Harper, Randolph, Henderson, Harper. Cicillian.
Another Indian Treaty. The CrecnTBay Advo-
cate announces that a treaty had been made with the
Stockbridge Indians, Mr. M. L. Martin acting for the
United States, whereby a valuableand partially im-
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Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 11, Ed. 1, Thursday, March 15, 1849, newspaper, March 15, 1849; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48535/m1/2/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.