Texas Almanac, 1970-1971 Page: 84
[705] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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TEXAS ALMANAC-1970-1971
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Hi Iious : ' PLANImrrTHIS SKETCH shows the first capitol building of the Republic of Texas in Austin. Built in 1839, it served
as the state capitol until 1853, when a larger structure was built. Note the stockade, erected to keep out
Indians, the drawing of the interior and the map showing the location on 8th Street and Colorado.Texas Navy
Four small vessels, the Invincible, the Brutus, the
Independence and the Liberty, constituted the Texas
Navy. It harassed Mexican commerce and made partly
ineffective the Mexicans' attempt to blockade Texas
ports and prevent the receipt of supplies from the Unit-
ed States. The Independence was captured and two oth-
er ships were wrecked shortly after the revolution.
A threat to blockade Texas by Mexico's navy after
the founding of the Texas Republic caused the Republic
to buy six vessels from the United States to harass the
Mexican coast and prey on its commerce. Under the
command of Commodore Edwin W. Moore, a former
officer in the United States Navy, the navy attacked
and captured several Mexican coastal towns.
The navy operated until 1843 when it returned to
Gaiveston. It had kept open Texas ports, operating
partly under orders and part of the time so flagrantly
in disobedience of orders that President Houston
threatened to disown the fleet.
Commodore Moore usually vindicated himself by his
daring and genius as a naval commander, and the net
results of the operations of the Texas Navy were of
great benefit to the new Republic. Three or four of the
vessels were in sufficiently good condition to be incor-
porated info the U.S. Navy when Texas was annexed.
An Independent Nation, 1836-45
Mexico refused to abide by the Treaty of Velasco
and threatened invasion. But the Republic of Texas
was soon recognized by the U.S., Belgium, France,
Great Britain, Holland and some German states.
Hostile Indians were a maior problem, although
Houston's understanding and tact held them in re-
straint during the Revolution and the first two years of
the Republic. The westward push of settlers into Co-
manche country fomented troubles.
Burned's Administration
The chief 'issue of Burnet's administration after the
Battle of San Jacinto was the Treaty of Velasco and
disposition of General Santa Anna. Many Texanswished to turn him over to the army for court-martial.
An unruly army refused to accept Mirabeau B. La-
mar as major general and elected Gen. Felix Huston.
The army had grown to about 2,500 following the Battle
of San Jacinto. It governed itself in boisterous fash-
ion for several months but civil authorities, fearing in-
vasion from Mexico, were afraid to do anything.
Houston's First Term
Houston was elected president in the first national
election in September, 1836, defeating Stephen F. Aus-
tin and Henry Smith. Mirabeau B. Lamar was elected
vice-president.
The first Congress of the Republic met at Columbia
in October, 1836. At this first election the Constitution,
which had been adopted by the convention of 1836, was
ratified. Austin was named secretary of state by Hous-
ton, but the man who is called the Father of Texas died
Dec. 27, 1836.
Houston sought to relieve the financial situation by
increasing the population on, and the value of, Texas'
vast public domain. The General Land Office was es-
tablished in 1837 to handle land problems, including
surveying the domain, distributing land bounties that
had been promised those who had taken part in the
Revolution, and formulating policies of colonization
and settlement under the laws of the Republic.
One of the lasting results of efforts to induce rapid
settlement was the "Homestead Law" of the first Con-
gress, which provided that a homestead could not be
taken for debt other than debt contracted in payment
for the homestead. The homestead law has been hand-
ed down through changing governments and exists to-
day.
Widespread frauds developed in Texas and the Unit-
ed States in connection with the practice of issuing land
scrip. Much forged paper was found in circulation.
Colonization Under the Republic
The Republic encouraged colonization, following the
empresario system, and a number of large land grants
were made. Henri Castro brought 600 Alsatian families
to a grant west of San Antonio. Castroville, which he
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Texas Almanac, 1970-1971, book, 1970~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113810/m1/87/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.