Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1, Thursday, January 19, 1854 Page: 3 of 4
four pages : illus. ; page 22 x 32 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
1 ijLB.mTjjm.tmitmi.nLHKWmjiutl.lVimwJ ''--'" v ltlvgaaHLatwiJBtajBiaM.wi.niBtt'uLfc.vii')iiAiiiwpji
WWHmmiiww nwnnmin mmi. i niniii i i ism i im
W4l'Py
hor public debt incurred by the Revolu-
tionary Avar. I was assured that the
whole amount duo compared with her
ample resources in lands and moneyre-
venue from the customs was a mere
"Bagatelle." Under these circumstan-
ces and influences I laid out all I hnd
the proceeds of my labor for more than
twenty years in tho debt funded accord-
ing to your act of Congress of the 7th
of Jane 1837 which had been approved
and signed by President Houston. 1
was told and believed that every dollar
hnd been available to the Government at
its par value.
Since that time I have never bought
nor sold a dollar of Texan securities of
any kind. The same amount appropria-
ted in any one of our growing western
cities would have made me a rich man.
Under the most trying pecuniary embar-
rassments sometimes selling property at
:i sacrifice and sometimes borrowing mo-
ney to pay my way at high usurious in-
terest working hard all the time to clothe
and feed my family T have held on to my
Texas bonds under the confident belief
that they would one day all be paid prin-
cipal and interest ; and such is still my
opinion.
If this transaction thus openly and
Jairly made (not in a corner or in a dis-
tant city although T would have had a
perfect right thus to make it for your
bonds were as those of other States and
Nations a. marketable article but in
your own metropolis) can justly subject
me to the gross and wholesale imputa-
tions cast upon the poverty-stricken credi
tors of Texas by patriotic stump orators
and others why be it so. I have no re-
ply to make no apology to offer.
Having touched the three principal
events in the brief and bloody tragedy
of your glorious revolution and narrated
the facts connecting me with it to some
extent as well as the manner in -which I
became your creditor I now ask your at-
tention for a few minutes to the afterpiece
of 1842 sometimes called the second
war of Texas with Mexico in which you
will perceive by the letters I shall read
dace
vou
was
urecu. by
your
President to
play a part.
After the failure of the unfortunate
Santa Fe expedition in 1841 when some
of the truest patriots and bravest hearts
In Texas Avorc captured ami imprisoned
in chains in Mexico the chivalrous Ge-
nerals of that doAvn-trodden country
began to threaten another invasion of
your soil.
On the 15th of April I received a let-
tor from President Houston which had
been fonvarded to Lexington Ky. by
Dr. Shackleford one of the foAV survi-
vers of the treacherous and horrid mas-
sacre of Col. Fannin and his men near
Goliad in 183G.
I Avas at the time in Philadelphia en
gaged in most important professional bu-
siness Avhich I could not turn over safe-
ly to any other person and so informed
(Jen. Houston.
Although this letter may have been
then considered confidential it is no
longer so but forms a neoessary link in
the history of the times and I Avill there-
fore read it to you.
City of Houston 16th March '42.
To Gen. Leslie Combs---
Sir : If troops should be raised in
the United States at the call of this Go-
vernment prepared for conquest they
may rely upon the fact that they Avill be
tilloAved the privilege of the Texan banner
to cross the Rio Grande and pursue con-
quest to the Walls of Mexico.
To achieve this it will require all the
munitions of an invading army ; a mi-
Jitary chest Avill be indespensably neces-
sary to effect the object and ensure suc-
cess. The troops Avill be landed upon
our shores. at the point designated by the
Executive and subjbet to his orders.
Each man Avill be required to land with
six months' clothing. The. companies
must consist of at least fifty-six men
rank and filo. A confidential agent Avill
bo located at some eligible point for the
purpose of granting commissions agree-
ably to the above suggestions. The re-
cognition of Texan Independence must
bo achieved by arms unless Mexico con-
cedes it immediately. All troops from
the United States Avill bo subject to the
kAVS of Texas. Tho recompense tender-
ed to our friends Avill bo the property
captured by thorn upon tho most exalted
and chivalrous principles of honorable
warfare and tho soil which they conquer.
Glory victory and imporishablo ronown.
Mexico has invaded our country and
UerDictator. has declared that tho Anglo-
Saxon raco shall boAV to tho Avill of a
Despot. The people of Texas wore in-
vited to the country to onjoy constitu-
tional liberty. They Avero oppressed
and tho iron hand of tyranny drove them
to resistance. Success gave them inde-
pendence and the God of battles Avill
onable them to triumph in the holy cause
of constitutional liberty.
The Santa Fo prisoners groan in bon-
!
1 have the honor to be
'Your obedient servant
SAM HOUSTON.
As you may avoII suppose the conclud-
ing remarks that "The Santa Fc prison-
ers groan in bondage !" touched me on
a tender point.
My oavii young son a beardless blue-
eyed boy of serenteon years of age had
been one of these prisoner?.
When I first heard of his capture I
hastened to Texas to ascertain if possible
something of his impending fate.
Although he has long since been con
signed to a bloody grave 1 still recur
with melancholy pleasure to the account
given mo by his veteran comrades of
his uncomplaining endurance of hunger
and thirst hardship and danger during
the campaign and of his manly conduct
afterwards under the most trying cir-
cumstances on the march to Mexico and
Avhen in prison Avith chains upon his
limbs.
I knew that Texas could do nothing
for his relief and the United States Min-
ister Mr. Ellis Avrote me that although
he sympathised with him and me most
sincerely lie could do nothing for him
oflicialln because he was taken iu arms
under the Texan flag. But oh ! noble
old Kentucky ! my native State you had
no such scruples. So soon as his unhap-
py fato Avas knoAvn at Frankfort tho le-
gislature unanimously adopted the most
decisive measures to save his life by of-
fering to the General Government the
Avhole armed poAver of the State to res
cue him and his telloAV-prisoners. I shall
never forget my grateful emotions when
I saAV these proceedings in the public
press on my return to Ncay Orleans.
Whilst I hastened to invoke the aid of the
President of the U. States I employed a
special messenger to go Avith the resolu-
tions to Mexico with ample means to
open my son's prison doors and bring
him home to me.
For these expenditures as avcII as
those of his original outfit I ask nothing.
Abraham of old was "willing to offer up
his son as a sacrifice on the altar of his
religion so Avas I ready to devote mine
to the cause of human liberty. Upon
his return I asked him Iioav he felt when
on one occasion it Avas thought the pris-
oners Avould all be shot? Ho replied
that he "felt as if I wore looking him in
the face and all Kentucky standing at
his back and he Avould rather die than
disgrace us."
Gentlemen all the money in Texa3
could not pay mo for this sentiment.
Very soon after my messenger reached
Mexico my son was released as you Avill
perceive by the brief letter of the Ame-
rican Minister which 1 ask leave to read
you :
Mexico Jan. 25 1842.
My Dear Sir : I have only one" mo-
ment to inform you that your son is lib-
erated. He is iioav in my house. Gen.
Santa Anna sent him to me in his OAvn
carriage.
With the greatest esteem
Most truly yours
POWHATAN ELLIS.
To Gen. Leslie Qombs Ncav Orleans.
Before Gen. Houston received my an-
SAVor to his first letter ho again Avrote
me. How or Avhore Avas I to obtain all
the "munitions of an invading army"
or fill a "military chest" with money as
avcII as supply the troops Avith arms and
six months' provisions and clothing ? all
of which he informed mo would bo "in-
dismimbly necessary."
My own fortune was all gone and I
Avas literally Avorking hard for my daily
bread.
With your leavo I Avill read his second
letter :
Houston Texas May 11 1842.
Gen. Leslie Combs
Bear Sir: This will bo handed to you
by Mr. James Lyne who goes to tho U.
States for tho purpose of enlisting sup-
port for tho cause of Texas in tho strifo
in which the friends of liberty are about
to engage. Ho comes to mo rccommon-
ded as a young gentleman of promise and
character. I commend hjmto your re-
gard and solicit for himiri tho prosecu-
tion of his patriotic intentions' such coun
tenance and aid as you may properly bc-
StOAV.
For your kindness towards him you
Avill enlarge the obligations with which I
havo the honor to be very respectfully
your obt. sorv't SAM HOUSTON.
P. S. T addressed you immediately
after tho commencement of our late diili-
culties and forwarded tho letter to the
United States by Doctor Shackelford
Avho avus hero at tho time. In my note
L requested your aid in bringing to our
standard a foAV companies of the gallant
sons of old Kentucky. Since then I
have been anxiously aAvaiting some intel-
ligence from you but as yet have not
received a syllable. I hope however
you havo been doing much for the suc-
cess of the great enterprise in Avhich all
the energies of this Republic must iioav
very soon be combined Tho Avar "will
bo prosecuted ; and though single handed
and alone Texas and her citizens Avill
try the issue already made up between
tyranny and ignorance on the ono hand
and freedom and intelligence on the other.
None can doubt the result. Will not
then our friends and brethren of the
great American family participate in the
glory of the achievement? Will they
not fight for the extension of liberty and
the sound institutions of our fathers over
regions Avhere ignorance superstition
and. the rod of a merciless tyrant bear
uninterrupted SAvay? God and humani-
ty and truth Avill direct our efforts to
the attainment of a success at once use-
ful and glorious.
If you unite Avith us let your compa-
nies consist of at least 5G men rank and
file ; be completely armed and clothed
and provisioned for six months. Tho
rendezvous has been established at Cor-
pus Ghristi where troops should report
as early 'as possible the sooner the bet-
ter. 1 hope soon to hear from you.
Accept my best Avishes and assuran-
ces of the regard with Avhich I have the
honor to be SAM HOUSTON.
The threatened invasion by Mexico
Avhich loomed so largo and sounded so
loud at a distance eventuated in tAVO ma-
rauding expeditions to San Antonio.
The first in tho Spring of 1842 under
Gen. Vasquez when not a prisoner Avas
taken nor a drop of blood shed.
The second under Gen.Wall in the fall
Avhen the city AYas surprised and tho Court
and LaAvyers at tho bar with a feAV pri-
vate citizens numbering only sixty-one
persons in all were led in captivity to
Mexico. My good friend Mavorick who
I am happy noAV to see before me as a
member of this committee on that occa-
sion took an airing to the city of the Mon-
tezumas mder a guard of honor wheth
er on foot or horseback I do not knoAY.
Gen. Houston administered tho Goa'-
ernment during the whole of his 2d
Presidential term and so did his succes-
sor President Jones up to the time of
annexation without adding a dollar to
tho old debt. Indeed tAYb hundred and
fifty thousand dollars in money and debts
were left in the Treasury.
The members of Congress of that day
as Avell as the Executive Head of the
Government ayHI ever doubtless recur
Avith honest pride and pleasure to tho
fact that when tho credit of tho country
had totally run down and all was dark-
ness and gloom around them and before
them they repelled AYith indignation
tho idea of repudiating their plighted
faith. They could not pay but tl'iey
ever admitted their liability to their
creditors of all classes.
The journals of your Congress Avill ful-
ly sustain me on this point and so Avill
the Presidents 7nessage of the 12th' of
December 1843. From that able docu-
ment I will read a foAV passages to bo
found on pages 24 and 25 of tho jour-
nals of the 8th Congress.
Extract from President Houston's Mes-
sage to the Texas Congress Decem
ber 12 184u.
"It may be Avell to alludo to a fact
which has greatly prejudiced the char-
actor of tho nation. The charge that
Ave had repudiated our Government lia-
bilities has been industriously urged
not only abroad but at homo as a case
of distrust and an accusation of bad
faith. Other Governments of high res-
pectability havo done so: Texas never
has and I trust never will. It is true
that our liabilities Avero increased to so
large an amount during tho administra-
tion of my predecessor as to rendor it
not only expedient but indispensably
necessary to dofer thoir payment until
the country could. sofar recover as to
bo ablejto comply fully with all its obli
gations. Tho fact that many of these
liabilities Avero incurred for purposes not
only not sanctioned by tho Legislature
but entirely illegal and impolitic has
never with me constituted a reason for
refusal to pay them at the earliest mo-
ment within our power. NotAvihthslan-
ding tho mischievous and utterly ground-
less publications upon this subject ome-
naling from some of our public journals
the good faith of the nation will finally
be thoroughly vindicated by tho re-
demption of EVERY DOLLAR for Avhich
it stands pledged. That wo havo not
been able to do so beforo this time has
perhaps been a fault as well as a misfor-
tune; but nations' like individuals are
sometimes compelled to yield to tho force
of circumstances &c &c.
Our public domain comprises at least'
150 millions of acres of choice lands
Avhich have been and aro now held sub
ject to tho payment of our public debt
&c &c
"From these facts it must bo appa-
rent to all except in the eye of pruju-"
dice that Texas has never entertain-
ed the destono repudiation.
"The Executiro has looked upon the
question whether the liabilities were le-
gally or judiciously mcurred as one not
proper to be made but simply Avhether
the national faithis involved in their
redemption. He has heretofore andAvill
ever continue to set his face against eve-
ry measure "which has tho appearance of
sullying tho national character. He
sees neither reason nor necessity for de-
viating from this course. He is clearly
of opinion that our public faith SHOULD
BE and AVILL BE held sacred and that
all obligations Avill bo redeemed tp tho
uttermost cent at the earliest period
our means Avill justify."
Thus matters stood up to the 4tliday of
July 1845 when tho Texas convention
assembled to act upon tho joint resolu-
tions of annexation Avhich had been pre-
viously adopted by the Government of
tho United States.
Your distinguished Senator Gen.
Rusk Avas chosen President. Before ta-
king the chair he remarked " that the
" terms of annexation were alike honor-
" able to the United States and to Tex-
" as and as a Texian acting for himself
" and his posterity ho would not were
" it practicable Avithout in the slightest
" degree endangering the great question
" involved seek to alter the terms pro-
" posed to us by the Government of the
" United States." :
On tho samo day tho convention
unanimously accepted the terms of an-
nexation as proposed.
On the 19th of February 1846 tne
first Governor of Texas receive'd from
the last President of the Republic for-
mal possession of the Government. The
final act in tho drama Avas played out
"The .Bejmblie of Texas was no more."
The Lone Star from its first appear-
ance above tho morning horizon encir-
cled Avith blood till its final going 'down
in tho Avcst had ever shone bright . and
beautiful from your triumphant banner
without a blot or stain upon its radiant
face.' Thus it descended from your flag
staff Avhilo the constellation of tho UN;
ion arose in its place. Tho shouts' '-"M
thousands of happy freemen penetrated
the clouds and the thunder of Artillery
saluted tho auspicious event.
It becomes us iioay gentlemen to ex-
amine the terms of annexation thus sol-
emnly proposed and as solemnly accept-
ed. Terms pronounced by Gen. Rusk
to be alike honorable to Texas and the
United States.
I Avill not detain you by reading both
resolutions but invito your calm and' can-
did attention to tho second clause oflhc
2d resolution :
Sec. 2 Part 2. Said State (of Tex
as) when admitted into tho Union after
ceding to tho United States all public
edifices fortifications barracks ports
and harbors navy and navy yards docks
magazines and armaments and all other
means pertaining to the public defence
belonging to tho said Republic of Texas;
shall retain all tho public funds debts
taxes and dues of overy kind which may
bolong to or bo duo and oAying to tho
said Republic ; and shall also retain all
the vacant and unappropriated lands
lying within its limits to be applied to
the payment of the debts and liabilities
of said Republic of Texas; and tho hk-
siduk of said lands after discharg-
ing said debts and liabilities to bo dis-
posed of as said Stato may diroct.Butj
in no event are saiu acuis ana tw'a
tics to berome a charge upon the (royern
ment of the United States.
it"-"
11
.
J
.31
1
j
p
i
..
! !
0
T
i i l J
Ml
i I $
IrPfPK
-ai
I I &
SI
W
aj.y!
' j&
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Ford, John S. Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1, Thursday, January 19, 1854, newspaper, January 19, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78420/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.