The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 303
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Book Reviews
of Texas. Apparently the only other access the author had to
documents emanating from foreign governments (in addition
to the United States, of course) was through means of tran-
scripts and privately edited material. With something over 600
footnotes to the 235 pages of text, the book is well documented.
There is also an adequate index, but no illustrative material such
as maps and pictures.
Texan Statecraft is not exactly an easy book to read. Far
from being brilliant, Professor Schmitz's style here seems some-
what labored. In places the phraseology is rather awkward, not
to say ungrammatical. Two cases in point may be noted. On
the opening page we read that the land laws of the United
States were changed so in 1820 that "cash had to be paid for
all locations." James Treat renewed his efforts to interest Texas
in his plan to secure a recognition of independence by Mexico
when his information from that country "got to be more
promising of success" (p. 98). The interrelation of different
phases of the story, as brought out in some instances, tends
to make the presentation a bit confusing. On the whole the
book is well proportioned; yet in some cases the amount of
detail given threatens to upset the balance. One may well ques-
tion, for instance, whether the vagaries of Alphonse de Saligny,
the French charge d'affaires to Texas, in connection with the
Franco-Texienne bill and the "pig incident" justify seven pages
(154-161) in this survey.
The author is not consistent in the matter of terminology.
The joint resolution by which the United States Congress for-
mally authorized the annexation of Texas is referred to also as
the "resolution" (p. 225), the "annexation bill" (pp. 222, 223),
and the "bill" (p. 225). More significant slips in this respect,
however, relate to treaty-making. It is hardly appropriate to
regard the document signed by Santa Anna and brought to
Texas by James Robertson in 1843 as a "treaty" (p. 196). The
Senate "ratified" (pp. 145, 149, 191) and "passed" (p. 191)
treaties, and received one "for confirmation" (p. 181). A treaty
was voted upon by "Congress" (p. 130), while another could
not be ratified without the "consent of Congress" (p. 149). The
Constitution of the Republic of Texas, like that of the United
States, designated the President and the Senate as the sole
agents in treaty-making. A survey of the Secret Journals of
the Senate, Republic of Texas, confirms the reviewer in the303
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/337/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.