State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 28, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 28, 1857 Page: 2 of 4

                                
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1
TEXAS STATE GA.ITTE.
DEMOCRATIC
S1ATE CONVENTION
TO M HELD AT
r o7
EAR THIS!!
Te Wlfl Ososttt Oflkt wM Dd their aecoacri
atrt:aSnef OLDHaJf a WHITE.
Ws hare beta wt lalairrnt to thaw ind-Ale J la us.
Wihlvpiamt dn on ocr books s rtV. n our
irsSsSIss isoelis that we n.tlc ooDocdom.
ZiA'cv Tor' Sole.
tbe accoe&sealed vltb the r-:h to ubum
oopiw. rVolesje Stamps ieclrei.
OKKBFAJ.LaWB ef Winter Seettec. So cee-.s with pot
OSMUAJ. LAWS of Mjowaol Session 60 ctt-with
SSeXWllaWSefWlste Session SOoenu srltft pottage
nr
StBCUlV LAWS of adjourned Session $1.00-! th post-
JOHN MARSHALL A 00.
Austin Texas.
Wodis :
AN JOB PKI.t riftC
' friends far tbolr kind farm. nd hut 
I tbt WC ar BOW Drln tin with add It Inns. I n. w
low jut umrtsMDU of type and ererr color. We do
ev are k el the lowest rates. Try as.
SCPEHIOB BOOK BIDI..
""tltalwwk lately. Welnrlte
"" tB"' orders by mail. In every
r work teams Ic aire entire satufaci.n Oar
rrry lev.
OCB AD?EHTI8EBS.
Information of a fine dapple grey horse strayed
or tU.leo from Mr. Walker will be thankfully
received and the informant liberally rewarded. '
Mr. Wm. Bridgert Ambrotypist Pecan street
has discovered a new mode of taking pictures
Call and look at hi new style. He is polite and
accommodating.
B Alios Uhivebsity. The regular exercises
this well known institution commences on the
second day of March next.
Special attention is called to the notice by
James C. Wilson. Comminsioner of the Court ol
Claims to the Clerks of the Connty and District
Courts and District Surveyors throughout the
State.
Mr. Wm.K. Cowling residing about four miles
ahove Austin bad bones strayed or stolen frm
him on the 5th of this month!
Mr. P. DeCordova has lost a certificate No.
100.
All the maH routes in the State eaa be found
with our advertisements.
Charles H. Jordan Receiving Forwarding and
Commission Merchant Port Lavaca will attend
to all business promptly entrusted to him.
Mr. P. DeCordova offers good rooms in Swen-
son's building for rent.
OFFICIAL.
BKi"?181" OF 'HN C. WAT-
lOI'S IlillTED STATES DISTRICT
y:! FK THIi DISTUICT OF
Tlil Art
Mr. Barbour from the committee on the
Judiciary made the following Report.
The Committee on the Judiciary to whom
were reerred thepetitions of Jacob Mus-
sina and Eliphat Spencer for the im-
peachment of John C. Watrous United
States district Judge for the district oj
Texas have had the same under consid-
eration and after due examination they
have resolved to report favorably to the
prayer of the petitioners.
Upon referring to the proceedings in cases
of former impeachments the committee
find that specific charges of impeachment
hare not been preferred in the report of the
committee to the Home but in most cases
they have aim pi y reported the testimony
with a resolution that the accused be im-
peached of high crimes and misdemeanors.
Specific charges have been preferred after-
wards when the Senate has signified its
readiness to proceed with tne trial.
The committee would however state
very briefly the substance of the charges in
the petitions and the groan ds upon which
they have resolved to report the resolution.
The complaints in the petition of Jacob
Mussina among others are founded upon
the conduct of Judge Watrous in a chance-
ry suit litigated in his court at Galveston
and charge that throughout the progress oi
the case he was oppressive and partial ; that
he entirely disregarded the well established
rules of law and evidence and the rights
of litigants.
The cause at Galveston was commenced
by one Cavazos et al. vs. Stillman et at..
January 12 1849 for partition among the
complainants of a large tract of land situ-
ated upon the east bank of the Rio Grande
which included the town of Brownsville.
and to quiet the title as against the claim
of those who were made defendants. The
bill of complaint which was verified by oath
alleged that all the complainants were citizens
of the Republic of Mexico and that the
aeienaint were citizens of the State ol
Texas wn'ch gave the United States court
jurisdietio i. Afterwards it appearing up-
on the report of a master that the suit was
commenced by the attorneys of Cavazos
without the knowledge or consent of several
of the parties made complainants the court
ordered (hat the names of suoii parties should
be struck out of the complaint and inserted
as defendants upon the agreement of an
attorney to appear for them and place upon
the record in the cause bv answer or other
wise such averments as would recognize the
jurisdiction of the court by acknowledging
themselves citizens of the State of Texas
although it was well known that they were
citizens of Mexico and not of the State oi
Texas and although no notice had been giv-
es to any of such parties one of them be-
ing a married woman and another an in-
tent for whom no guardian ad litem was
ever appointed their rights were finally
passed upon in the decree in this irregular
manner. These facts might not have been
cause of serious complaint if the judge
in tbe subsequent proceedings had shown
a disposition to administer justice with an
eves hand.
The petitioner Jacob Mussina was not
made a defendant in the cause until after
these proceedings were had ; but his inter-
est afterwards appearing by the affidavit of
one of the defendants although he was not
a citizen of Texas but a citizen of Loiusi-
aaa he was made a defendant by an amend-
ment to the bill of complaint. The com-
mittee find that during the progress of the
cause the well-established rules of law and
evidence were repeatedly disregarded by the
court and in all cases in favor of the com-
plainants and against the defendants. The
testimony of interested witnesses was al
lows against tne objection of the defend-
ants ; aad the deposition and affidavits of
snsltpfney for the complainants were re-
oeivsd in evidence against the objection of
the defendants although it was shown by
as own testimony that he was prosecuting
agreement of champerty
Z?fcVF7toBnrein tne proceeds
-- of the property after it should
m Mew reeovered and sold.
flowe4 the use of translations
.Tf?doclinen:8 tendin p"to
ths complainants to the proper-
7 Son which had been made out by
msssne attorney who was by agreement to
?"j J" of the suit when the
JaaatosxUbe reeovered and sold without
Aeaetionsof an oath and
wi1fetoMBlationa being verified by
oath. And the court also ovrli tk. k.
of ins defendants to the use of such
There is come rannrri tsari.
the committee ahoarino- tw
tsaSSWleSMnmSoUS Were false id aim Mn
WsthonashewinK in whatrespeota th ...
not hold a January term at Galveston.which
eame to the knowledge of Jacob Mussina
and prevented his attending that courtand
taking such steps as might be necessary to
secure the benefits of an appeal. But not-
withstanding his declarations he did hold
the January term at Galveston and render-
ed decree in the said chancery cause de-
claring the title of Mussina toUiaepfoprtv
in controvcrsv to be null aad void kui! en-
ioiniui? hiia forever fro-i fnrtherv'SssertJp"
anv claim to the same reB.ArLiffa ut thti
time that he had seen ir eoiiver.-ntriih the
parties at Austin and that- they Ksd con
sented to or weresati?8ed withjtjbo decree
which declaration of the judge prevented
an attorney of Jacob Mussina then hap-
pening to be iu court from taking the nec
essary- step for an -
truth and in fact Judge
seen or conversed with Jacob Mussina at
Galveston or elsewhere or any person rep-
resenting his interest ; and the preteneethat
he had consented to the decree or was sat-
isfied with it was without foundation or ex-
cuse. Five of the eight complainants who
wer material and necessary parties had
been made defendants in an early stage of
the cause and withDut any answer or alle-
gations on their part except two of them
a decree was rendered in their favoragainst
Mussina and to perfect an appeal a notice
should have been given in open court at
the time the decree was rendered or in
case of appeal being taken afterwards by
the provisions of the 22d section of the ju-
diciary act the appellees must be served
with a citation of appeal ; and as one of the
parties was a married woman and another
an infant all of them residing out of the
VV
&Lmjr ?w
" hmm vimrc oi uai veainn r
1854 Jadgte Watrou caused it to be un
derstood by rumors mm by declarations! of his interest in
given out oy Himself publicly that he would
jurisdiction of our courts being citizens of
Mexico it became very difficult if not im-
possible to perfect an appeal after (he court
had adjourned.
It further appears that afterwards on or
about the day of January 1854 Judge
Watrous upon the application of the so-
licitor of the complainants in the chancery
cause at Galveston cited said Jacob Mussi-
na to appear in court at that place to answer
for a contempt of court in continuing to
assert that be had an interest in the said
property at Brownsville. The acts charged to
be in contempt of the court were first that
he had commenced and prosecuted a suit in
the city of New Orleans against some of the
parties and solicitors in the said case of
Cavazos et al. vs. Stillman et al. for con-
spiracy in the proceedings in said case to
defraud and cheat under color of legal pro-
ceedings the said Jacob Mussina out of his
interest in the property at Brownsville.
The suit at New Orleans was commenced
the year before the decree was pronounced
at Galveston. That decree did not notice
the suit at New Orleans or in any manner
enjoin it. The other act charged to be con-
tempt was the filing of protests by said
Mussina in the office of the Secretary of
War and in -the Quartermaster General's
office at Washington against the payment
of money by the department to the success-
ful litigants for the rent of the Brownsville
property. The court declared Jacob Mus-
sina to be in contempt and issued an order
for his arrest ; and because he could not be
found not being a citizen of Texas but a
resident and citizen of Louisiana an order
was issued to sequestrate all his property.
The committee deem the preceding? for a
contempt to have been irregular unjust and
illegal and taken in connexion with the
previous proceedings and rendition of the
decree oppressive and tyrannical.
In the case of Cavazos et al. vs. Stillman
et al. the record affords sufficient evidence
to satisfy the commute that there was collu
sion between the solicitors for the complain
ants and a part of the solicitors for the de
fendants and that a part of the defendants.
or one of them at lea"t Jacob Mussina was
detrauaed and betrayed by such collusion
They would further state that there is evi
dence to satisfy them that a part of the de-
fendants were concerned in the conspiracy
and that the judge of the court knew of the
collusion during the pendency of the suit
and that he alluded to a conversation be-
tween himself and one of the defendants
solicitors who was concerned in tbe collu-
sion when he remarked that the defendants
were satisfied with thedeeree. The defend-
ant Mussinacommenced a suit in Galveston
igainst the other defendants and solicitors
in the cause on the 15th day of March
1850 for such conspiracy; but owing to
continual obstacles and delays in the prose
cution of that suit at Galveston Mussina
afterwards but before the rendition of the
decree in the chancery cause commenced a
suit against the same parties for the same
cause at New Orleans and Judge Watrous
afterwards declared said Mussina to be in
contempt for having commenced and prose-
cuted this suit at New Orleans and ordered
him to be imprisoned and because he could
not be found in the State of Texas ordered
his property to be sequestrated as above
stated.
The other branch of the charge arises
upon the petition of Eliphas Spencer. His
was one of a large number of suitj com
menced in the districts courts of Texas in
which a claim was set up to large tracts of
land which had been treated as pnblic do-
main by the Republic and State of Texas.
In this petition the said Spencer charges :
" That one Thomas M. League combin-
ing and confederating with the Honorable
John C. Watrous sole presiding judge of
the court of the United States for the dis-
trict of Texas for the purpose of fah'o'y
fraudulently and corruptly adjudicating
and determining the validity of an eleven
league grant in the court of the United
States in and for the district of Texas in
which the said Watrous was then and there
the sole paesiding judge the said Thomas
.Lieague entered into a secret agreement with
the said Watrous judge as aforesaid bv
means whereof the said John C. Watrous
became entitled to a certain portion of the
hind or the proceeds of the sale upon the
1UUU1 mevauairyor said efcren
league grant in the court presided over by
the said John C. Watrous as aforesaid.
" For the execution of thk frniii
and corrupt purpose he the said Thomas
M. Leatrue combining and rtnnf?a;
with the said John C. Watrous falsely
fraudulently and corruptly to give juris-
diction of the suit or suits above contemplat-
ed he the said League reservine an inter
est in said eleven league grant for himself
and tbe said Watrous sold apparently die
entire interest and property of the said eleven
league grant to one John Lapsley a resi-
ident citizen of the State of Alabama."
It seems that Spencer had settled upon
land supposed to be ths public domain of
the State of Texas and was in accordance
with the iawa enjoying his possession and
perfecting his title when suit was com-
menced against him in the United States
district court fof ths district of Texas at
Galveston in January 1851 by said John
ufh otisen of Alabama. The suit
was afterwards removed from Galveston to
Austin in the same district and remained
pending m the district court of Texas from
January a8Sl. until TkuumW mu
when the interest of JweW WkrvrJ. ; 4.i
otjeos-sBwr ox Use suit having became
r;rv ""-s vwaou hwm entered
TLT ir-W.- t
rr? iwj!w court
iur me eastern omnci oz ismissaea mi -
S7
changed at the same time for tbe ume
cause. There is no direct evidence before
the comnvttee to fix the precise time when
Judge Watrous acquired an interest in the
subject-matter of those suits ; bat as the
order was based upon the foot of hiarater-
est it follows that the judge was Interested
in the suits at the same time they wsj&
eoiii meiicej or he afterward- acquired an
interest by dWent or devUe or he went
into the market and bought up property
tha: was in litigation in uuweroui suits in
hie uvn court-. The committee are satis-
fied that h - did not ccouire the propertv bv
decent or 'levi-c. and there is some indi-1
rect te-tiuionv to show thatlie acquired the
interest by purchase while he was district
judge of Texas and that the title was not
Mr Yates the Blind Teacher of the
Asylum has resigned his office. We un-
derstand that it is the desire of many of
esssrv step for an appear r- whWWs hi sonvysd tobim but waa vested in aaotherlanc citing that he should remain among
trntli and in fact. Judge Watrous bad not poison a non-resident ot tbe fctate and us urn
venue of various other
Krrr. r-flw i
tts-esasar Thai!
ctott wcvb
also
tie suits were commenced iu the district
courts of Texas. This title was acquired
by tb- judge after the bnd or a part oi
it had been taken up by actual settlers as
a part of the public domain of Texas. No
one we presume will question the impro-
priety or even guilt of a judge ingoing
into a market and buying up property in-
volved in litigation in numerous suits in
his own courts uolesj he intended to resign
his commission in time to give the litigants
an opportunity to test the title in the court
within the States where tbe lands lie; and
similar objection would naturally be sug-
gested to the purchase by a judge of lands
within his jurisdiction held by adverse pos-
session especially if other lands similarly
situated had already become involved in
litigation. In connexion with this it
should also be recollected that the district
judge of Texas has district and circuit
court powers ; that he i? the sole judge
and chancellor of the district and that
there is no appeal from his decision but to
the Supreme Court at Washington.
The interest claimed by Judge Watrous
and his associates in the eleven league
grant iu controversy depended upon grants
claimed to have been made by the supreme
governments of the Mexican States of Co-
ahuila and Texas of three eleven league
grants to three persons in severality but
made at the tame time and included in
the same deed or patent ; and after the
judge had changed the venue of eleven
cases to the United States circuit court in
Louisiana he still proceeded to try and
pronounce judgment in cases depending up-
on the same title and grant upon which his
own was depending j and although the
judge was not interested in the subject
matter of the cases tried by him he was
interested in the title which such cases
called in question.
A large amount of the public domain of
Texas was drawn into litigation at an ear-
ly day and the public and the legislature
of that State were alarmed at the course of
Judge Watrous as early as 1848 and the
committee find among the public laws of
the State of Texas a joint resolution ap-
proved by the governor March 20 1848 a
copy of which was referred to this commit-
tee with the petition of Jacob Mussina
which reads as follows :
JOINT RESOLUTION.
"Whereas it is believed that John C.
Watrous judge of the United States dis-
trict court of the district of Texas has
while seeking that important position giv-
en legal opinions in causes and questions to
be litigated her after in which the inter-
ests of individuals and of the State are
immensely involved whereby it is believed
he has disqualified the court in which he
presides from trying such questions and
causes thereby rendering it necessary to
transfer an indefinite and unknown number
of suits hereafter' to be commenced to
courts out of the State for trial ; and where-
as it is also believed that the said John C.
Watrous has while in office aided and as-
sisted certain individuals if not directly
interested himself in an attempt to fasten
upon this State one of the most stupen lous
frauds ever practised upon any country or
any people the effect of which would be to
rob Texas of millious of acres of her pub-
lic domain her only hope or resource for
the payment of her public debt ; and where-
as his conduct in court and elsewhere in
derogation of his duty as a judge has been
marked by such prejudice and injustice to-
wards the rights of the State and divers of
its citizens as to show that he does not de-
serve the high Btationahe occupies : Therefore
Section 1. Be it resolved by the legisla-
ture of the fitate of Texas That thj said
John C. Watrous be and he is hereby re-
quested in behalf of the people of the
State to resign his office of judge of said
United States court for the district of Tex-
as. Section 2. Be it further resolved
That the governor forward to the said John
C. Watrous under the seal of the State a
copy of the foregoing preamble and resolu-
tion ; also a copy to each of onr senators
and representatives in the Congress of the
United States.
Approved March 20 1848."
The committee have examined numerous
lecords consisting of pleadings orders of
court affidavits and depositions and after
a patient and laborious research they have
reluctantly come to the conclusion that
the conduct of Judge Watrous in the
cases above referred to cannot be explained
without supnosing that he was actuated by
other than upright and just motives ; tht
in his disregard of the. well established
rules of law and evidence h3 has put in
jeopardy and sacrificed the rights of liti-
gants and in acquiring a title to property
in litigation or held by adverse possession
he has given just alarm to the citizens of
Texas for tbe safety of private rights and
property and of their public domain and
has debarred them from the righto of an
impartial trial in the federal courts of their
own dirtrict. In view of the above recited
facts and the conclusions of the committee
they report the evidence and the following
resolution :
Resolved That John C. Watrous Unit
ed States district judge for the district of
Texas be impeached of high crimes and
misdemeanors.
sal
tale aette.
MARSHALL 4r OLDHAM Editors.
XSTDf. 3ATUKDA.Y FEBBUAEY881857
EF SubscilptUna to the Gazette if paid is
a-lreuc ... TWO DOLLAKS A5D A HALF.
Mo.nev by Mail. Oar agents subscribe
sail advertising patrons can always remit m
money by mail at onr risk.
Plast- see last paragraph on first page under
the head " Bates of Advertising."
id open a private school.
a.Thd Houston Telegraph states on
the authority of Mr. Shaw that Hon. P.
H. Bell will not be a candidate for re-
election to Congress. We have not seen
Mr. Shaw but "suppose that this is Mr.
Bell's position.
far We tender our thanks to Gen. Rusk
and also to the Commissioner of Patents
for (heir kind favors in sending us seeds.
It has enabled us to furnish several appli-
cants with sufficient for experiments.
We ought also perhaps to make a similar
tender of thanks in behalf of the unknown
person who took about half of the seel out
of the parcel before reaching us hoping
that he will put some other parties under
obligation the next time.
Hon. Guy M. Bbtan. We have re
ceived the proceedings of tho Democracy of
Brazoria and Fort Bend counties in which
is to be found a recommendation of Hon.
Guy M. Bryan for Congress. Mr. Bryan
has been long connected with the Legisla
turo of the State and occupies a faverable
position before the Democracy for a faithful
adherence to the doctrine of State Rights.
As an earnest and zealous friend of the
South we could rely fully on the advocacy
of this gentleman. Should he be nominated
we would cheerfully support him. The
proceedings will appear in our next issue.
J We are indebted to the Hon T. J.
Rusk and A. J. Brown of the U. S. Sen-
ate for valuable public documents ; also to
Hon. Wm. H. English of the House. We
acknowledge the receipt of speeches from
Hons. J. A. Quitman Miles Taylor P. H.
Bell A. J. Stephens G. W. Jones Sam
Caruthers and for the Report on Impeach-
ment of Judge J. C. Watrous from Hon.
Sam Houston.
George H. Vinten of New Orleans
is well and favorably known to a large
number of the publishers of newspapers in
Texas and has bore the reputation we be-
lieve of being prompt in filling all orders
sent for printing material. His terms are
liberal and those wanting type presses
ink paper &c cannot order from a better
printers' warehouse. See his card.
A correspondent a member of the
last Legislature writes to us m favor of
Wm. Fields for Governor acd John Henry
Brown for Lt. Governor. We shall publish
his letter in our next. Col. Brown has been
favorably and deservingly noticed by many
of his Democratic friends in and out of the
press.
fy We rejoice to announce that Hons.
Jesse D. Bright and Mr. Fitch (democrats)
nave'been elected to the U S. Senate by
the Legislature of Indiana. These are two
clinchers from a free slate for sustaining
the Union with the Constitution.
LUNATIC ASYtriB.
We learn that the three Commissioners
appointed by the Governor to select a s'te
for a Lunatic Asylum will meet at this place
on the 20th March next to enter upon their
duties.
The law sets apart $50000 of U.S.Bonds
for the erection of a suitable building but
restricts tbe price of a site for the Asylum
to five dollars an acre. The Commissioners
are to report their proceedings to the Gov-
ernor in thirty days after their appointment
together with the deed of the land purchas-
ed or donated. Not less than fifty nor more
than one hundred acres can be . purchased.
Wc mention these facto for the informa
tion of the citizens of the State generally.
Communications ought to be sent on imme-
diately to tbe Commissioners care of the
Governor and we doubt not they will be
received' and respectfully considered.
Democracy of Ilaya.
The Democrats of Hays like the pnre air
of their mountains send forth the vivifying
Spirit to refresh and invigorate the party.
We have read tbe proceedings of their meet-
iogr published in another column to ad-
mire the bold and manly steps which they
have taken in first defining their platform
before putting forward their choice of men
in first setting forth what has drawn them
together in union add concert what is
nearest to their hearts and their highest
consideration before expressing a prefer-
ence for agents whose duty is only and sim-
ply to carry on their views. ! txv
Platforms msy be regarded with indifer-
ence but no party which intends carrying
out any political views of government can
dispense with them.
We see that the choice for Governor is
H. R. Runnels; L. Governor Fiaok
White and for Congwss M. M Potter.
tW The rrntrnVt st RiniMsisiillii
Polk countyflsfohsngeTUb
Post-OSes Department to Dayton.
Public Expression In favor of Bon. fit.
it. Knansls
Our readers will note the preference
given for Hon. H. R. Runnels for Gover
nor by the Democracy of Hays the adjoin-
ing county to Travis. Mr. Runnels has
many and ardent friends in the west.
It will be gratifying to the Democracy
to read the proceedings of the connty con-
r vention of Bowie given in to-day's paper.
This is Mr. Runnels' own oounty. He is
put forward as a consistent Democrat an
enemy of monopolies of every character and
description but a friend of the cause of
internal improvements with proper limita-
tions and restrictions; an economiser of
public expenditure and a friend of the
constitutional Union in which every State
has equal rights and privileges. The de-
mociacy can respond heartily to these sentiments.
Tfce Weather The Crops.
We had occasion lately to urge the farm-
ers to take advantage of tbe high price for
corn. Since then we have had abundant
rain and the ground is now in excellent
condition to insure a good crop. As an ef-
fect of this the price of corn has fallen.
Such is the capacity either of the soil or
climate of Western Texas that with but one
oi two good rains we can make a fine crop
of corn. And where in some of our sister
States a drought of several weeks would
destroy the crops with us it scarcely af-
fects it. We have now rain sufficient to
insure a crop of corn and as we shall
doubtless have a few sprinkles before July
f axt we look forward for one of the best
.heat corn and cotton crops made in Tex-
as. We believe this is the general opinion
in our whole country.
In the realisation of a good crop and the
jmpiTivingjjroapecU of onr railroads ws
have aright to anticipate a large iasmfanv
uon this fall and a liberal boriaae of traoa
and cash in the country.
THE I9L.AND OFCCBA.
srasaa vi.
We have now concluded a review of most
of the British possessions in the Cuban seas.
It is evident that the influence of England
ic Central and South America as well as
Mexico has to a considerable extent been
owing to her political and commercial pow-
er derived from these possessions. It is
the experience of our diplomatic agents in
these portions of the continent that the de-
mands of Great Britain never go unrespect-
ed or unsatisfied. If she seeks redress for
any supposed injury to her citizens she ac-
companies er demand when ueoessary
with the int lation that the rediess if not
promptly gi.-n will be sought through a
blockade of the offending nation's ports.
This generally accomplishes the desired ob-
ject inasmuch as it is known that in the
safe anchorage grounds of the British is-
lands we have enumerated arc vessels of war
constantly on hand and situated so near
that a blockade could be kept up without
the slightest inconvenience to Great Britain.
Another and important possession of that
country is the Balize in the Bay of Hondu-
ras lying immediately south of Yucatan.
The mines of the State of Honduras are well
known to be the richest in Central America.
Several of them are worked by Englishmen
exclusively while nearly the whole foreign
trade of the States of Guatemala and Hon-
duras is in the hands of England. What
this trade is few r.re aware but it is certain
ly very large' for as early as 1825 the Eng-
lish goods imported into Guatemala by way
of the Balize and Jamaica amounted in val-
ue to nearly $10000000 ! and the exports
to Great Britain even exceeded these fig-
ures. It is supposed that the total impor s
into Guatemala at that period were not less
than $35000000. When we recollect that
England France and Spain are among the
chief European exporters we may well im-
agine that every obstacle at the present
time will be placed in the progress of the
independence of the adjoining State of Ni-
caragua. Great Britain has been constantly seek-
ing to extend her dominion and political
influence in Central America. In 1783
Spain recognized her claim to the country
lying between the Hondo and the Balize
rivers. This was the extent of the British
possession in the Bay of Honduras at that
day. But dealing with a weak power Eng-
land extended her area until in 1786 she
made a new treaty with Spain wherein the
latter agreed to recognize her right to the
country lying still further south as far as tbe
river Sibun. Since then she went on swal-
lowing up fresh territory until she had ab-
sorbed nearly the whole coast of Guatemala
as far as the Sarston river and the islands of
Ruatan some 140 to 16.0 miles from the
main shore. Then again after assuming
as much territory as she could possibly pre-
tend to have the remotest color of title
Great Britain actually meditated the absorp-
tion of one half of the coast territory of Hon-
duras and the whole of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica under the vamped up title of tbe King
of the Mosquitos a mere Indian chief wear-
ing a breech-clout and adorned with beads
and trinkets. The right of the Mosquito
King to this vast territory of other States
was serbusly insisted upon in 1848 by Lord
Palmerston. the British Minister.
Nothing is more apparent than that an
American settlement in Central America
must have the effect of neutralising British
influence in that quarter to a'great extent
and the expansion of the United States to
Cuba would bring us in closer contact with
Central America than any of the British
islands-
The action of Great Britain in conclud-
ing the Dallas treaty brings this point to
our observation. That treaty may be re-
garded simply as an agreement to permit
Great Britain to have a voice in the settle-
ment of the internal affairs of the several
States of Central America. In fact it pro-
poses but little else than this : the United
States being admitted to like privileges as
a matter of course. But at the very time
Great Britain was negotiating this treaty
she was completing a treaty with Honduras
by which that State agreed not only to pre-
vent the establishment forever of the insti-
tution of Slavery but to use her influence
to have the same position taken by the re
mainder of the Central American States.
The following from Blackwood for Janu-
ary will show us the plan of operations for
the future efforts of England to prevent the
settlement of Central America by our peo-
ple : .
"The Spaniards when they first arrived
in central America reduced to slavery the
native population and in acknowledged or
virtual slavery that population stdl remains;
while in the Spanish islands in the vast
Portuguese territory of Brazil and in the
southern half of the United States the ne-
gro race has been imported from Africa to
act as a slave-caste and do the work which
climate renders impossible to the White
conquerors from tbe North. We entertain
little doubt that as the Anglo-Americans
of the Union extend their sway southwards
over Central America they will carry negro-
slavery with them; and moreover while
fraternising with the remnant of pure Span-
iards in Mexico and elsewhere will endea-
vor to reduce the half-breeds and native
population into systematic serfdom. Mr.
Bucnanan's contemplated course in regard
to Kansas is still uncertain ; but if as is
possible he conciliate the northern States
by letting Kansas decla.e itsel- a free mem-
ber of the Union we may rely t' at he will
simultaneously take steps to extend the
Slave States by encroachments on central
America. It is bad policy for the Slave
States to extend themselves by encroach-
ing on the limited territory ot the Free-soil-ers
thereby exciting animosity aad neces-
sitating a contest tor supremacy. And we
have no doubt they will willingly abandon
this course whenever a substitute is found
and a gateway of exganaion is opened for
them into the countries to the south."
We regard the above as an intimation of
the design of Great Britain to excite tbe
animosities of the lower and servile classes
of Central Americans against our country.
men. The British cry is now raised "Gen.
Walker seeks to enslave you ! The Ameri-
cans desire to subjugate your country for
ths extension of slavery ! We are your
friends look si onr treaty with Honduras.
Ws desire to sustain free soil and are op-
posed to slavery." This appeal will hnvs
its effect; and by it England looks to the
maintenance of her commercial ascendancy.
Her manufactures are 8000 miles distant
from Central America bnt this is nothing
while she can claim British soil is the Ca-
ribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico within s
few hundred miles to furnish her with am-
ple ns al depots and safe harbors at a dis-
tance from the territories of the United
States. We need Cuba to check-mats this
British influence on our Southern continent
A LITIHlRf ITiTTIS AT
AfJSTCV.
Ve have wibo excellent seminaries for
ladies and young gentlemen in our city
and it is frequently our great pleasure to
witness their examinations and note ths
rapid improvement of the pupils.
It is but proper however and svidsntly
demanded at this time that we should have
a literary institution of the highest grade.
We have a large and refined society in our
surrounding country and as a point for
health the inducements to the planters of
the lower country to settle among us are
prominent and influential. Some have al-
ready done so.
We have have had the pleasure of making
the acquaintance of R. A. EzkLL Esq. of
North Carolina a gentleman who comes to
us with letters of recommendation from
high quarters.1 Intending to reside perma-
nently among us and rear up a suitable
Institution for graduating in the highest
branches of a University education Mr.
Ezell will be joined by F. A. Bass of
West Point professor of Mathematics and
French and Ashbell G. Brown Tutor of
Ancient Languages in the University of
North Carolina gentlemen extensively
known for professional reputation. The
institution will be scrupulously non-sectarian
in all its appointments. Rooms for
the present have been engaged we believe
in the New Baptist Church and in due
time we hope to see the proper edifice
erected which will reflect oredit upon the
taste and liberality of our citizens.
Mr. Ezell has been a teacher for the last
twenty years and is well and favorably
known to many of our citizens. At one
time we believe it was proposed to engage
his services in the literary institution at
Marshall. He refers we believe to R. D.
Ward Esq. and Maj. E. A. Blanch of
that city and to several in other portions
of the State. Mr. Ezell appears to be a
modest and unpretending man and is
doubtless what he is represented by the
gentlemen who speaks so highly in his
favor.
The price of tuition may be high but
in consideration of the superior grade of
this literary institution our citizens will
not complain. It will certainly rank with
any in the South outside of the Universi-
ties of Virginia and North Carolina.
We need only say that our citizens are
ready to give liberal aid to an enterprise
commensurate with her character s the
capital of so largo and growing a. State
and we have no fears of success to an insti-
tution thus established and maintained.
a
o--iB-a---- i -. -. action with asnisi ier-
i -ji rltoiTrv
Among the rntlemo andorslnr Mr. CatU we Sad
lettars from G it. D. L. Sirain L. L. D. Prcsidtnt of tbt
University of North Carolina aad from its faculty. Also
r on Gov. Brsrr  Hon. James C. DobMo Secretary of taa
Navy ; Hubs. R. M. Saunders Asa Briggs D. S. Bald Sao.
S Badger Wm. A. Graham John Morehead P. H. Bell of
Texas and Ht. Rev. Wm. M. Green of Mississippi.
JSJDOE WATBOCI.
We give in another column the official
report of the Judiciary Committee of the
House of Representatives in the case of
Judge Watrous. It will be seen that they
report in favor of impeachment. Further
action was to have been taken on the 21st
inst. It is proper to state that up to the
present time the evidence upon which the
committee has proceeded is entirely exparte.
The friends of the Judge express confident-
ly the opinion that the testimony in his be-
half will be complete and satisfactory. We
trust so. We have every desire to see him
given a fair and impartial trial and cer-
tainly will be pleased to find that the judi-
cial ermine has not been soiled by fraud or
corruption. Such a terrible crime cannot
be con temj lated without emotion. It would
blast the name of the criminal through
more than one generation.
Our people take a deep interest in this
matter as is perfectly natural where so
much is at stake in the hands of the federal
courts over which Judge Watrous presides.
The report which we now publish will be
generally read throughout the State.
San Antonio HallraaS.
Tbe last " Texan" says that the prospects
of building the Uu'f Road were never fair-
er than at present. The city has nearly
raised its quota and the President of the
company is about leaving for the North to
perfect arrangments for the completion of
the first section by Jnly next. One hun-
dred additional workmen are to be pnt on
the road.
This news is gratifying and we trust suc-
cess awaits the operations of the company.
The supplementary act of 1856 was doubt-
less drawn by the agents of the company and
sent to Austin as being sufficiently definite;
the Bexar delegation passing it through the
legislature without any serious modification
out of respect for the authors of the bill.
The decision of Gov. Pease appears to be
a fair one.
The Victory 1st Niraraajaa.
In another column we give ths glad news
of Walker's victories in Nicaragua. He
has brought himself out of his precarious
situation and in three successive battles
achieved a complete victory over the Costa
Ricans. The brsfo Henningsen again
makes his name famous and Col. Lock-
ridge has re-asserted his claims to distin-
guished daring. Ws are now prepared to
hear of a succession of victories. General
Walker appears to be in p omission of sn
army respectable in numbers as well as
efficiency.
Tt is to be hoped that one of Mr. Bu-
chanan's fit st acta will be to form a perma-
nent treaty with the new Republic. It is
our decided interest to sustain its govern-
ment against ths vary probable intrusion of
European nations.
i.The line of the Memphis snd El
Paso railroad from the State line to Red
River connty has been surveyed snd ths
grabbing clearing sad ftsdinsj of five miles
on this tret siKias 1 out to Dr. fort of
Bowie connty.
Ltttor of Cans. John Pas . aTs
To Hsa. T. Sm Bask.
We have read the letter of Capt. Pope
with deep interest. He states that there
are abundant reservoirs of pure palpable
water underlying ths Llano Estecado ; that
they are easily accessible by boring ; and
bv s expenditure can bo made abun
dantly to overflow the ourfaoe He pro
poses to bore six -ells snould tne appro-
priation asked for be made. HU first ope
ration will be to complete the well he com-
menced on the S2d parallel of latitude ; al-
so the well left unfinished in the Mesilla
Talley near the emigrant route to Califor-
nia : the remainder in the valKes between
the SOth and S6th degrees including the
route from Ssn Antonio to El Paso and the
road from Independence to Santo Fe. Capt.
Pops thinks that these experiments will re-
quire from two to three yetrs and cost $100-
000.
The vast interior through which these
wells are to be made contains 100000 square
miles. The Pecos is the chief stream and
is said to contain more water than any other
river in the State of Texas although only
one hundred feet wide. For a distance by
land of 350 miles the depth of water from
bank to bank is fifteen feet. The shoals
and rapids are not more than fifty yards iu
length and can be easily removed so as to
secure steamboat navigation over this whole
distance. Such is the experience of Capt.
Pope. The Llano Estecado is 3WU teet
above the sea and is without timber. West
of the Pecos are numerous vallies covered
with rioh grama grass and excellent soil
Our Connection wit the Sonth.
At no period are the signs more favorable
for a close and effective connection of the
Southern States by railroads. Virginia
joined to Tennessee and the Mississippi
river is not the only link although a gigan- j
tic one. South Carolina North Carolina
and Georgia are soon to be within a day or
two'B travel of the Mississippi river. The
last news from Memphis assures us that on
the whole line from that city on the Missis-
sippi to Charleston on the Atlantic ocean
the locomotive will be running in another
month or two. One of the moves which in-
terests us and which we noticed sometime
aeo is the change of proprietors in the
Vicksburg road. Several wealthy and ener-
getic capitalists have purchased this road
and under a new charter they have agreed
to devote its entire income to the making
of a connection with the Mobile and Ohio
road. This connection will be made in a few
years and by the time of its completion ai
entire line will very likely run through
from Vicksburg to Savannah and Charles-
ton. All that is demanded of Texas to be
able to connect ourself with this vast sys-
tem of roads is prudenoe. Let us see that
each step we take is a right one. We have
the means. Let us avoid profligacy and
look with suspicion and distrust upon ali
schemes where substantial capital is not at
tne bottom of them bnt only false promises
madeto gull our people and rob the public
treasury. Humbug upou humbug glitter-
ing with the most brilliant promises of mil-
lions to the State will be gotten up
only to obtain the money of the Treasury to
aid gambling operations in railroads or per-
haps banks which will have their short day
of swindling and then die leaving thous-
ands stripped by them of their means.
These evils we have to guard against as the
rock upon which the State is to split and
become a hopeless bankrupt in the midst
of her overflowing treasury. If we do
guard against these evils we will make all
our real railroads and do it at the earliest
practicable day.
I
ELECTION OF ASSOCIATE J I'DCE.
The returns came in slowly. Last week
the indications were favorable to Judge
Gray ; this week there is a majority for
Judge Roberts. The only change ir' the
figures which can now take place depend-
upon the Rio Grande vote. The number
of counties heard from is 82 ; the num-
ber still to hear from is 34 ; but the prin-
cipal vote of the State is received.
Frand nlent Land Certificate.
Wears informed by the "Dallas Herald"
that Gov. Pease has appointed a commis-
sion to examine the records in certain nor-
thern counties where parties are supposed
to be issuing fraudulent Peters' Colony Cer-
tificates in large numbers. Buyers should
be on their guard. Information we learn
has been received of them at the Land
Office.
THE SHERIFF'S ELECTION.
The Democracy will be called on Mondav
the 9th March next to vote for their nomi
nee A. G. Weir for Sheriff. Let us do
our duty on that day.
MsT We notice that the names of Hons.
S. A. Maverick Frank Lubbock fan
Speight and Malachi W. Allen have been
lately noticed favorably for the office of Lt.
Governor. Out of ths many names before
tbe party we cannot fail of makine a rood
selection.
I neo Mr. Joneo Bond.
An extra of the Lamar Enquirer in-
forms ns that the wife of one of the most
respected citizens of Paris has eloped with
a Rev. C. C Jones of that place and that
the said Jones leaves behind him s wife
snd two children while his disgraced para-
mour deserts three children. He is des
cribed as about six feet high nusc ular
dark hair whiskers and skin. Three citi-
zens are in hot pursuit of him. Pass him
round.
Hon. FtrrcHxn Stookpaxx of Calhoun
replies to the notice of our correspondent
snd declines unqualifiedly to become s can-
didate for Congress. We will publish his
letter next week.
1 The steamer Maj. Harris exploded
both boilers lstsly on the Brazos canal and
is s total wreck ; one man was killed and
two seriously wounded.
An ebony cane with a massive trald
bead was lately presented to Capt. Wm.
Edwards of the Washington Light Guards
Houston by be Uompnny.
JVtsd Rivsrabo As Raft is in food
raw. The StesmersRsub. White
Unkm an regularly plying upon it.
The deep interest which th South has
manifested in the destiny of Kansas has
not been without its effecte. In the pre-
sent calm of the pnblio mind in that terri-
tory the first great enterprise suggc-sting
its?lf is a connection with the Gulf of
Mexico by railroad. We have on a former
occasion discussed the probabilities snd the
immense benefits of an enterprise connect
ing the North West with the Gulf in this
wav. It is an outlet which the nature of
the wan iuelf points out. Within a
few davs past we have received from a
reader "of tbe State Gazette at Leaven
worth Kansas Territory J. M. Alexander
Esq. a communication on the subject
which is deeply interesting to us inasmuch
as we learn that an amendment to the
"Leavenworth and Western Railroad Com-
pany" is now pending in the territorial
Legislature to enable the Company to con-
struct a branch road running to the south-
ern boundary of Kansas where a connec-
tion may be made with a road extending
through the Cherokee country and Texas
to the Gulf of Mexico. Such a road it is
stated will put the citizens of Kansas ter-
ritory in twenty-four hours travel with tho
Gulf of Mexico while a branch road from
a point in the Hannibal and St. Joseph
railroad wil cause a continuous railroad
connection with all the Eastern cities. This
is soon to be built.
The Editor of the Kansas Herald also
speaks in warm terms of this enterprise.-
He says :
"This will be a road of inestimable value
to the whole country. Texas is already
alive to its importance and making ar-
rangements to construct the road in this
direction. The rtute p isses through a rich
and fertile country and is entirely practi-
cable. This road meets with no obstruc-
tions on the whole route and will bring va
in connection with the Gulf of Mexico at
all seasons of the year. This perhaps is
one of the most important roads to this
country that can now be built. Capitalists
are eager to invest in the roads men
tioned."
We can say to our friends in Kansas.
that Texas is at work upon her part of this
railroad chain. From a point in our North
Eastern frontier we are making prepara-
tions to build a road connecting with tho
Fulton and Cairo road and to run to E1
Paso. Intersecting with this road will be
the road now progressing from our coast
cities of Galveston and Houston and upon
a portion of which the locomotive is already
running. In the course of the next ten
years we have not a doubt that a connec-
tion between our sea-board and our extreme
North Eastern boundary will be comp'ete.
Some are sanguine of its being effected at
an earlier day.
Our correspondent desires to know ths
aid given by Texas. It is on a most mag-
nificent scale. Our public lands are given
to those companies in consideration of ma-
king their roads at the rate of sixteen sec-
tions of land to the mile or 10240 acres '
Probably no State in the Union has or wilt
do as much to secure the building of rail-
roads. Besides this a loan of $6000 to
the mile is also offered.
We s'lall look with deep interest to our
connection with Kansas and Missouri. It
will do more for the protection of Southern
institutions than an army With banners.
Railroads must spread their iron arms over
the whole South and develop? every acre of
its agricultural resources.
THE REBUKE.
The Thirty-Fourth Congiess commenced
its session December 1855 with a great
flourish of trumpets. 1 he lower bouse fill-
ed with shriekers for freedom were willing
to repeal the Nebraska Kansas act and ad-
mit Reeder to a seat in that body. The
naturalized citizen was to be degraded to a
free negro and Sambo dignified with legis-
lative favors. Northern Black Republicans
having their work to perform and Southern
Knew Nothings eager to carry out their bit-
ter proscription against white men had met
together as congenial spirits for a while at
least and tried to kiss each other into
blissful union ; had tried it twice and then
had parted. In the mean time the Presi-
dential election transpired by whieh the
people everywhere in the union were able
to speak out and express their views dis-
tinctly. The Southrn Know Nothings un-
der Fillmore tested their strength and by
a dint of knocking down and dragging out
tiinmphed at the ballot-box in one State of
the Union while their whilom brothers the
Black Republicans carried every Northern
State not gained by the Democrats. The
result is that the fourth of March is almost
here the thirty-fcurth Congress is near its
end and save and except a little squad of
such men as Lem. Evans of Eastern Texas
who to the last voted to ostracise the Am-
erican citizen of foreign birth the party has
dissolved into thin air and every part of
the fabric raised up by the K. N's. of the
South at their Philadelphia Convention
and every plan of their Northern brothers in
thoe conventions from proscribing white
men to idolizing niggers have all foiled
utterly failed and are now the shadows of a
bygone dream ! What we rejoice over is
that the Democratic party have saved the
country from these dire calamities to our
nation : that our Union is still glorious-
ly in the ascendant happy at home and
powerful abroad ; and that even the Black
Republicans in congress are now drawing in
their horns. Long may it continue so. We
are ready to forget and forgive all repentant
sinner.
mm. A Democratic best meeting held at
Independence Washington county on the
14th inst  sets forth that " the cardiual
principles of the Democratic party are alike
applicable to our focota well as our nation-
al politics." I; U impossible to any out
a true state policy without submitting every
great leading measure to this test Why
should we care for triumph unless great
principles are placed by it in the ascen-
dancy ?
sn. Oar courteous and accommodating
Mend Dr. Baldridge at Powderhorn
we pieced to Isnrn still doing a fins
business in the commission snd fcrwsrn
linn.
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3
1
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