The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939 Page: 35
446 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Analysis of Work of General Council, 1835-1836
he had embezzled funds furnished to him and Gritten when they
were sent as embassies to Cos.12 The two other charges are not
known, for the message was not placed on the journals of the
Council, and no copy is now available. These were rather serious
charges, but Barrett seems to have taken no notice of them what-
ever. The Council considered the message in secret session, but
took no action until December 25. On that date they adopted
unanimously a series of resolutions distinctly hostile to the gov-
ernor. The Council refused to recognize any power on the part
of Smith to veto appointments. The second resolution declared
that the Council could investigate charges against its members
only in case they indicated malfeasance and misconduct in office.
They therefore refused to consider the four charges listed above,
and rejected the others as untrue-which indicates that the
remaining charges had to do with the activity of Barrett as a
member of the Council. Finally, the governor was requested to
issue commissions to Barrett and Gritten.3 This attitude on the
12Wooten, A Comprehensive History of Texas, I, 211.
13Gammel, Laws of Texacs, I, 696-697.
In view of the wide publicity given these charges against Barrett, it is
only fair to say something in his behalf. As regards the attorney's license
said to have been forged in North Carolina, it is not possible with available
material either to sustain or deny the charge. However, he did possess a
legitimate license to practice law in Pennsylvania, and so it is difficult to
see why he would need to forge one in North Carolina. There is little
information available regarding the other charges.
During the entire period of the Provisional Government, Barrett seems
to have enjoyed the complete confidence of Austin. A letter from Houston
to Barrett, December 30, 1835 (Barrett Papers, University of Texas
Library), contains the following statement: "I rely on you to aid me in
serving the country - God speed you! Salute my friends - You know
them- . ." Houston signs himself as "Truly yr. friend." In a letter
of January 2, 1836 (Barrett Papers, University of Texas Library), Houston
says: "I would like to know what is going on, but I know you will guard
my rights!"
In May, 1837, Barrett was in New Orleans on his way back to Texas
after having been more than a year in the United States for his health.
M. B. Lamar wrote to Richard Ellis, May 8, 1837 (Barrett Papers, Uni-
versity of Texas Library), in his behalf. He recommended Barrett very
highly. There are numerous other indications that he was held in high
regard by associates and friends.
On January 24, 1836, the following statement was made by members of
the General Council:
"Colonel D. C. Barrett a member of the General Council of Texas has
been with us in the convention that formed the Provisional Government
from third November, until the Government went into operation and since
that time in the General Council. His whole conduct and policy has been
favorable in conciliatory and pacific measures, uniformly opposed to a
declaration of independence by Texas alone until the people should be gen-
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939, periodical, 1939; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101107/m1/43/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.