Tri-Weekly State Times. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 19, 1854 Page: 4 of 4
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If there is any meaning in the English
language, there can be but one construc-
tion put upon this contract, by every
lawyer, every judge, every candid man
on earth. The United States yielded to
Texas all the public lands within her
limits, to pay her debts and liabilities,
and the " residue of said lands, after
discharging said debts and liabili-
ties, to be disposed of as said State may
direct.'' I will not pres# this matter up-
on your consideration, but it is my duty
as an honest man, to call your attention
to it.
This public domain amounts, I under-
stand, to at least one hundred millions of
acres; which, at the low price of fifty
cents per acre, would command fifty mil-
lions of dollars—four times the total
amount of your whole public debt, prin-
cipal and interest. What an inheritance
for your posterity ! What a vast fund
for purposes of education and internal
improvements! No other State in the
Union can compare with you; Virginia,
?ld mother Virginia, once possessed such
a domain, but yielded it all to the Gene-
ral Government, to help pay the revolu-
tionary debt.
I had too deep an interest in your
public debt, gentlemen, not to observe
attentively all that occurred in reference
to its payment at Washington and Austin.
So soon as I knew that Texas had or-
ganized her State government, according
to the annexation resolutions, I wrote to
Gen. Houston for instructions what to
do, to recover what was due me, and re-
ceived from him the following letter:
Washington, April, 11, 1846.
My Bear G-eneral: I have only time
to say a word in reply to your favor of
the 7th inst. The management of the
funded debt of Texas remains as yet with
Texas, and the Government of the Unit-
ed States has nothing to do with it. The
Governor of Texas is the person to whom
any application must be made, but until
some provision is made by the State of
Texas for the payment of her debt, mat-
ters must remain as they have done for
years. I can only regret that she was
compelled to postpone the payment of her
debts. She has means, but they are not
available. If it were in my poioer, my
dear sir, you should not have the pay-
ment of your claims deferred an hour.
I can sympathise with you, but that af-
fords no relief to those who need money.
I am, very truly, your obedient ser-
vant and friend, SAM HOUSTON.
Gen. Leslie Combs, Lexington, Ky.
1 followed his advice, and wrote to the
Governor of Texas, who answered me on
the 18th May, 1846, that the amount I
claimed appeared due me on the books of
the treasury, and hoped I would find all
right, and my interests secure. A year
rolled round, and I again addressed him
on the subject: to which he replied, " that
nothing had been done in regard to the
settlement of the State debt:" that he
had urged the matter upon the legislature;
but it had adjourned without taking any
jíteps to provide for its payment: that he
would again call the attention of that body
to the subject, at its next session; and
concluded by saying, that if Texas "could
sell her public lands to the United States,
he hoped the debt would be settled in a
manner satisfactory to all." Another
interval of three years occurred, and no-
thing was done.
At last, day seemed to dawn upon us.
The boundary act was passed on the 9th
of September, 1850; to three sections of
which—the 3d, 4th, and 5th, I now ask
your attention.
Sec. 3. The State of Texas relinquish-
es all claim upon the United States for
liability for the debt of Texas, &c. &c.
Sec. 4. The United States, in conside-
ration of said establishment of boundaries,
cession of claim to territory, and relin-
quishment of claims, agree to pay to the
State of Texas ten millions of dollars, in
five per cent stock.
Sec. 5. Immediately after the Presi-
dent of the United States shall have been
furnished with an authentic copy of the
act of the General Assembly of Texas
accepting these propositions, he shall
tlifl stofrlc t.A Via i*¿>¿111w 1 in f«ivnr nf
the Secretary of the Treasury, and ap-
proved by the President of the United
States.—[See U. S. Statutes at large,
pages 446-'7, for the session of 1849-50.
On the 25th day of November, 1850,
the State of Texas accepted ^ above
recited boundary act by solemn legisla-
tive enactment, and immediately thereaf-
ter officially notified the President of the
United States of the fact, as provided for;
by virtue whereof, the Treasurer of Texas
received from the United States the first
five millions of dollars in five per cent,
bonds.
Confiding in the honor and honesty of
the United States and Texas, on the BOth
December, 1850, I filed the full official
evidence of my debt in the Treasury De-
partment at Washington, and on the 1st
day of April, 1851, filed my release ac-
cording to said boundary act and the
form prescribed by the Secretary of the
Treasury in pursuance thereof, dated the
22d day of March, 1851.
I have placed in the hands of the com-
mittee, official evidence of the truth of
these statements. From first to last, I
have been vigilant, (and it is said the law
always favors the vigilant,^ and I have
responsible accordingly. Whatever pre-
vious legislatures may have done—for
good or evil—is not now the question.
You are not accountable. For your own
acts only must you answer, lor these
you are responsible, to your honor; to
your children; to posterity and your
God.
Sir, when some truthful pen shall
write upon this subject, what will be
said ?
"The great Government of the United
" States; able to cope with a world in
" arms; extending from ocean to ocean,
"from the tropics to the frigid zone;
" exacting the last dollar, from those who
" owe her; yet refuses to pay her cred-
" itors, or give them a tribunal to assert
" their rights."
All this and more I have already said
to Congress and to the President, and I
now, repeat it here.
And what will be said of Texas, young
as she is, and proud, as she ought to be,
of her eventful history. "The richest
and the largest State in the Union, cov-
ering more space than New York, Penn-
I sylvania, Ohio and Virginia, all put to-
gether; producing abundantly within her
acted in good faith; yet, three years have! own limits, all that grows in the other
again rolled by, and I have not received 1 States; increasing annually in population
a dollar of my large demand, from either j and wealth, with unparalelled rapidity;
Texas or the United States. Now, is i her citizens all freeholders, some of them
this right ? Is it cither just or equitable ? | with more land than they can occupy or
I have always obeyed the lav/—have
complied with this last solemn agreement
between Texas and the United States, in
letter and spirit, and yet I am kept out
of my money by both of you.
You have divided the ten millions of
indemnity between you, and driven us
to whom it justly belongs pennyless and
almost hopeless from your doors. Sir, to
sell for half a century as matters now
stand, ref using to pay the petty cost of a
few millions of dollars for her price-
less liberty." Oh! Gentlemen! this will
never do. I pray you with the fidelity
of a brother—with the deep solicitude
of a father, to pause long before you
take a step so fatal.
What a set back may you not give to
my knowledge, many of your creditors j the sons of freedom in other countries,
are poor men ; some of them widows ! as well across the ocean, as near our own
and orphans. All these delays and dif- borders; the blood of manymartys has
in
Acuities thrown in our way, umay be
sport to you, but they are death to us."
I never doubted the liability of the
United States, legally and honorably, to
to pay our whole debt, and have so urged
my demand at Washington. I have ask-
ed for a tribunal to try my case, which
has not been granted. But if the Uni-
ted States are liable, so is Texas thrice
bound:
1st. By having created the debt and
solemnly pledged her faith to pay it,
and set apart her revenues for that pur-
pose.
2nd. By the terms of the
of Annexation; and,
3rd. By the agreement contained
the Boundary Act. Besides, Texas has
twice released the United States, as I
have shown, " from all liability " on this
account.
But some gentlemen seem to think that
the creditors are bound to look only to
tha reserved five millions for their money,
and not to that already in the Treasury
of Texas. Sir, there is no such provis-
ion in the law. On the contrary, if you
will examine Mr. Pearcbs" report and
speech on this subject, you will find that
he believed, from an official statement
furnished him, purporting to come from
the office of the Comptroller of Texas,
that all the bonds for which the revenue
from import duties was specially pledged,
amounted to little over four millions in
1848, and with interest added up to the i
first of January, 1851, would not exceed I
four millions and a half of dollars. tt!
there been shed by ruthless despotism.
When those who still survive them shall
again strike for liberty, and under the
necessity of circumstances call upon
"Americans' for aid, what may not be
answered ?
Texas too, when hard pressed on eve-
ry side, without a currency, and sparsely
populated, issued her bonds in large
amounts, to raise the necessary means of
self support, they sold at various
rates, dependent on her rising or
her waning fortunes. When she was
! poor, she scorned the thought of any
resolutions ! means of settlement, save full and hon-
est payment. But as soon as she parted
with her nationality, and became a rich
and prosperous State, she turned her
back upon her creditors.
Gentlemen, I have done. You have
given me a patient and respectful hear-
ing, worthy of your own character and
of the all important subject I have dis-
cussed before you.
I return to you my most respectful
si p.Ií n mvl prl orpm on t s
McAnelly, Newman, Pedigo, Potter,
Scarborough,Taylor, Weatherford, Whit
aker, and Wren—16.
The President voting in the affirmative.
No further action was had on the bill.
The day was spent in trying to get a full
Senate, in calling the ayes and nays on
motions of adjournment, and in raising
points of order.
Tribute of Respect.—Below can be
seen resolutions of the South Carolina
Legislature, expressive of its high appre-
ciation of the services of Capt. Barnard
E. Bee. Capt. Bee is the son of the late
Col. B. E. Bee, a gentleman favorably
known in this State, and connected in an
honorable manner with the early strug-
gles in Texas, as Secretary of War, Min-
ister to the United States, Mexico, &c.
Hon. Hamilton P. Bee, of Webb, is a
brother of the Captain. His life from
early youth to the present period has
been spent in this State. His career has
been distinguished by the contribution of
valuable services to Texas, in various po-
sitions of responsibility.
The following letter accompanied the
resolutions:
December 22d, 1853.
Capt. Barnard E. Bee—Bear Sir:
I have the pleasure to inform you that
the annexed resolutions, which I had the
honor to submit to the Legislature, were
adopted by both Houses with great una-
nimity.
This compliment, merited on your part,
I trust you will receive as a high testimo-
nial on the part of the State, to your gal-
lant services in the Mexican war.
With my best wishes for your future
welfare and success, I am, very truly,
yours, JOHN T. STRAW.
House of Representatives, 1
December 3, 1853. /
Resolved, That this General Assem-
bly highly appreciates the patriotic and
meritorious conduct of her gallant son,
Brevet Capt. Barnard E. Bee, of the U.
S. A., as displayed in tbe engagements
of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Vera
Cruz, Cerre Gordo, Contreras, Churu-
busco, Chapultapec, and the City of
Mexico.
Resolved, That his Excellency, the
Governor, be requested to provide a suit-
able sword, and present the same, on be-
half of this State, as a testimonial of esti-
mation of that distinguished officer.
i 2
s.
J0. WALKEB, PROPRIETOR & PUBLISHER
john s. fori). rditor.
AUSTIN, THURSDAY, JAN'Y 19, 1854.
Legislative.
Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1853.
* , v —i Senate.—Mr. McDade, chairman of
was therefore provided, that five millions ,, remittee Onnnti*. ami Oo.mtv
should, at once, be handed over to Tex-
as to enable her to pay this class of debts
and by procuring the releases of the cred-
itors, entitle herself, not them, to re-
ceive the reserved fire millions from the
United States Treasury.
Such too. was the view of Mr. Glay.
Boundaries, reported a bill to locate the
seat of justice of Robertson county.
Mr. Taylor introduced a bill amenda-
tory of an act to amend an act to raise
a revenue by taxation, approved Februa-
18.™
" — - «V WKTlAVVt. 1U 1U I VI " *
the State of Texas, as provided in the
4th article of this agreement: provided, ,
also, that no more than five millions of connexion with your debt, (believing,
said stock shall be issued until the credit- that " a spotless reputation is the jewel
ors of the State of Texas, holding bonds of the soul;) I can put my hand upon
and other certificates of stock of Texas, ¡ my heart and fearlessly say " write on"
for which duties on imports were specialy i —write all you know.
pledged, shall first file at tiie tre asury | I have not come before you to beg or
of the united states, releases of all j flatter, but simply, and in hecominer terms
claims against the United States, for or ! to ask for iustice.
Such too, as the view of Mr. Glay, | Hth, 1850. This bill provides for a
the great originator of that system of! , . , . 7 , .
® ,• pi.. i ¡ reduction of the ad valorem tax to ten
peace-measures ot which the Boundary ,,,,,, , *
Act was the most important part. I hnow | cents> on every hundred dollars worth of
from his own mouth, while on his death | property.
bed, that his great object in voting so1 Mr. McAnelly introduced a bill, in-
large a sum of money to Texas, was to ¡ corporating the Galveston Bay Canal
to put her fully on her legs, and give her j Qompanv
a fair start with her elder sister States on j AI ** , . ar t>
the road to wealth and power. i Mr* Holland d amendment to Mr. Pas-
Gentlemen, the sleepless eye of histo- j chal's amendment to the Loan Bill, adop-
ry is upon you here to-night, and will! ted on yesterday, striking out §700,000
follow you back to the Halk of Legisla- < and inserting 3900,000, to be reserved
tion. and in all t.imf* tr> wimn Til 3.11 mv i f,-L rnníla (lint li-iro • Inrmnitw nn
LOST. The headright certificate, granted by
the Board of Land Commissioners of Harris
county to John Durrington, 1st class, for one-third
league, number and date not recollected. Unlet
found within 90 days, application will be made for a
duplicate. 2:9t J. DE CORDOVA.
IOST.—The Headright certificate of William
J Bower, for 640 acres of land, issned by the
Board of Land Commissioners for the county of
Fayette, date and number not recollected. If not
heard of within sixty days, I shall apply to the
proper officer for a duplicate of the same.
WILLIAM BOWER.
Cunningham's. Bastrop co.. Nov. 26. 1853. 1
tIEIERAIi BOOK DEPOSITORY,
W Houston Mouse Buildings, Main St., Houston.
In addition to a variety of miscellaneous books,
there have recently been received at the above es-
tablishment a supply of the publications of the
American Bible Society, the American Sunday School
Union, American Tract Society, Massachusetts Sab-
bath School Society, and of the Presbyterian Board
of Publication; all or any of which will be prompt-
ly furnished to order. Address, Agent of General
Book Depository, Houston House Buildings, Hous-
ton. Januarv. 1854. 5:3t.
OTICE.—All persons indebted to the un-
i^l designed are notified that, unless they com
forward and make immediate payment, their ac-
counts will be placed in the hands of an officer for
collection. t. j. pitt.
Austin. Dec. 17. 1853. 3:tf
NEW GOODS.—The undersigned is now
receiving and opening in the house formerly
occupied by Mr. Wm. Oliphant, on Pecan street, a
general assortment of Staple and Fancy Dry Goods.
Boots, Shoes, Hardware. Cutlery, Blacksmiths'
Tools, Queenswarc, Groceries. Ac., which he offers
at the lowest prices for Cash. Thg citizens of
Austin and surrounding country are respectfully
solicited to call and examine our stock and prices
before nurchasine- elsewhere. R \f JOHVSON
on account of said bonds or certificates,
in such form as shall be vrcscribed bv
The past cannot be recalled; but the
present is in our Dower: .and we arc
the Gulf coast, the bays thereof, nor on
Buffalo Bayou, was re-considered by the
following vote:
Yeas—Messrs. Allen, Bryan, Doane,
Durst, Edwards, Gage, Hill, Jowers,
Keenau, Lott, McDade, Millican, Pas-
chal, bcott, Sublett, and Superviele—16.
Nays — Messrs. Armstrong, Burks
Guinn, Hart. Holland, Ivvle. Martin
IOST.—The bounty warrant. No. 1601, for 1280
A acres of land, issued Jan. 12tli. 1837, to Sime-
on Griggs, by Geo. W. Poe. If not found within
j the time prescribed by law, I shall apply to the
i proper department for a duplicate of the same.
R. F. GEORGE, Att'y for heirs.
: Dec. 0. 1953.
A headright certificates of Samuel A. Burton,
dee'd, for 320 acres of land, issued by the Board of
Land Commissioners of Houston county, dates and
numbers not recollected. If not found within the
time prescribed by law, application mill be made
for duplicates. JOHN I. BURTON,
1:9w Adrar, of estate of Sam'l A. Burton, dee'd
<i IIOCERIES.—Sugar, Coffee. Salt, Mohu-
I se.-\ kc.} at L. 1). CARRINGTON & co.
4 ii«tin \nv 3ft. 1 ft.r 0
ÉÉ
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Ford, John S. Tri-Weekly State Times. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 19, 1854, newspaper, January 19, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181731/m1/4/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.