Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 55, Ed. 1, Thursday, March 23, 1854 Page: 1 of 4
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YOL. i.
MrvTSswwsr;
MRSWKW33
P i P T li LBGISLATVRB.
5I!J5JHE house.
W. I WEEKS ISeiorie
Jim. 27 1854.
On iho bill for the relief of Leslie
Combs the amendment offered by Mr.
Crawford of Washington being before
the House
Mr. VONTKESS said : I hope Mr.
Speaker the amendment will not be
adopted because 1 think it would do
great injustice to one of the first credit-
ors of the late Republic of Texas.
1 will now briefly notice the arguments
of the gentleman from "Washington the
sense or gist of which is that Mr. Leslie
Combs has refused to comply with the
laws of Texas with his claim. lie takes
up the statutes of Texas and reads there-
from for the purpose of showing this.
He then states that Mr. Combs never did
file the evidences of his debt in the Trea-
sury Department of the United States.
This is not true sir ; and I only need to
present the facts to show it. Every mem-
ber has upon his table a statement of the
facts by the very man from whom the
gentleman quotes from which I will now-
read a short extract which reads as fol-
lows: "Confiding in the honor and ho-
nosty of the United States and Texas
on the 30th December 1850 I filed the
lull official evidence of my debt in the
Treasury Department at "Washington;
and on the first day of April 1851 filed
my release according to the boundary act
and the form prescribed by the Secretary
of the Treasury in pursuance thereof
dated the 22d day of March 1851."
So the truth is that he did file his
evidences of debt; that ho complied with
the letter and spirit of the boundary act
and the law accepting the propositions of
the United States Government. It is
useless for me to talk about the difference
in the claims of those whose claims con-
sisted of the funded debt of Texas and"
tllG claims tlllO. tllO coltlioicjrv' 'I'nvno iv.
those days for I esteem them equally
meritorious.
I remember well the first time in the
history of my life that I was permitted to
gaze upon the lone-star banner : it was
at the time of the call made in my native
State my own loved Kentucky for
volunteers for Texas. And 1 remember
the first time I ever heard the name
"Leslie Combs" or of this far-off land
of Texas was in onncction with his ef-
forts in the upper pr.rL of the State in
which 1 had the honor to be born to
procure soldiers for this far-famed Texas.
And these efforts were not fruitless but
productive of material aid which is kown
to all who are familiar with the history of
those dark days.'
"We have only to enquire into the acts
of a man to determine his worth or merit
his patriotism. And with this measure
before us sir I would ask; wh6re ought
General Leslie Combs to stand? J an-
swer high in the hearts of all true Tcx-
ans. Is it just to make invidious dis-
tinctions between those who lend material
aid in any shape or form to an oppress-
ed or down-trodden people and those
who bare their breasts and -front the bat
tle itself amid the roars of cannon" and
death.
It is necessary in all wars to have aid :
it is nccessay for some one to labor in
every sphere essential to raise and equip
an army; but whether the man deserves
more credit who gathers the soldiers
which compose the victorious army and
sends them to'the battle-field -or he that
in the dread front- of battle faces the
thundering cannon's blast is a question
of doubtful solution. Loth are necessary ;
both indispensable'. Suppose it was in
money inVested in the funded debt of
Texas which I admit to bo-true of the
claim before us does it become less me-
ritorious ? I think not. I say this is one
of tho most meritorious claims that has
been presented to this Legislature and
it presents itself in a remarkable shape in
this bill ; for it cuts off that reasonable
and gracious excuse of Texas for not
navine her debts "The United States
will not releaso the five millions of fivo
per cent bonds."
If Texas is determined to controvert
annul and take back a solemn legislative
enactment on her statute booh which
OE AUSTIN
!KtirH..U'.V.ITa
CITY
2KKCTiCTJTOK3!SKC333rir-S'
accepts the propositions of the boundary
act and which should be held sacred to
her honor she is determined to do that
which no honest man could do and pre-
serve his character for this rare attribute :
but yet there arc gentlemen upon this
floor who would have her pursue thw
course but 1 hope in God's name they
are scarce: but if I am mistaken bo it
so; but I hero in my place before tho
world this honorable body and my con-
w-tUCMCy' ma'C0 my P1"otest against it.
ill Texas take such a course ? If so it
will fix such a foul blot upon the fair es-
cutcheon of my adopted State that 1
should no longer feel proud to say 1 am
a Texan. I love Texas I have selected
this fair land for my home at a great
aaunnce; x want tier to remain pure
clean and unstained.
Can Texas repudiate? Can she abro-
gate a direct and positive law upon her
statute book ? Can she do it without
staining her own character ? and will she
do it at this sacrifice? If so I shall
conclude that the quotation made the
other day by my distinguished friend from
Galvcston(Mr. Franklin) is equally true
in its application to states as individuals
and with equal propriety may be read
'But each State is unco weak anil little to be
trusted;
If sell" the waveiing balance shake 'tis rarelr right
adjusted."
I believe that Texas has well guarded
her particular interest in her policy of
paying her debt if policy she has. Dif-
ference in her debts is talked about for
what? For delay. That Texas and the
United States may quarrel what is the
consequence? Those noble men who
enabled Texas to attain the enviable po-
sition she now occupies must starve while
this most honorable and worthy quarrel
is going on without hurt to these two
powers of the earth. Are not the inte-
rest of creditors to be considered to some
extent the interest of those who have
aided us in our struggles for liberty "V Is
the suffering of their wives and children
no argument to command our considera-
tion? T!i IlDtr UUiLUIUil -JUtillCU LU DU UUU-
sulted? "When 1 sec those creditors who
have labored for the good of Texas who
have spent all they had and impoverish-
ed themselves and families I am f jrced
to asc Is it fair is it right is it iust !
is it honest to turn them from tho doors
of our
rights ?
treasury winch contains their
Mr. Crawford asked if the gentlenian
roni "Williamson supported the substi-'
f
suppc
tute.r
I did
not and I will
give tho reason.
The substitute did not cover the ground
of the question before the House ; but if
the substitute had come up in a proper
place proposing to pay the debts of the
Slate at the scaled rate 1 should have
voted for it. And I now promise the
gentlemen that if such a general law
comes up before this body'l shall vote
for iti
But what docs this creditor ak?
Not that his debt be paid but that it be
put in a payable shape in any manner
that Texas may choose ; and this petition
is mothered by the strongest necessity.
In my humble judgment the hottest of
tho quarrel abjut tho adjustment and
payment of the publii debt in Texas has
been engendered in her heart for excuses
for not paying it. I repeat he does not
ask payment; but asks a draft upon tho
United States Government. Our excuse
for not paying is that the United States
will not relinquish the fivo per cent bonds.
Now this proposition outs off all excuse ;
for it proposes to go there for the money
and tako its chances. Now the question
presents itself in this shape: Will Texas
pay her debts if these bonds are released ?
Does Texas intend when those bonds are
released to pay her just and hone&t cre-
ditors? Here is one of them who has
come here and asks her to give him just
what she pleases to give him a draft for
that amount which will probably enable
him when the reserved bonds are re-
leased to provide bread for his family
during the few remaining days of his life.
Then. I do hope with these facts before
this honorable body they will not cripple
tlio bill with this amendtnant. 1 will ex-
amine before I sit down that remarka-
blo law upon our statutes usually called
tho hnv accopting the Texas boundary
act; and tho best way to do it is to read
an extract therefrom which is the enact-
TEXAS THDIISDAyTmIbcH 1854.
!TOT''rcj"!:a3-5'a
llHr llIIIC!n .iw1 ...... .. J' 11 .
...0 v.QV U1U minis ua tuiiows: " lie
T.. ti.
enacted by the Legislature of the State
of Texas That the Stato of Texas hereby
agrees to and accepts said propositions;
and it is hereby declared that tho said
State shall be bound by the terms there-
of according to their true import and
meaning." Tow I need not say what
IJKj Ih
in-oiiosiuon8 are jiero mount for the law
is familiar to you all and none can be
mistaken in its meaning.
Then what is the course left to Texas?
There is but one if she would preserve
her honor and that is to abide by this
her solemn contract.
In conclusion I havo to say that I do
hope that Texas and the United States
will cease their disgraceful quarrel their
child's play and do something effectual
for our starving creditors; for though
procrastination may bo fun to them itls
death and ruin to those sufferers. 1
want to sec the debt of the State paid;
but I never expect to see this bright day
for Texas honor while this foolish quarrel
continues. "Wo must learn charity : we
must treat each other as friends and not
as enemies before this great work is done.
I hope this body will do something to
attain this great end ; and I for oneam
ready to come up to the work and will
go as far as he who .goes farthest to
accomplish it.
TSc RtaturaB Ei visions oS' Texasf.
LECTTJ11E II. Coktixui:d.
The musquitc prairies take their name
from the species of mimosa trees which
arc thinly scattered over them. They
resemble the honey locust in their foliage.
Their leaves and thorns are smaller.
They produce large bunches of beans
eight or ten inches in length and much
resembling the striped cornfield pea
which furnish a fine food for granivorous
animals. The wood is hard' porus and
almost entirely proof against decay; and
fine for posts railway timber and fuel.
The musquitc grass in large bunches of
blades seldom more than eitfbinrsii hi clips
but still retaining its saccharine nutri-
ment in summer is inseparable from the
musquitc tree. It i's perhaps the most
nutritive and valuable wild crass in
the world. The more it is grazed and
trampled the more luxuriantly it thrives
Since the settlements have extended to
the western prairies it has been sown
accidentally on all the roads leading from
them far into Eastern Texas; and in
1850 I Avas surprised to sec it growing
finely about the wheel-ruts and covering
the prairies on either side of them where
not a blade of it was to be seen in 18-10.
"When I first saw tho beautiful valley
prairies of the Colorado many of them
were entirely uninhabited by man. They
are yet but sparsely settled not more
than a fifth of their rich soil is in cultiva-
tion. For unknown ages these magnifi-
cent meads have been the earthly elysi-
ums of countless herds of wild animals.
They have been trodden down grazed
and enriched for centuries by multitudes
of deer wild cattle horses and buffalo
until they have been reduced to the best
possible stittc for cultivation. They arc
surrounded by an abundance of fencing
materials and they yield as lightly to the
plough as the soil of old and long culti-
vated fields.
In passhng through the undulating re-
gion of Texas watered bv the Colorado
and tho Guadalupe a judicious agricul-
turalist will decide that the Creator has
formed it in the best possible manner for
tho use of man. The whole labor of
clearing the land for cultivation has been
saved. Prairies in bottoms or on uplands ;
level inclined or broken; gray black
chocolate or red; sandy stony or en
tirely composed of deep loam; of anyi
required size lrom an acr.e to a hundred
thousand acres watered by springs ri-
vulets or rivers as his taste or wants
may reuuiro can lie lounu to suit his
fancy: or if he prefers to settle in wood-
lands and perform tho usual Avork of I
clearing tho soil an abundance has been
left for air tho purposes' ho may require.
Then the Avholo region has concealed be-
neath the surface cropping out' upon its
bluffs or surmounting its eminences in-
exhaustible quaries of rock for fencing
or for building. If he prefers brick for
his edifice" 'no soil is better for its manu-
facture than the red earth of the banks
of the Colorado t when burned they be-
come a light grey color ring like metal
aim emu sparKS when struck with steel.
Li the counties of Washington and Fay-
ette in a belt of country about one hun-
dred and twenty-five miles from the coast
and forty or fifty miles in breadth in-
cluding tho beautiful La Bahia prairie
between Independence and La Grange a
fine grey sand-stone is everywhere ex-
posed in tho beds of the numerous prau'ic
streams and on tho submits of high prai-
rie knobs which is used for building ma-
ny of the houses and all the chimneys of
tho old settlers: it is indestructible by
the action of the elements: it is the com-
mon grind-stone rock of different degrees
of fineness and hardness. The next stra-
tfied building-stono which is found upon
the surface in ascending the country
above Lagrange is that which I have
mentioned as forming bluffs overhanging
some of the beautiful semicircular pra
ries enclosed within the arcs of the ranges
of hills and the horse-shoe bends of the
river. It is a heavy dark-brown and red
iron sand-stone which underlies the whole
of the San Antonio and other prairies
enclosing the heads of the Yegua river
and pine woods about Bastrop and forms
bold precipices on tho northern bounda-
ries of Eblin's and Burleson's prairies.
It is there detached from the hills by
blasting or by strobes of the crowbar and
pickaxe and rolled down upon the prai-
ries to be hauled to the buildings of its
owners. The next protruding building
stone is seen in approaching Austin.
Much of the pity stands upon it and it is
found in a wide belt of country contigu-
ous to the mountains as far as it has been
examined. It belongs probably to the
cretaceous formation. It is sometimes
called the Alamo -rock. That famous
fortress and the ancient missions on the
San Antonio river arc built of it. In
these edifices it has withstood the heat
and cold and the tempests of more than
a century and is harder and more bcau-
quite exposed; and it is frequently quar-
ried from the site of the buildings for
which it is intended. Tho new capitol
of Texas is built of it. "When first quar-
ried it is very soft; and can be cut with
a knife or saw as easily as the wood of
the white pine cr poplar. In a few
months it becomes v early as hard as mar-
ble. It rcciuircs no blasting. Holes arc
drilled through the layers which arc from
ten inches to ten feet thick: it is then
cleaved with iron wedges. It is cither a
light dove or cream color and becomes
whiter on exposure to the atmosphere.
It will bear the most minute work of the
sculptor and receives a beautiful polish.
At present it is rudely handled and cut
by wood saAVS. An enterprising mechanic
could make a fortune in Austin by work-
ing a machine constructed for sawing and
dressing this beautiful material. In the
city and the adjacent country many
other varieties of fine building stone are
abundant. A very hard half chrystal-
ized white limestone lies upon the sur-
face or near it in thin layers which is
used for chimneys and the foundations of
houses. The hard Trenton limestone is
in the mountains a hove the city from
Avhich boulders of marble of many differ-
ent shades and textures are Avashed down
by tho river and left with numerous
fragments of inotamorphic sedimentary
and igneous rock on its pebbly bars.
The settlers differ widely in their esti-
mates of tho respective advantages of the
lands in the bottom of tho river .and
those of tho prairies in its vicinity. They
vary but little in feitilit' and are equal-
ly avoII supplied with Avell water and fuel.
Their crops seem to stand the changes of
the seasons equally well. Tho greater
conveniences of tho river are counter-
balanced by some disadvantages from
Avhich tho prairieu tire exempt. A judi-
cious emigrant Avill sccuro the advanta-
ges of both by getting a tract of laud
embracing a front upon tho river and
extending as far as tho summit of tho
prairie. As tho prevailing- wind of Tex-
as is tho delightful south-eastern sea-
breeze he should avail himself of all tho
benefits of these in a warm climate. If
ho settles on the north side of any of her
rivors 'although there is but little stag-
nant Avater to generate miasma in such
a prolific soil ant'd such a luxuriant
55
iiiiuui-grwHH as tucso situations are to
the leeward ho -will feel its effects after
heavy rains and overflows Avhon it is pro-
duced by fluviatilb deposits and decayed
vegetable matter. Clouds of mosquitoes
will be gendered by tho same causes;
and although less aovoru on tho Colorado'
near the mountain v than hi any other
tonality in which I have over lived he
will find after Avct scasoiu tho families
residing on tho loft bank be thi3 river
sometimes troubled with intermittent fe-
vers and annoyed by those insects which
seem indigenous' to all climates; and
which arctic voyagers find as troublesome'
on the shores of the frozen ocean in tho-
short summers which visit the mouths of
the jMclCenzio and Copnorraiuo rivers
as they are on iho Isthmus of Daricn or
intlio tropical domaia of tho Mosquitoe
King. 1 would therefore advisjfaif
emigrants to "Western Texas toWect
their homes as near the mountains as
posssible or in them or beyond themj'ancl
on the south or right bank of any water
course near them. In such a situation;'
near Austin the settler can enjoy health!
and pleasure Avith every advantage Avhicli'
a -well-watered and fertilo country and
a mild and salubrious climate can afford.
From the base and among the spurs of
these mountains tho various tributaries
of the Nueces Guadalupe and tho south-
ern btreamlots of the Colorado lie at oui
m water almost transparent as tho air.
Some of them are sent forth from great
springs whose width depth and volume
of waters astonish the beholder avIio has
never seen one of these curiosities." Tavo
of them near the capitol arc well" worthy
of a particular description which Avill
apply to many others in this region;
Below tho falls four miles above Aus-
tin the Colorado Hoavs for two miles un-
der immense precipices of rock which
rise perpendicularly several hundred feei;
to the level of tho lowest plateau of tho
mountains which aro great masses of so-'
dimentary formations rising steppe upon"
TAor-e "vicxtf : U '-'unjiusU'i u'n niOy in0CO
vercd with a dense groAvth of a kind of
cedar peculiar to these mountains.' It
resembles the arbor vitte more than the
red cedar. Its foliage is more spreading :
and instead of growing in a conical form
the outlines of tho tree are spherical if it
is isolated or fan-shaped and Avidcncd
and flattened at tho top if it groAvs in
clusters. These trees cover tho mount-
ains of tho Colorado and the incorrupti
...i ii .
ble texture ot their Avood makes tnem in-
valuable for fences posts and the frames
of houses. They aro too much grooved
and knotted for plank. The undergroAvth
of the cliffs and gorges of these Avilds in- '
eludes a variety of undescribed ever-
greens and among the most common is
tho sumach (semper vinus) and a species
of locust much like the tree box Avhen seen
at a distance. This is called the comal
and gives its name to the county aiid
part of this mountainous range in which
it abounds. It is the most beautiful bush
I have ever seen. Its perenuial foliage
is densest and most deeply green in mid-
Avinter; and early in .February it is cloth-
ed Avith large bunches of dark blue ilow-
6rs Avith golden cups fragrant as the mag-
nolia and cape jessamine. From tho
precipices about two miles abovo the city
a cataract of water of icy coldness falls
into tho river whoso roaring may bo
heard for a great distance. It is the out-
let of a large subterranean stream avIiosc
course is entirely concealed in the bosom
of tho mountains. A mile above the city
is Barton's Spring which pours a river
of cold and chrystal Avater into tho Colo-
rado. It is only .seven hundred yards
long and is from thirty to fifty yards
Avido and only fordable at three rapids
in its short course. Throo very largo
springs empty into it. Tho great spring
is about eighty feet Avide and eighteen
feet deep and its Avaters aro so puro that
a dime thrown into it may bo distinctly
seen on the bottom. Tho Avator is cold and
pleasant in the heat of summer and pre-
serves an uniform temperature through-
out the year. This makes it tlnV resort
of many varieties of fish at all seasons
and especially in midwintor whon tho
Colorado is much colder than tho spring.
On tho 6th day of February m 1852 I
visited it in my skiff on a fishing excur-
sion and at a season Avlien anglers in this
latitude have laid nsido 'their tackle an;d?
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Ford, John S. Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 55, Ed. 1, Thursday, March 23, 1854, newspaper, March 23, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78445/m1/1/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Travis+County+-+Austin%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.