The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911 Page: 31
348 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Reminiscences of Henry Smith. 31
could have been adopted under the existing circumstances, but
lacking the sanction of the law, it lacked everything calculated to
constitute a marriage in fact. Many couples however, not finding
the marriage state to possess all the alluring charms which they
had figured in their fond imaginations have taken advantage of
this slip-[k]not plan-sought the bond, and by mutual consent
committed it to the flames-returned to the world as young as ever
and free as the air.
From the passage of the law of the 6th of April [18]30 the
Genl Government had determined mischief against the colonies.
She feared their increasing power and intelligence and had
secretly determined to oppress or exterminate. And no doubt
remains with me, but that much of the ill feeling possessed
by the Govt. against the colonies, which were now various, was
excited by the secret workings of unprincipled land speculators.
Be this however, as it may various Garrisons were erected com-
manding all the ports of Texas-and the inmates of all the cala-
booses of Mexico were turned loose upon us, as soldiers, to fill those
Garrisons comprising in all from 1000 to 1500 of certainly, the
most wretched and abandoned set of cutthroats and outlaws that
ever made a track on the soil of any country. The ostensible
purpose was, to guard and protect the colonies from Indian inva-
sion, protect the customs etc. These troops had been brought in
by degrees and their numbers not known, as they had been con-
centrated at so many different points. Customhouse officers were
at the same time introduced to enforce the collection of duties.
Their tariff was unreasonable, and many of the indispensible ar-
ticles used in the country were contraband, and the duties so high
on others that it would amount to a prohibition. They were very
industrious in erecting their fortifications, and the colonists for
the time being, remained in statu quo.
About this time the Town of Brazoria was in a prosperous and
flourishing condition emmigration was pouring in rapidly not-
withstanding the interdict. Commerce was brisk and every
House and shed was filled up with emmigrants and their ef-
fects. The Merchants which were much more numerous than
at the present time, were frequently compelled to pile their
Goods on galleries and even leave them in the streets for weeks
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911, periodical, 1911; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101054/m1/39/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.