Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 8, Ed. 1, Saturday, October 20, 1838 Page: 2 of 4
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- " For tlie Telegraph.
At a called meeting oflhcsubgcriberf, ,tn the Jockey
Club of this Cityon 'Saturday; the 13ih inst., Major
Robert Barr wa'sll'JhaLCfiaif; and'CoZ. Thos.
J. GoKgMyappoinlcd Secretary.
"TBexctFihe:'-meeliRg"being8"tated bythe Chair-
man: .. stl. vul a . ...
rOa.mfliicnJEIojcN-Moreland, a committee of
r fivojfas appointed-to sJFt ruljs.and regulations for the
go-vrnmentcf the'Club.-.
3$o!.jAr:S.. Thruston, Shelby Stoiith, Esq., E. Hum-
. .nh'rnvs. f""nl. Wm. IV RrlcL and A. M. Thompkins,
r'iS- irrv!! -J'.;i-.r :.! XX.Utaa- wn. nflpr snmp i
soai, were awuuucu suiu uumuutv, , - ,,
deliberation, reported, that they rec imraend the .J
-adopjnjof the rules and'rcgulations of the I'AIaiarie
jockey' Cfub'oJfNbw Orleans," with some few amend-1
'ments a's lo'the'time 'oT meeting, weights, &c; when
if "wis Jte&lved', ,lsU "That the reporting of ihe com-j
"RittteV be "adopted. ' J
" -J&sohedj,'2cil. ThaVthe Club be styled the "Houston S
r:.i:. fi:.i.n' "
"Raolmsa '3rd. That "lire officers consist of a Prcsi-
dent; three Vice, Presidents, a Treasurer, Recordn.g
and'CorrespondinffiSecretaries.'
' "Mai.'Robert Barr was unanimously elected Prcsi-denti-Col.
Wm.'G. Coke, Col. Thos. J. Gol.ghtlv,
pnd.Docf.Wm. M. Shepard, Vice President-; L. C.
Stanley, Treasurer; J"no.'F. Huntingdon, Recording
Secretary; and Wm-Kerley, Corresponding Secretary,
an Executive Committee of "eight members were then
On motion, Resolved, That the proceedings of this
meetin.r be sfcneH'by the Chairman and Secretary; and
pdblisiied in the papers of this City and Galveston.
On motion, the meeting adjourned atne die.
" ' ROBERT BARR, Chairman.
Titos. J. Golightlt, Secretary.
"Another melancholy accident happened to the Subi
- Treasury-system lately. Abraham Jarvis, the Van Bu
TenPostmaster at Hartsgrove, Ashtabula county, Ohio,'
-Jriuflho noisiest'arrd' busiest Loco Foco patriots v
till -.5110, lias run away with all the public money in hi
"j'Awaaiioir.'-'He is advertised as having probably mad-
Mr Texa. - Fnis manJarvis was in the habit of carry i
., ing his pockets juUofGlubes for the benefit of the "De-
mocracv," "arTd was particularly vocife'rous damninf
the Whigs, as federalists. "Abraham has taken his re-
ward and gone to the bosom of Mo'ely Baker.
jtioouc Mercantile jiuecj-.
And" doubtless will soon be found scouring the coun :
- try with bis pockets filled wjth ."Galveston Commer-
cial Intelligencers." Oh! Abraham, would that be-
tween thee and Texas there might aver be "a grea't'
guifjieay ' -
judges oFMusic A Scotch bagpiper travelling in-
to Ireland opened hisr,wallct by the wood side and sal.
down to dinner. He had no sooner said grace than,
three wolves came about him. To one he threw bread j
to smother meat till his provisions were all gone; ai
length he lookup his bagpipes and began to-play,ai
which the wolves ran away. Thedeel law,' said Saw'
ney,'ari I had keen'd.ye loo'd, music so weel, y
should have.had it before dinner.'
OUR GOUNTRY.
N " BY JUDGE STORY".
When we recollect what has been, what is, how is i i!
possible not tofeel'a profound sense df the responsibil-
ities of this Republic to all future ages! What yas.,
motives press upon us for lofty effort! What brillian'J
prospects invite our enthusiasm! What solemn warning
t 0!ce demand our vigilance and moderate our con-
The old world had already revealed to us, in its un-
sealed books, the beginning and end of all its marvel
t33 struggles in the cause of liberty. Greece! lovelv
Gicecel the land of scholars-and the nurse of armf ,
where sister republics, in fair procession, chanted thij
praise of liberty and the good where is she? He:'
arts are' no more. The last sad relics of her temple,
are-but the barracks of a'ruthles3 soldierj; the fnu,'
rfnrnfff'of.-her columns and palaces are in the dus'l
yet beautiful -in ruins! She fell not when the might
were upon her. Her sons were united aiThermoph'-
and Maratnon,.and the tide of her triumph i oiled bac'
upon the Hellespont. She fell not by the hands of hi '
own people.' "The man of Macedonia did not the wor'i
of destruction. It was already done by her own coi
ruptiocs, banishments, and dissensions.
RotneL republican Rome! whose eagles glanced i i
the' rising sun where and what is she? , The elei
lial city yet remains proud even in her desolation, im
ble in dccline,.venerable hi the majesty of religion, an
calm in the composure of death. The.malaria has bi ,'
travelled in the parts won by the destroy e'r. .More lha
eighteen centuries haye mourned over the loss of tl :
empire. A moral discase was upon her before Cas
had ptfssed the Rubicon, and Brutus did .not reslor
her health by the deep probings f the Senate Cham
ber. The Goths, and Vandals, and Huns, the swam, i
of the North completed only what was begun at horn'.-,
-Romans betrayed Rome. The legions were bough-1
and so'd, but the people pail the tribute money.
And where are the Republics of modern time--which
clustered' around immortal Ilalyl Venice" at
Greece exist "but in name. The Alps, indeed, loi ;
down upon the brave and peaceful Swiss, in their natii i
fastnesses;J)u'tjii.egiianintyrof.theirfreedoin is thei
weakness, ani'nol their strength. The mountains an
not easily "retained. When the invader come?, 1 (.
..moves like an avalanche, carrying destruction in h .
. path. Tne peasantry sink before him. The couutr .
too, is too poor for plunder, and too rough for valuab
crnquest, Natnre presents her eternal barrier on ovci .
lido, to check the wantonness of ambition, And Swi '
zcrlaud remains, with her simple institutions, a mililai
road to climates scarcely worth a psrmanenl possession,
nd protected by the jealousy of her neighbors.
We 'stand the latest, and, if we fail, probably the la-i
rcsunole of.self government by the the people. "W
nave begnn it under circumstances of the mo-t aus j
cious nature. We are in the vigor of outh. Oiir
srowlh has never been checked by the oppression f
" tyranny. .Our constitutions have never been enfucblii!
by tho vices or luxuries ofthe wqrld.
Such as we are, 'we have been from the beginnin .
simple, hardy, intelligent, accustomed, to self gover-
nment and self-respect. The Atlantic rolls between
and a formidable foe. Within our own terntoi ,
stretching through many degrees of latitude, we hai
the choice of many products, and many means of ini1
pendence. The Government is mild the press fre .
Religion is free. Knowledge reaches, or tmy rem .
everr borne. What fairer prospect of success could 1
presented"1 Wbat more i3 necessary than for the p.c
jile to preserve what they themselves have created?
Already has the age caught the spirit of our inati't
lions. -It has ascended the Andc?, end -muffed t
breezes of oceans. It has infused itself in ihe I 'e
blood of Europe, 'and warmed the sunny plains -1
France, and the low lands of Holland. It Ins touch I
the philosophy of Germany and the North, and. movi i
enward to the South, has opened to Greere the le-s i
of better days.
Can it be that America, under suqli cirenmstanc- ,
can betray herself I That she is to 'ie added to tho ,
aloguo of republics, thtfinscripiinn upon wi'i?e ruin i,
"they were, but they were not?" Forbid it, my c
trymen. Fdrliid it Hcaven.-
I call upon you, FatueR3, by the shades rf m. i
nncesters, by tho dear ashes whicli repisciu this p .-
cious soil, by all you hope to be, resist every project !
disunion: resistevery attempt to fetter your consiei -.
o; smother your public schools, or extinguish your
tern of public instruction. -
I call.upon you, Mother-), by tint whith i cvrr fi.i
in woman, the love of your oflspring, ti teur.ii tlii-m
they climb your knees to lean onyour buscwn, the lib
ing of liberty. Swear them at the altar, as iuh tin i
"baptismal vows to be true to their country ,-mJ n i
forsake her.
I call upon you, young men, to remember v-b -i- , ii
you are, whose" blood flows in your veins. Life r c
can be too short whirh brings nothing but disgrace and
oppression. Deathnever comes too soon, if necessary,
in defence of theliberties of our country.
1 - -1 --'' For the Tcl'graph.
Mr. Editor. As the matter is of some importance,
and one which has caused some considerdlle discussion
among the interested, I beg through themedium'of your
p.ipcr, locall the attention of the public and especially
of the next congress, toaniir'esiigation of the business
of ihe probate courts of this republic.
Our executive has been much censured in days gone
by, for his unlawful interference in the business of these
courts, in matters touching the successions of soldiers,
who died jn the service of the country, or since they
" deserted or were discharged from it, but whether he or
-his ceusurcrs were to blame, is a matter for lime to de-
.velope, unices timely legislation should determine it.
D.-an act of the prmisional government of Texa,
in existence prior to the o-ganization of the government
under the constitution; the civil code of Louis-ana was
adopted in all mailers touching successions of per.-ons
deceased. By the laws of that code then, so far as not
inconsistent with the statutes and constitution of this re-
public, the probate courts are to be g-iverned.
By the provisions of the civil code, no administrator
should be appointed to any succession '.vhkh the hetrs-
have accepted or arc willing to accept. If there arc no
debts, the heirs will of course accept the succession il
there is property if there is no property, there is no
use in administering.
By- the Spanish law, all property which no heirs
claim, becomes public and goes to the state.
Of those who hive served in the army of Texas,
from the commencement of the revolution to the pie-
sent time, probably two thousand men lnu e died, leav
ing unsettled claims against the government, either of
pay or bounty or donation lands: of this number hardlv
more than one hundred have "debts unpaid, most of
them being men who could never contract debts: Of
the whole number, probably five hundred were Eu-
ropeans, and five hundred more Americans, wh-sc re-
latives knownotMiat they were inour army, and never
will know il: possibly one half of the number may
have heirs, who at some future time may claim what
was due them frrm the government. Of the heirs whicli
liuve claimed, I think there are not more than thirty
cases (at a guess) where a succession has been receiv-
ed by the heirs properly identified in all the courts of the
republic. - The number of successions of deceased sol-
diers, which have been filled by the appointment of ad-
ministrators, cannot be less than one thousand.
I have been intimately acquainted with the army of
Ihe republic since its first organization, and have taken
much notice of the probate courts, moreover, I read
the newspapers, and am firmly persuaded tbat the above
calculation is not far from correct. In the Telegraph
of the 6th inst I count sixty-six administration notices,
about sixty of which are on soldiers estates.
Now, to every mind the question suggests itself, what
i the motive of administrators? If no heirs claim the
Eticcession, and if there are no debts against it, the
courts will certainly not allow the administrator ad-
dling for his services, for the obvious rcrson that ihe
succession is not Lenefilted by his administering, and
that his administration was evidently fraudulent. - The
administrator will certainly have costs of court to pay
and will have that pleasure for his trouble. .
Our laws provide, that foreign heirs shall bo allow-
ed a reasonable time to take possession a-jd dispose of
the lands in which they inherit in thi repjblic, but
they have not yet fixed upon what shall be considered a"
reasonable time until such limitation shall be made by
law, they will be allowed to claim their property.
By another provision of law, tho lands which should
lie given to a soldier for his services, in case of his dy-
ing before receiving them, will be given to his he.is.
and if he died in the service, an additional gratuity is
given to his heirs; but there is no law for giving this to
an administrator. ,
All vested property, is liable. for the payment of-debts
i xcept particular donations. If there arc debts, this
property may be administered on for the payment of
the debts, b-it no administration can take place for the
benefit of the heirs, for it is Ihe interest of the heirs to
save eYpensc. If the heirs want the property which is
coming to them, they can have it without this cxp nse
on proving t'.enisoues Ihe heirs; and after an admims
tration they can never get the property without such
pro f . If such proof is not made, the court will certain-
ly turn over the property to the government, and if
there are no debts, hold the administrator chargeable,
with the' costs of the court.
The only profit which I can see for an adminisln.tor
on a soldiers estilc, is, if he can impose on ihe court
with insufficient security and obtain -an order of sale up-
on f Jsc representations, he mny defraud the'purchasers
tif properly under his sale, pocket some money, forfeit
his boil', and abscond.
From the number of strangers who have adminis-
tered in ibis county, and from the indefinite manner in
whicli many of them advertise their administrations
not saying in what court the succession has been open-
ed, nor in what place the administrator may be found,
it is apparent that a great number have -indertaken thr
business solely with views of speculation. Another
proof of tni3 is the number of-cstates on w hieh you
will frequently see a notice given by one man.
if pr-ibaie courts" have been as caution, as Iheevecn-
live, a great many frauds would have been prevented,
though the firm position taken by the executive will
. doubtless result in much good m the government n well
as ti foreign heirs. The government should cer'ainly
nevcrgive land to an administrator whicli the las give
toheiis only. f
Probate courts which have been nr-st cnucimis have
been unal Ie at all limes to make sure of good security
on administrators bonds, because that which .was per-
fectly good when the lund was gh en, n ay be wortli
nothing when it is forfeited. This is most frequently
the case as those are mo-l liberal of their name- whoso
names' are to be of least value.
In the probate cdurt of Harrisbu.-g c mn'y, which I
have examined, administrators hate been appointed for
nioie than one thousand soldier's email's, on one half of
which, the bonds, such as would have been eslci med
"rood at tho lime of their date, are now worth nothing.
Certainly the government will not put ihe propciiy of
heirs in the hand or such administrator.
In mentioning the probate court of H.trri-bur;, I
do nut mean to censure the judge of that court, but (his
court being more strict than probably any other in the
government, I mention the fact in llhs court, to show,
uhttt is probablv the case in other co.mtia-, uhero it i
knottntobc much more eas to adminiitor, to wit: If
such is the cae m IlarnsLurg, how is it m J n.
nists or as settlers since the organizilion of thi" govern-
ment. To these giants, conditions are and ajv.-ays have been
annexed, whichjume can perforin Lut'the heirs if those
conditions are'iiot pi r'o.-ir.ed, the land if obtained, re-
verts to the government it not obtaiiicd,wtho property
belongs to the gov erument until the conditions are .er-
formed. B ards of Land Commissi mors have all given
certificates of rights to hud, to administrator'', b-itdoc
it f illow th it the government will iss ie to them patents
for the land? I hope not. If so, tbo government will
giveawav as much as two th-jiiand leagues of land,
from which it can never receive any advantage. The
boards of land commissioners have given certificate- to
administrators of the e3talc .f persons uhi d ed ten
years since, leaving no relatives' in the cuantry, and
for whom most probably no heirs will ever appe ir. If
the government is to iolr-e ibis land, who is to have it?
Certainly not the administrator; certainlv n t the heirs,
unless they come and receive it; if it is sold and n
heirs claim the proceeds, they go to the government;
but is it net better that the govcrnm-nt ah uld keep the
land, to give to some one to whom that the government
owes it? It is better julicc, and wi-cr law".
As I feel confident that li -ht mav be hid on this ub-
jec and anxious that the matter should be perfecllj
underslo id bv the next con-i-e.-s, itivr ibis a place in
yo.ir paper, and I sh ill be p-ea-ed, if anv administrator
of eight, twrlvr. or sixty soldiers elates, who his been
loud in Ill's complaiulk against the executive f r inler-
fering'ut business which did not concern Aim, will take
the subject in hind, -md -fui.v caii'e if any he hath,
why a Imiui'-trators-h Hi'd receive pnipertv, vvliici. be-
I'Uigs onlv I heirs', or, in their default, t- flio govern-
ment. ' CURATOR REIPUBLIOE.
lo destroy the peace and happiness of a whole fami'.y
for the errors of a si;igle individual. Away then, with
this "vindictive justice!'1 letnur country boast of insti-
.tutiohsTvorihy of freemen! intelligenlTerilightcned freT-
men! Let our legislators perforai their duties as civil-
ized men, as pbiliuihropists, and this foul stain will le
soon obliterated from our statute books. Should they
once commence the work of reformation, they, nce'd
n it err in its completion; for the pentientiarv s) stems
ihithave recently been mitured under the fo'tering
care of of the first statesmen of our parent rcpuilic,
will in iicale the most judicious improvements and af-
f )rd the best mode's for imitation.
THE TELEGRAPH:
EDITED BY FRANCIS MOORE, JR.
Houston, Saturday, Oct, SO, 1S3S.
A gentleman who has just arrived from Goliad state?
that three of our citizen h ivc lately arrived at that
place, who escaped from the piinn of Mataimras.
One of them is Cir:i-s, who was capture! on the Nue
cea about a year ago, and it was reported ha 1 been
killed at one of the smill towns on the Rio Grande a
few months since. They slate that Mr. Brenan, the
former represent it" vc trom Goliad is in prison at that
city.
We understand a report is in circulation at the west
hat Oil. Kirnei has been killed by the-Indian3. We
assure our fellow citizens in that quarter that the report
is wholly false. CoL Karnes left .this city, a few days
since for New Orleans.
We are glad to notice that the different companies of
recruits from Brazoria and Galveston, have recently
been mustered in this city. We confidently hope this
U a prelude to Some more unequivocal and decisive ac-
tio" on the part of government to protect the western
aad northern frontiers. The citizens of those sections
arc still calling loudly fir aid; and every messenger
from the vve-lis briii.ug intelligence- of new depreda-
tions committed either by lawles bands of our own ci-
tizens, or by parties of Mericau marauders. An effi-
cient force stationed on the Nueces, will check this
border warfare, il.ffi.se peurc and security throughout
all our western settlements, and afibrd protection an
encouragement to the Mexican traders, who are exceed-
ingly desirous to continue a friendly intercourse with
our citizens.
We have jusi learned ihita party 'of about nineteen
surveyors who hid ventured far up into the Ind.an
country lo locate land claims, have been nearly ill mas-
sacreed by the Wacoes, Ironies and Keachies. The
had been repeatedly warned by the friendly Kickapoos
that they were watched by a large band af hostile In-
dians, and they "must quit making marks," or they
would be attacked. They gave no attention to these
friendly monitions, and shortly afterwards were sur-
rounded by about a hundred infuriated savages and all
werekilled except four. Tuey however, fought des-
perately to the last , and fell surrounded by the dead bo-
dies of their assail nits.
B-
Tiie laws provide, that sue -essi msin the hand ufad-
ministrators shad bo closed in one year, unless a lunger
time is allowed b) the cjurt, for suc-h ease as lo it
sh ill seem sufficient. In the county of Hairisburg, .i
I am informed by the juJge of tliu p obne c ur . ih
year has ep'red m m my of these suc(.i--ioiis, .ml in
no case have any heirs appeared lo cl .1 o t'ie propcii;
in no case have any debts appeared a in i th -..-I
dior: these nd'.ninistralicns ate evident. fi u u'en .
and in cases where ihe bjndj are iii-ufiic m. . t' e j; -vc
liinent h :s given i'iu pro,iein in o h U n'" d-
iiiinii-trat -rs. may resu t 1 1 the i.eiicfi -.1 iln -vi- i 'n,
a.id certain y will i the prej nil of th - .c. ni- i .
'f'tie iiirclessiie-s-, of ihe pi-ii-at. urt-'iii be- in i-ter-,
lusle.t in protc-lion I'im- the guie-u-iuni n- i li'-
01411 heirs, i;i :i- this Kind of s,ieMilaiiui, -c p- ilns
vvhi h hi- ie-u ted from the firmness -il'ilio executive in
a rigid 1 111 -ream.- lo the constitution, in giving ill
l,i-i 's if du-e i:od p. r-niis 1 1 110 ie 1 111 thr heii- I;'
tin- h" h -s been eiisii e !, b it by iv'i m?no j ! si-
vv iio j-oli b bis protection, "vid v n I i 'in 11
,r 1 ' 1 ia 1 U, '-in I y b -i-ila-- spi cu a' - .hn would
li ive r.i e 1 tln-iii; oi vv,i-.v d h w nibb d t'ie g v-
crn.tiCii'. n ia-cs where il erf were no ni lows and or-
phans f r b.
15ut thou-is'anolli'r cl -ss f . fini-i l. :lo-s h 'me
still k-.ss' claim-! "!i -e who 'iniui.ter u.i llu sai
of n;rs his '. min. n 1 proper v, b it vvh en- emil e 1
! to acpthe I inds by right of settlement, ruber as colo-
113 We have learned vviih deep regret, tint Captain
HttRD, formerly commander of the Brutus, recent1-
died in New Orleins. Jle has left an interesting fam-
ily to deplore his loss.
A man named Quin, has recently been conv icti
at Brazoria of manslaughter and sentenced to be -whipped
and branded. We regret that our laws still pre-
serve :i tincture of barbarism. In the Feudal times
nlun Europe was sunk in darkness and conflicting
chiefs wen. cons uitly interrupting the officers of j is-
tice in the disclnrgn nf iheir ortichl duties, by releas
ing imprisoned felons in older to inercase their bauds-
of lawless fol- vvcrs, thj whipping p "l an-1 the brand
were res.irleu t .i-" ibeino-i '-unveii.ent iiiirumentsof
punishment; and all pnuisbmeiiU weie ncccssar.ly
sunimar in those di-faotcl tunes But those causos
bi'.eloni since (eased to e.ist; and the manners and
opinions of civilised society have changed, his proper
therefore, tint our j uiiciil p ini.-huients should le made
to accord in some digrw: with the enlightened spirit of
Ihe age to which we behmg. The punishment of
branding is contrary to the cxpre-s letter nf the ron-
siil.il'un, which del ires ihitour penil code shall be
founded on "princ.p'es of reform itiou and not of vindic-
tive ju'tico." But, does the brand lend to reform thp
criminal? or. rather d icsil not ,e:id to make him reck-
less aud deaden all th fine.-feelings of hum inity? Is
he a son and doe h.-ui-h lo alev'ate the grief of
ni'td p-irent", I'vat-uiii" 'or his crime l a long sc.ie-
of virtu ins actions, an bL-ssed with their firgiving
miilcs in ihcir last mom .1 s? The aciirsed brand is
forev er glaring u,ion bis 1 is- .1 1 !r .1 ! si sk, a-i i w ith-
cring all his enericH V. ie 1 rer he 111 ns he meets
with tin- lawni. in ' it-e-- 1 uiif-t i'i.'.-r.e-ni.:s or cold-
1,.
lu-irteda- tuiii.
hi- eriim l-v t
sh line a. d 'isip;'
bil'. l-k.' t.-a
th .. i., I -e
I llfl !'
.in- el -
1. il - I .
,11 irdt-i li''-
-lii.:
r -.uu'eil o!"
!lii-i- Mad villi iag'
1 -.-. w
II.. i k '1
! i I: ,:, mi iJi - u ii-"iiii I inds :
i. i- v; ti ..no, m-ep nab,- j- his
i. - 1 .i'-iu it l -lure, ni I iiicei-
nt - i - llli - 'sii-nf iter? id
11 11, I .i v.i -v to- 'e.om ti ihe bo ni
a i t !.'.... r i- rie 1- ii'-.0.1 rhai etc
his beli cJ fid. 'e:i may 11 ! s;.-are in Iih
d -slion r, but rar il ui vk.Jv, .!.-! u-e'ul is,.-, bee -. -r
oruam.-nts lo th. ir coimtrv s.nd tiic.ith the imblt-t
of .il le.nii- an iiii-putud 11 "e to ll.etr descendant-?
'i'l.t-:te-1 i-sid br.nd 1 re-up-ii ilieui a thej
rush -vit . clnl.'i-h Ion im to ii.e-'t him upon thcih-is-hold
at h s r,'iini, r ''.r-upun tl.eiu at the firesj-'c
an . 1' I'u d ..e- - : it '!,eck- their innocent
nirth n'av.Kens . - .m ,1 -o ie of racannes
fiu -elf ilt-ji iditi n. 't-slnns th-i b'ioyin-y of
joulhlu' i.n 'c. Imws t'. I 1 I- -il ill 11 ' lo.isli-ish lr.-
cl, nn I s' nip" up in thei- ! le e if reliance- the vo-y
impress of infamy. It i-1 -iijUitiie ! it is ciuc'iy, thus-
We have been info-med by capfiin Hem'ershot, that
Savaiiagoaud his parly recently vi-ited thc-'-rancbes"
of Mr. Alexander; situated about 20 miles southwest
of Bexar and carried away every portable a-ticle of val
ue they eo.i'd find. They even took the rings off the
fingers of the young ladies in the hi?e. What a spe-
cimen of Meican chivalry! They also took away Mr.
Alexander mid a Mr. Bull prisoners. It is supposed they
have returned to Matamoras. .
"The next time that the Telegraph quotes u for the
purpose of exposing our 'blunders,"" we will thank him
11 it to mtlce any for us of its oirn, as it does where it
quotes in as speaking of th it "spirit of overweening
vanity -nd presumptuous dictilion which characterises
the Telegraph." Its editor seems lo know as little of
Gramma-, a: Ifistiry. tianner.
You ought to thank us, Mr. Banner, for quoting cor-
rect gramaticul 1 ingjage for you. " Which" in the above
sentence, refers to "spirit" its antecedent, conse-t
quently is of the singular number, and "characterizes"
is thercf ire, strictly proper, being also of the singular
num'erand agreeing with which its nominative: ac-
cording to the rule, '-the verb agrees with its nomina-
tive case in number and person." There is a gramati-
cal lesiin for you Mr. Banner "but lessons are lost
on the ungrateful."
Scene. Houston A store on Main Street a Mer-
chant seated at the door. Enter a stranger.
Merchant. Good morning, sir, will you take a seal?
(handing a chair.)
Stranger. With pleasure sir.
Mer. You hare lately arrived at Houston sir, 1
suppose.
Slran. Yes, sir, I arrived in the Columbia at Galves-
ton yesterday morning, and reached this place last
evening, I have come lo settle in Texas, and intend
bringing my family gut when I can find a suitable lo-
cation. Ver., Ho ware you pleased with Houston, sir?
' Slran. I am highly pleased with it. Its situation is
commanding and agreeable. I'see Luildings rising in
every direction; and improvements of every kind ad-
vancing with astonishing rapidity.. The business of the
place appears to be brisk and increasing. 'The people
too.jcontrary lo my expectation, do not resemble "reck-
less unprincipled adventurers;" nor are they loaded
down with pistols and Bowie knives. I think I may
unhesitatingly say, that the society in Houston 13 fully
equal to that of any portion of the United Stales; I
every where meet with persons who appear to be re-
markable for their gentlemanly deportment and intelli-
gence, indeed, the citizens generally appear tp be mor-
al, industrious, entcrprizing and sober; (a loud shriek is
heard) ha! What is thai? - . .
Mer. Oh! it is only some drunken loafer, at
one of the grogshops. (While he is speaking the drunk-
ard comes out of a grogshop, on the opposite side of
the street, cursing and threatening same individual
within; as he is thus engaged, a Constable arrives and
seizes him.)
Constable. Come "along sir, you are my prisoner.
Loafer. Certainly! certainly!! I always respect the
civil authority. (They go off.)
Stran. Oh! I am sorry to see this. But I notice
lhat the individu-il who has just- been arrested was a
fellow passenger of mine; I suppose many emigrating
vagrants congregate at Houston.
Mer. Yes, the torrent of emigration sets with its
strongest current through this city, and Houston re-
sembles une of those deep abysses of the Mississippi,
which catch a larger proportion of ihe sediment of the
stream thin the shallower portions of the river. Too
large a proportion of the dregs of the emigrating pop-
ulation settle in our city. Hence, the numerous grog-
shops ou find on every street.
Stran. How many grogshops are there in Houston?
Mer. About twenty-five.
Stran. As most of the disturbances and quarrels
originate in them, and they are also the great fountains
of disease and poverty, I suppose the la.es imposed on
them are sufficiently large to defray the epenses of
the cx:ra number of c instable- that are required 10 pre-
serve order, and the expenses of the emigrating paupers
lhat are harbored Ly them, until they are seized by sick-
ness, and then thrown as a burthen upon public charity.
Mer. Oh no! The yearly taxes on the grogshops
of this city amount to only about sit hundred dollars,
wli-ch will not defray ihe expenses of even one Con-
stable, and three are now required for the Cily.
These establishments therefore pay nothing towards
the support of paupers.
Stran. Your citizens consequently are Lurthenod
with a larger proportion of tixes than those who re-
side in olhei sections of the Republic.
Mer. Yes, the citizens of Houston arc compelled
to support nearly all the drunken vagrants that emi-
grate to this country by the way of New Orleans.
Tnese miserable wretches arc jonstantlv arriving in
our city; and while their more oher and industrious
couip minus i nmedialely after their arrival, hurry cveu
1. 1 lii-tant sections of the Republic, in pursuit" of some
11-efil employment: They hurry to ihe grogshops of
this iu, whore they genemlly remain until the last
dollar is expended, and they are at length cast abroad
into the streets destitute, and often helpless with sicklies-.
:-lran. Have ou no Almshouse in Houston? where
the pmr wrutche may find an asylum when suffering
vv.th the disease, tint may have Leen induced lydis-
s p -t on.
Mer. Wch-ivc no Almshouse; but
Slran. What! They are then left lo die neglected
ii-il -mpili.-d in your streets! Unfortunate creatures!
II i-.v sh eking must be thur condition when exposed,
peiishui" lo "he inclemencies of ihe weather, their
frame tort rcd with the agonies of disease, and their
mind- -irniss. d with the tintilizing thoughts of thrir
fit ml- and dMant home, whi'e no hand is ncsr to offer
1 , o voire to offer consolation. Air! I cannot dwell
o 1 the distressing picture.
Mer. The picture you have" drawn is frightful
iudeedj and I 'igret lo say that our city has presented
many such scones as yon describe, several poor
wrelche3 have been"picked up at intervals,- who died
solitary and-unaltended, under a hay-slack, an old sta-
ble, or even under the miserabloghelter of a single
log; but recently uch occurrences ate notjmown a
hospital has beeft.esiablishedbyHhe.Cily Council, and
some provision is5wdo for these unfortunate men.
Stran. Ah! I rejoice to'learn that the inslituliuns of
charily are beginning to keep pacc."wilh the other im-
provements in your'beautiful and flourishing City; but
I fear these institutions will be of little benefit while
grogshops are permitted to increase to an unlimited
extent, far want of an economical sslem,of taxation.
In proportion as Ihey increase, more drunken vagrants
gather in your City, more sick and destitule paupers
gather in your hospital, more constables are required,
and your citizens are hurthencd with taxes, in order to
assist in sustaining tho grogshops which are constantly
ih ecing swarm after swarm of emigrants of this class
as they arrive, and then, when destitute, casting them as
a "burthen upon the community; and mark you, it is
the sober, industrious and moral portion of the commu-
nity that is ci mpelled to support -this burthen. It is
the honest, useful, laborious mechanic, the thriving
merchant, "the bone and sinew" of your Cily lhat is
thus taxed. If you. wish your Cily and your country
to' thrive, a new system of taxation must le devised
thai will he more equal and just, that will lay the bur-
then where it belongs upon those who occasion the
mischief. Situated as you are now, men .of wealth,
respectability and influence will be unwilling to settle
here -with their-f.imiKesbccaTisernjrrhec-rnefhfhiI-
iheir children will be continually exposed lo the most
shocking pictures of drunkencss and delauchen; and
on the other they will be burthened wilii laxes
that they consider unjust. I did intend to settle in this
pl-ice, and to bring in my family within a few months,
but I now entertain serious doubts whether it will be
proper to remflve here at present.
Jfer. - "Within a few months sir the evils of. which
you complain will be undoubtedly in a great measure
removed. Houston at present resembles a vast tavern
reared hastily in the prairie', to accommodate the crowds
of emigrants that are constantly arriving. ,Il ianot
utrange therefore, that there are a great-many bar-
rooms or gregshnps within its limits, and even men of
respectability arc here found engaged, in a business
which in many parts of the United States ia considered
mean and disreputable; because the profits areim-
mense. Men are gove-ned by jnterest hence tlie noi "
bility of Europe are now found engaged in commerce
that they once de.pi3ed. 'As the population of'thft city
becomes more permanent, these evils will be tho more'
sensibly felt, and a remedy applied. I doubt' -not that
even among the veryMndividuals who arenoviPkceping
grogshops, you will find men who would -strenuously
advocate the system of taxation you propose); because
they are aware th it it would banish from the citythat
vjle herd of miscreants whose" sole, object is to fill their
pockets as quick as po'ssible and then slipeaway;
wretches, who make as many drunkardsjheyxcan
aud then kick them out. of doors, regardless whether
the poor fellows go to the other world or to tne next
almshouse, provided they have beep thoroughly fleeced.
The very racl that there was a constable at hand to ar-
rest the drunkard- who interrupted yen, at the.com-..
mencement of our discourse, proves tbat something
has already been effected to arrest the evil: the estab-
lishment of the hospital is another evidence, and", rest
assured our citizens are too intelligent and. discerning
to permit an evil that is so destructive to their best in-
terests to continue long in existence. We have there-
fore every reasan to believe, that -within a few months
our city will present an entirely different appearance,
and our'citizens will verify in every particular, the re
marks which you were making when interrupted by
your drunken fellow passenger. .
Stran. Should this desirable change take place, I
will rcm-jvalo Houston with roy family, and. shall re
joice to lend my'feeble aid in advancing the prosperity
of a city that fir tho rapidity ofitsjjrowtli" and the en-
terprise of its inhabitants stands ; almost u&ri,?arfed in
America. Exeunt.
The abolitionist, Slade, has been elected a Whig
member to Congress, from Vermont, by a majority of
3000 votes. The New York Star crie3 "three' cheers
for Vermont1' and Southern Whigs echo back the note
of rejoicing. Time may come, when ic will be no
subject of congratulation 'to a Southern man, that an.
abolition fanatic is given a voice to vqte upon the ques-
lion of Southern emancipation. Mobile liegistcr.
Corrected weekly Tiy Sortrell, Adams, Co.
Baifjing.K. -per yard, nooe
Hale Hone, per lb. none
.'end. Navy, per cwt.' 12 5l)
" Pilot. - - - - none
Crackers, water, - - 1G 00
butter. - - none
i-jifipp. Hav-.-in. mid. per lb. 25
Candles, ipcrni, per lb. - 1 50
Cider, nerbbl. - - - none
l-'loar, suparfiiie , per bbl. none
" Huu&vvlieat,
Corn meal, - -
Fish, mackerel No 1."
tlerrn,No3, - - "
Cod, per lux, - - -r'ruit,
almond", per lb.
ti misinfl. t6
I'rain, corn, per bushel.- 1 50
oats, - - " i JU
bcani, - - " none
l'..nnnur,l..r. npr Ih. 2 01'
w m 4l v wjl----
cnm-iion, Kes. - "- i
none
-10 00
none
noiK
none
37i
50
uime, per obi. - - - nne
Molasjes, per gnllen, - 25
Nails, iaiOti, per lb. IH
far, pcreahVn. - - nono
Oil, ineed, pergalUn, 3 5.0
perm, . . - juu
olive, ner dozen. - 9
Provisions, beef, per bbl. 2
,carg, - 20
Port,mesi,perlb. - - 25
cargn, - - -. - none
Bacon hams, per lb, - - 30
middlinn. - - - 22
Lard, - ----- IgJ
Batter, Goshen, 50
Cliesje, d. - - - - -s53
f statues, per Ihb. - b
Ale and .Porter, per iloz. 600
" per bbl. - ao
Rice, per lb. - - - - 20
Sugar. Ln. br., per lb. 30a 35
Laaf, - - - - J14
CUIU'llUII, Jkri. - - - , .
rifle, can'.tc?, - 1 50 "nit, Li. erpooljr-nd pr sk
Claw, X 10. pcrbui, -
10X1., " " "
Iron, bir, per cwt. - 1"
"sheet. " - "OIK
i. - ,;,.. h '-. noni
lumber, pine per IOOUft.10 s
white on,
Shiiulrs, per 1000,
Jad, bar, per c t.
' sheet, "
85
. 10
- 15
nsnr
steel, per lb: - - none
soap, brown, per lb. - - I
shot, ------ 50
Tobacco, 1 quality per lb. 75
2 do. - - - 50
reas, imperial, per lb. - 3 03
llv-on, &c. - - 250
Jsttsn, Brazu- choice, -
(is. prime, -do.
fair, -
MARRIED On the eve of the 17lhinst.by tha honorable.?.
Briscoe, Henry Levenhigei to Miss Trances, daughter of ierd:-
ir-nu v,emca, on i ima ;njr.
DIED On the 28th u!t, at Texarn, Franc's Flernoy Wei's,
the only sua ofF. F. Wells, aged three years andight months,
after adistre sing illness er fifteen days.
In New Orleans on the 28th nit. Cn-tain Hcid formerly conj-
ander of Ihe Tcxian schooner of war Brums.
r I HE tub cr'ber urchased of i&mucl Barber of 01 1 Kivtr,
JL Liberty com ly,in July 1B3G, his head rightto a league of
land, a id took Ms bond in a pennl'y of five tboasand dollars lo
en-nre compliance. Said Barber has been paiil for said head-
rigbt,and now not'onlyj refuses to comply with his contract,
but is offering to 'ell said.headrghtngain A bill of injunc-
tion has been oht lined, and notice serreil on the commissioner
general to prevent said Barbcrfrom obtaining:! patent forsaid
heidrlght this notice is csren therefore to prevent litiration
and trouble, presuming ni one will purchase of said Barber
knnwinethe circumstances above stated. J, MORGAN
New Washington, Oct 20 .. 8t-171
ANTKD AJfeir HiADiuuma and iilililary Bounty
claims un'ocated apply to J. L. Nickelson, Tnlegrapn
Office, M iin street. oct 20 164
M
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Cruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 8, Ed. 1, Saturday, October 20, 1838, newspaper, October 20, 1838; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48015/m1/2/: accessed May 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.