San Luis Advocate (San Luis, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 18, Ed. 1, Friday, January 29, 1841 Page: 2 of 4
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dcnccana spirit" was too small to bs availa
ble.
At length however he carried She place af-
ter running to it a covered way from a near
sheltered position. His men were clamorous
for reprisals on the sanguinary royalists.
The atrocities of Sombreio too wore fresh in
his own recollection; and for the first time he
yielded to the demands of retaliation and or-
dered a part of the garrison to be shot.
He next moved upon a village called San
Luis de la Paz which was garrisoned by the
enemy. Here he experienced still greater dif-
ficulty in making his men advance in open
assault; and in one of his attempts to storm
a building held by the garrison a French cap-
tain named Peirier who had escaped from
Sombrero leaped into the works alone while
the party he led shrank back from following.
The gallant Frenchman though beset by
nnmbers succeeded in making his way back
badly wounded. After an investment of sev-
eral days and diverse repulses the assailants
possessed themselves of a draw-bridge that
led into the principal forlification on which the
garrison capitulated. They received quarter;
and a pail of them enlisted under Mina the
rest being liberated.
One of the greatest difficulties which Mina
had to contend with was the proneness of his
men to desertion ; for when it suited them they
left the camp for their homes in airs or doz-
ens as had generally been their custom ivh-
out even soliciting leave of absence nrsu
loose a body where the leader's popularity is
often one of the principal means of keeping it
together a sudden recourse to severity is haz-
ardous especially when it inflicts the punish-
ment of death for an oflencc long sanctioned
by impunity. The consciousness of this for
a while restrained Mina; but at length finding
milder measures unavailable he ordered two
deserters one of them holding the rank of
Colonel to be shot. This example tended in
some measure to correct the evil; and by
strenuous exertions the General endeavored
to remedy the many other radical defects of
his forces but with few and slow results.
After making abortive attempts against the
town of San Miguel el Grande and another
garrisoned Hacienda he confined his opcia-
tions mostly to the field. By his persevering
activity and vigilance he rendered the roads
almost impassable tothe convoys and detailed
parties of the enemy; and the scarcity I have
before mentioned soon began to be felt in their
camp.
The royalist Colonel Orrantia had been di-
rected to take the field against our partizan
leader with about SOOmen while Linan press-
ed the siege of Remedies; and Mina while
prosecuting his S3-Stem of operations had now
also to evade the force which was daily em-
ployed n pursuing him. He did not yet con-
sider his troops sufficiently well disciplined to
"oDpina regular action with Orrantia. though
they showed some tokens of improving effi-
ciency: still he contrived except in skirmish
ing to avoid contact with his pursuer who was
never binmect witn too much darin" and at
the same time to straighten mnrp -..a- "
tk- vn or tiinan. wncn it became ne-
. .... - :. .
cessary he dispersed his guerrilla bands to
harrass the enemy in different dirccsions and
reunite in some unexpected quarter.
About the 9th of October he concentrated
his forces after adetailmcnt of this kind and
occupied an Hacienda called La Coja in
whose neighborhood Orrantia was encamped
Mina had of late medita'ed two important
blows against the enemy so soon as he should
deem his forces competent to deal them.
One was to attack and defeat Orrantia the
other to take the City of Guanajuato. The
accomplishment of the first object would
leave his field opperations for the present un-
obstructed; for Linan could not we!l spare
from his camp another detachment so large
as Orrantia's nor could it if cut up be soon
replaced from another quarter. The capture
of Guanajuato would be almost certain to
compell Linan to raise the siege of Remedios;
as that city was the depot whence he derived
most of his resources for its prosecution; and
the possession of the place would also at
ce throw means of great amount into the
ptors hands.
Mina now resolved on attempting the for
mer. He had with him upwards of 1000 men ;
among whom wta body of; 250 called draj
goons of Santiago one of the few corps of
insurgent cavalry that kept permanently on
foot It was commanded by a dashing parti-
zan leader nicknamed El Giro and was far
superior to the rest of Mina's present force!'
The General had already sufficient confi-
dence in- the spirit of the whole to believe
pat a vigorous charge made at a propitious
moment with that select body would be well
supported by the rest; and he knew that his
best chance of victory against Orrantia woflu"
be'nthe first fierce impulse of such an onset
Orrantia on the 10th was seen approaching
with 600 horse and 200 foot. Mina placed
some caffefneers in the buildings of the Ha-
cienda and drew up his cavalry in front of
them the dragoons of Santiago forming a
vanguard it way usual lor an insurgent
army to be accompanied by a crowd of wo-
men and children ; for the same causes which
impelled the men to arms often drove their fa
milies to the protection of the camp; and Mi-
na's force was encumbered by a throng of those
non-combatants whom he had found it impossi-ble-to
exclude ; and who were now; placed in
the rear of the Hacienda with the baggage.
Orrantia having formed his troops thiew
oat some skirmishers into a corn field in front
of him and drove in an advanced picket of
the insurgents: his infantry then filed off to
faia left afrjfto turn the right flank of his op-
ponent. Mina" seized.. this moment as favora-
ble and with his vag&lhirged upon the enemy's
infantry with the viejE of cutting through the
centre of their marching column while lie or-
I rd the rest of his tronps to sttstiin hisa'-1
I tack by a charge on the royalist cavalry.
Unfortunately a flanking picket of the enemy s
horse had passed round to the rear and ap-
proached the baggage. The outcries of the
women and children who were frightened at
this movement were heard just as Mina's main
body was about careering against the enemy ;
and the alarm at once changed their ardour
into a panic. Some flew to the' rescue of
their families ; others fled at once from the
field ; and a general rout ensued.
The enemy's infantry had become disorder-
ed as Mina bore down towards it; but he was
in turn attacked by the cavalrj before he could
come into actual contact with their foot; and
in a few minutes he found himself with his
250 men engaged with nearly their whole
force. Seeing that the day was lost instead
of wheeling to the rear he redoubled the vigor
of his charge and at the head of his dragoons
gallantly cut his way through the enemy's
front and escaped. Orrantia abused his vic-
tory by permitting the Hacienda to be plun-
dered and causing some of the peasantry to
be shot.
Mina passed the night near the scene of ac-
tion unmolested by the enemy and on the day
following -proceeded to the village of Pueblo
Nuevo. A number of his men had been kill-
ed both in the charge and the rout and the
rest had dispersed except the detachment now
with him. He immediately took steps for
having the corps collected in their respective
commandancias whither he knew that each
had fled ; and sent orders Tor them to act in
detail and harrass the enemy till he should be
ready to concentrate them.
Far from bv:ing discouraged by this disaster
he was highly pleased with the valor sh wn
by his Santiago dragoons and believed that
the rest of his men would not have failed to
support them but for the cause of panic
which occurred at so critical a moment and
that he wonld have defeated Orrantia but for
that contingency.
In a few days he went w'ith an escort of
twenty chosen dragoons to consult with the
Government at the fort of Janjilla. He laid
before them his plan of attacking Guanajuato
and requested a reinforcement of fifty infan-
try from the garrison which he intended to
unite to the same number who had enlisted
under him at San Luis de la 'Paz and who
were then with Oitiz. These with the cavalry
he could collect he thought might be sufficient
to carry the place as the garrison was small
for the size of the city and the security into
which it had long been lulled by the improba-
bility of such an attempt with any insurgent
forces now on foot gave him hopes of effect-
ing a surprise. The Junta who were of a
different opinion endeavored to dissuade him
from the attempt; and proposed that he should
pass overto a part of the country borderinc
on the pacific to raise organize and Jkci-
plitie a new regular force. Most of the popu-
lation of that regen were zealous of the cause
of Independence which was there sustained
by Guerrero; and as the enemy's forces in that
quaiter had not yet been able to crush that
. .t-irno tnutigm mai Mina might there
1 . r ..
secure nimscii irom auacK till ins new troops
should be fit to take the field. As his officer.
then at Remedios would be of great service to
this undet taking and might be spared thence
it was also proposed that they should be with-
drawn from the fortress ; and from the facili-
ty with which scouts continually passed the
enemy's extended lines the step was deemed
practicable.
Mina replied that he had pledged himself to
Torres to use all his efforts to raise the sie-'e of
Remedios; and hence he persisted in the de-
sign he now cherished. Fnding him determin-
ed the Junto granted him the reinforcement he
lequired and aided him with such means as
they could command.
From the fort he proceeded to the town of
Puruandiro where he received some funds and
was joined by a body Guerrilla cavalry from
the South and by some of his own troops. The
approach of Orrantia soon obliged him to
leave the place; and after some ineffectual
attempts to draw the enemy into an ambuscade
in that neighborhood he retired from it and
taking a circuitous rout through the hills pass-
ed the enemy's rear and descended to La Caja
where the late action was fought and where
he had directed the rest of his forces on a cer-
tain day to concentrate. The corps that joined
lum there augmented his numbers to 1 100 men;
and he immediately proceeded thence to Pue-
blo Nuevo where a sargeant and two soldiers
of the enemy presented themselves as desert
ers and informed him that great discontent pre-
vailed in Linan's camp owing to the scat city of
provisions.
On the 23d moving by unfrequented routs
and observing doe caution to keep his march
unknown he entered the mountains which sur-
rounded Guanajuato and halted in an isolated
nook among them not far from the city called
La Mina de la Luz where on the following day
le was according to agreement joined by Or-
tiz with 300 men which increased his numbers
to 1400 His position was such that he could
guard against accidental approach and discov
ery and he remained there till evening without
his proximiti-bemg suspected in town or his
itvb.
knr
rout being kfrbwn to Orrant'a wlio in the mean
time had followed him to La Caja.
I have before mentionod Guanajuato as a
mining place whicfi at the beginning of the re-
volution contained 80000 inhabitants. In that
country the existence of extensive silver mines
has created dense populations in some spots
so rugged and barren that otherwise they could
never have boasted of a single habitation ; and
of this fact the city referred to is an instance.
Guanajuato is situated in the heart of a huge
chain of mountains which form a branch of
the Sierra Madrc. The city occupies a vast
iiregular ravine winding between two moun-
tainous ridges whose rugged sides half way to
their tops are covered with close street each
overlooking the other the rear of most of the
habitations being founded in an excavated area.
These rugged avenues arc decorated with
m
iqtfhsolid and stately edifices and the bottom
f the ravine is in many places wide enough to
of
form a small plaza.
At nine o'clock on the 21th of October Mina
with his force arrived at the borders of the city
and heard the cry of cculinel alerlt from the
different guard houses within before he was dis-
covered. He nearly surprised the outward
guard and carried without difficulty some small
works which defended the entrance of the city.
The insurgents entered in three columns
penetrating towards the principal plaza by as
many different streets. The body led by Mina
in person entered the square where for a short
time some brisk fighting took place. The
French Captain Pcrrier whom I have before
mentioned again distinguished himself and a
piece of cannon planted in the plaza was taken.
A detachment of the garrison now took a
position on the terrace of a commading building
whence their fire raked the main body of the
assailants whose fitful valor was at once
chilled. Every effort of Mina and of the few
officers who partook of his energy to lead the
men forward was tried in vain. They invar-
iably shrunk back under the enemy's fire; and
at length the whole mass began to retrogade
from the city when victory was still within
their reach. Being followed by parties of the
garrison their flight became so precipitate that
it was difficult to extricate them from the de-
files. A detachment commanded by Don
Francisco Ortiz a brother of the Ortiz before
mentioned in passing the suburb of Valenciana
had a brisk skiimish with a part of the garrison
who attempted to cut off their retreat At this
place is an immense mine of the same name;
and the extensive works which had been con-
structed for its operation were set on fire by
Ortiz on his own authority and were consum-
ed. This act gave great displeasure to Mina
who reprobated all such wanton and useless
depredations.
On the following morning the retreating
foiccs were recruited at La Mina de la Liz
whence they had marched the evening before.
The General never appeared so much chagrin-
ed as on this occasion after the shameful fail-
ure of his favorite project; and the equanimity
which he had constrained himself to preserve
against faithless friends and unworthy allies
now forsook him. He made a cuttingnddress
to a company of his officers in which re attrib-
uted mainly to their misconduct the recent fail-
ure and asserted that the soldiers would not
have failed in their duty had their leaders ful-
filled their own and ended with saying that they
were unworthy that any man of character
should espouse their cause.
The order of the day after giving due com-
mendation to the few who had behaved well
and n:is."ir rener.il cpnaurc nn tho'rest. di-
rected the several corps to return immediately
till farther orders to their respective command-
ancias ; with instructions to the commanders
each to harrass the enemy wherever it could
be effected and especially by interrupting com-
munication between Guanajuato and Linan's
camp.
Having thus dismissed his forces Mina de
parted with only 30 horse and 40 foot accom
panied by Don Jose Maria Liceaga
formerly
'
the President of Morclos's Congress and hav
ing passed the night near that place pioceeded
on the morrow to a Rancho called Venadito.
What course he next intended to adopt is not
positively known ; but it is supposed that he-
meditated following the late suggestion of the
Government ; and that he visited Venadito to
consult with the proprietor respecting those
measures. This gentleman whose name was
Don Manuel Hcrrera was an amiable en-
lightened and patriotic individual who had suf-
fered long persecution for his attachment to the
cause of independence; and had only in a mea-
sure freed himself from it b- the sacrifice of
his wealth. He was now living in retirement
at the Rancho before mentioned which con-
stituted the wreck of his estate ; and though he
avoided as much as possible drawing upon
himself the observation of the Royalist author
ities he had become acquainted with Mina ; and
an intimate friendship existed between them.
On his way to the rancho Mina was met by a
friar who saluted him with the hypocritical cor-J
diality which his tribe know so well how to as-
sume and in reply to the questions put to him
said that he was going to a neighboring village
to say mass on the morrow on which he pass-
ed unsuspected of any sinister designs. He
cither ascertained or surmised that Mina was
going to the Venadito and instead of proceed-
ing on -his holy errand hurried to the nearest
town Silao to lodge information.
Orrantia while at the Caja on the night of
the 24th received his first intimation of Mina's
movement on Guanajuato from seeing the dis
tant flames of Valenciana ; on which he march-
ed at once upon the city and arrived (here the
next evening. He heard of the dispersion of
Mina's forces but could as yet learn nothing of
the course which the General had taken. On
the following evening he entered Silao seeking
information of Mina after having ineffectually
dispatched emissaries in various directions with
the same object. Thus it will be seen that the
friar before mentioned directed his course to
the same place where the Royalist commander
had just happened to arrive and on finding him
gave all the information he possessed respect
ing Mina. Orrantia in consequence left Silao
at midnight with 400 cavalry on aforced march
to Venadito which was eight leagues distant
Minn had arrived at the rancho in the even-
ing and was received by Herrera with the
warmth of welcome befitting the character of
the host and the high estimation in which he
held his guest. Don Pedro Moreno who hap-
pened to be lurking in the neighborhood also
came to pass the night with Minn. The com-
pany supped together and retired to res after
passing a social evening in which the cares of
the disastrous times were for the passing hour
lightened by a feeling of mutual confidence and
present security. Orrantiawas supposed to
be at Irapuato 'and none of the enemy were
believed to be near. Mina perhaps -never ob
served on a similar occasion so little caution;
and instead of encamping with his men as had
been his invariable custom he took a bed on
the floor of the house. His soldiers slept in
front cf it a few sentinels being posted in a near
defile which led to the place.
At dawn Orrantia came upon the sentinels
and immediately moved at full speed upon the
rancho. Mina's soldiers completely surprised
sought safety in flight while the General rush
ing out undressed and unarmed to learn the
cause of alarm saw the enemy close upon him
and cutting down his flying sentinels.. Had he
too immediately fled he might have escaped but
he sought to rally his men ; and while vainly
calling after them to halt and form the chance
was lost; when he at length attempted flight
he was speedily overtaken and arrested by a
dragoon whom he had no weapon to resist.
His servant in the beginning of the alarm
had saddled the horse and taken up the sword
and pistols of his master but was unable to
join him in time and barely secured his own
safety. Licreaga who had vainly cautioned
the General against feeling too secure had kept
his own horse saddltSf and made good his re
treat as did six officers and soldiers of the origi
nal division. Moreno was overtaken while" as-
cending a hill back of the rancho und was kill-
ed after a brave resistance.
The draggon who had taken Mina.'on learn-
ing from his prisoner who he was con
ducted him to Orrantia. That personage who
had in his charactci even less of the gentleman
than of the soldier greeted his captive with a
torrent of abuse in which the terms of traitor
and rebel were lavish! bestowed; and on be-
ing answered with cool sarcasm by Mina he
had the baseness to repeatedly strike with the
flat of his sword his defenceless prisoner. Mi-
na neither shrunk nor moved under the inflic-
tion but casting a glance on his captor said
"The misfortune of merely being a prisoner is
great ; but it is nothing to that of falling into the
hands of one who knows not what is due the
character of a soldier and the name of a Span-
iard." Mina was immediately sent to Irapuato to
gether with Hen era and his sister who had
been arrested. Though treated with great
harshness he bore his misfortune with great
equanimity and endeavored as much as possi
ble to console his companions in adversity.
From that place he was transmitted in fetters
to Lilian's camp. There from the influence
of some of the Spanish officers he received the
consideration due to a prisoner of his rank and
character; but every precaution was taken for
his safe keeping; and his days were destined
to be but few.
Propriety of placing au sraaa DcMs -eyom- the
the Pale of the Law.
"The taking away the power of arrest and
imprisonment except in the case of fraudu-
lent bankiuplcy worna ...- . mfpr;.
at improvement upon the existing system
But we are satisfied that it does not go far
enough; and that by far the most desirable and
beneficial reform that could be effected in this
department would be to lake aicay all action
for debts under a given sum as 50. or 100.
Th-0"1) exception to this rule should be in the
case of claims for icages or labor done un-
der executory contracts. To prevent the mea-
sure from being defeated no action should be
granted on bills under 50. or 100. except up-
on those drawn by or upon regular bankeis.
This would be a radical change certainly ; but
we are fully satisfied that it would be highly
advantageous to every class of the communi-
ty and most of all to labourers retail dealers
and small tradesmen. It would protect the
foimcr from oppression at the same time that
it would tend powerfully to render them more
provident and considerate; it would teach the
latter to exercise that discretion in the grant-
ing of credit which is so very indispensable;
and it would be publicly beneficial by stiength-
ening the moral principle and making the
contraction of debts for small sums without
the means of paying them at once difficult and
disgraceiul.
We ngree entirely in opinion with those who
think that it is to no purpose to attempt to re
medy the defects now pointed out by multi
plying courts and other devices for facilitating
the speedy recovery of small debts. This is
beginning at the wrong end ; or rather it is at-
tempting to obviate the influence of one abuse
by instituting another. No wise statesman
will ever be easily persuaded to fill the coun-
try with petty local courts; for these when
not absolutely necessary are the merest nui-
sancies imaginable; and he would at all
events exei t himself in the first instance to do
away in so far as possible with the circum-
stances that make individuals resort to them.
But it is certain that nine tenths of the cases
in county courts originate in questions as to
simple contract debts under. 50. ; and were
such debts placed as they ought to be beyond
the pale of the law the couj-ts would&JXbaULg&wmr ajid rclrencirfitejLli tiMheir elo
iy unnecessary uur Object ought not to be
to provide means for enforcing payment of
trifling debts but to -prevent their contraction.
e believe indeed that instead of lessening
the multiplication of district" courts will mate-
rially aggrevate all the evils of the present
credit system. The belief that they may rea-
dily enfoice their claims by resorting to them
will make shopkeepers and tradesmen still
more disposed than at present' to give credit
while the unprincipled the inconsiderate and
the necessitous wilt eageily grasp at this in-
creased facility. What there is of caution
amongst our retail dealers is in no inconsider
able degree owing to the want of those petty
tribunals so many are anxious to haveuniver-
sally established. The more they are increas-
ed the less will caution prevail. But. instead
oi uuninismng mis virtue for such a really
is it cannot be too much increased. Noth
ing will ever deter those who ought not to ob
tain credit from taking it while in their power:
but those who give it may be made to exercise
greater discretion; they may be made to know
that it is a private transaction between them-
selves and those to whom they grant it; and
that in the case of petty debts they have-only
their own sagacity to look to such transac-
tions not being cognizable by law. A measure
of the sort here proposed would not as some
appear to imagine annihilate credit. It would
no doubt annihilate that spurious-indiscrimi-nating
species of credit that is as readily
granted to the spendthrift and prodigal as to
the frugal and industrious individual ; but to
the some extent that it deprived the former of
the means of obtaining accommodation it
would extend those of the latter. Nothing
short of this nothing but the placing all small
debts beyond the pale of the Jaw will ever
fully impress tradesmen with a conviction of
the vast advantages that would result to them-
selves from their withdrawing theuvconfidence
from courts and prisons and preventing every
one from getting upon their books of whose
situation and circumstances they are not fully
aware; nor will any thing else be able com-
pletely to eradicate the flagrant abuses inher-
ent in the present credit system and which
have gone fur to render it a public nuisance.
One of the worst consequences oLthe prc-
sent system is the sort of thruldomun
keens thousands of labourers and otherMrtdr
viduals whom the improper facilities for ob-
taining credit originally led into debt Such
persons dare not leave the shops to which they
owe accounts; and they dare neither object
to the quality of the goods offered to them
nor to the prices charged. Dr. Johnson has
truly observed that "he who once owes
more than he can pay is often obliged to bribe
his ci editor to patience by increasing his debt
Worse and worse commodities at a higher and
higher price are forced upon him ; he is im-
poverished by compulsive trafic and at last
overwhelmed in the common receptacles of
misery by debts which without his own con-
sent were accumulated on his head.1' By
taking away all right of action upon small
debts this system of invisihljgbut substantial
coercion would be nut an enmoT The trades
man would take care who got in the first in-
a.-. t. ! .. L.olf ...ill n -" I. .1 1 ff !!-
aitfllCL UfUII 111 Milling IIIU liiatu-uu ti lui .-
.ins articles upon him would cease to furnish
him with any unless he found he was regular
in making his payments ; while the customer
to whom credit was of importance would
know that his only chance of obtaining it would
depend upon his character and reputation for
punctuality. The abuses of the sort now al-
luded to that grew out of what has been de-
nominated the truck system justly occasioned
its abolition ; but these were trifihng compared
with those that originate in the beginning of pet-
ty debts within the pale of the law.'1
For the San Luis Advocate.
The excitement created by thenear approach
of a contested'clection is but little favorable to
reflection. The voice of reasnn and justice is
too often drowned in the tumultuous roar of
passionate zeal while themosjf unfounded as-
sertions andjhe.most flimsy sophistry ; to the
eye of the heated partizan have the coloring of
the soundest arguments and the most solid rea-
son. With such enthusiasts I do not design
an argument the attempt would be idle and un-
profitable. But to the great majority of our
citizens to the thinking and reflecting portion of
the community I have a hope the voice of rea.
son may not come too late and the lanuae of
common sense may be heard with a disposition
to profit by its counsel. The fool jumps at
conclusions and is dogged in his determinations
The wise man is slow to decide and never so
positive in his resolution as to stop his cars to
the reception of truth.
On Monday next an election will be held
to fill the offices of Sheriff and Clerk of the
District Court for this county. The import-
ance of the elective franchise forbids that on
any occasion we should make an inconsiderate
disposal of our votes. The character the con-
duct the capacity and the claims of individu-
als tnour support should nlwnvs receive our
serious attention imi cilices or ..;
district clerk are of the first importance in our
county and we cannot therefore be too guard
ed in the disposition we make of them. Who
ever is conversant with judicial proceedings
will admit that the duties of these officers are
arduous and important and that much experi-
ence and a large degree of knowledge is neces
sary to the pioper discharge of them. There
would be as little wisdom in electing men who
were incapable of their duties as in placing a
well known thief to guard a pile of gold. Fol-
ly commits more mischief than knavery can
design. Honesty and capacity are the most
essential qualifications and he only who pos-
sesses these should receive our support. The
conscientious man will throw aside every pal-
try consideration of personal enmity and dis-
charging his duty " render honor to whom hon-
or is due."
The candidates before the people arc the
present incumbents R. J. Caldcrand Thomas
Black well and their opponents John P. Gill
and William Ryon. I at once declare my pre-
dilection for the two former and as I best can
shall endeavor to impress upon others its jus-
lice. Before proceeding to the main question
at issue which I conceive to be the relative
ulaims and capacity of the candidates I shall
briefly allude to what is called the star money
qucstion. The refusal of the present county
officers to comply with the terms of a law
which they believed unconstitutional and there-
fore not binding upon them has been made the
hobby on which it is intended Messrs. Gill and
Ryon shall ride into office. We have beard a
great deal of violated statutes of outraged jus-
lice of the offended majesty of the laws and
we have observed all the eloquence of their
friends expended with a view to color the con-
duct of the officers with guilt to fix upon them
the charge of extortion and oppression. With
an ingenuity too which is indeed contemptible
thev have endeavored to give their cause the
turn of the argumenlum ad jmcketnm and-at
tempt to tickle our imagination wimtlic.jfeaVi
quence as of their argument it might be said
Itnml mane est it rings font is empty. Who-
ever properly estimates the intelligence of the
present Congress cannot believe that a statute
so manifestly" unjust and injurious as that fa
mous Cooke law (if it indeed be law) has been
suffered longer to remain a disgrace to our
statute books. I he candidates themselves do
not now believe nor da they ever that it would
remain unrepealed : and the cessation of mail
communication alone prevents us from receiv-
ing positive intelligence of the fact. The only bu
siness therefore which we properly have with
(he star money question is besides exposing the
imposition attempted to be practiced under its
cover to consider whether the o'ficers have
acted in regard to it in such a manner as should
forfeit our confidence and work against their
re-election. I do not dasisn to argue the un
constitutionality of the law I have weapons as
good and more easily handled. The first mur-
mur of disapprobation of their conduct reached
the ears of the officers somewhere about the
the time when it was first- understood Messrs.
Gill and Ryon would be their opponents at the
next election. For a very long time before
that period good money had been demanded
for fees and in not a single instance was the
demand excepted to. The members of the
bar in this county .enjoy the reputation of the
most learned and trust-worthy in the Republic.
Every lawyer on being admitted to the bar is
sworn to use his best exertions in every hon
orable way to advance the interest of his cli
ents and if he tamely sees them suffer extor!
tjon apd injustice he forgets his duty and h?
violates his oath. If then in the opinion of the
members of our bar the sheriff and cl' i-:nJL&
msnlinrr thoii pneta infrnnrl mnnrnf "D . i-!t.
tyof extortion and injusticeIt "wimheir sworn
duty to protect their clients from tl.e wrong.
tsut not a word of disaticction was heard from
them not a syllable of complaint was uttered.
I shall not charge them with ignorance and let
no marl dare accuse them with perjury. The
sueni assent oi icarnea lawyers mereiore ap-
proved the determination of the officers -md"
confirmed them in the rectitude of the course
they had pursued. Who then can justly 1
mem v nmi mere mat woks
as-thevj
thatquarter must bjftl;i;i on with distl
The events ofjh'-iejgctioneering campaign d
not justify much confidence in their promises
'-To err Hhuman to forgive divine."
If we admit that our coun'y officers erred yet
wherethcre a particle of evidence that their
error was a wilful and intentional breach of
their duty! he knows but little .of thejndividu-
als and is shamefully wanting of sense or
charity. Who under all the circumstances of
their case can believe theni guilty of a wanton
crime or can magnify theirconrfuctTnto a ma-
licious and flagrant act of transgressionShould
they then forfeit our confident reason tells
us no. r --"
Whoever offers himself to the people as a
candidate must expect to have his character
and his conduct his merits or his demerits ful
ly andjjlajnly discussed. It is not reasonable
io expect to be made a repository of public con'
fidencfe until a review of his life and char-
acter proves him worthy of it. And no man
should offer whoshrinks from this ordeal. In
noticing the candidates Ishalf speak boldly
"jnd jdainly. mjdtruthhall dictate my speech.
'f then any should take offence let it be re-
mem bered (ilxoanSririlnuui'
let it rather be lamented that tlie truth should
offend.
Robert J. Calder the candidate for the sher-
iffalty in opposition to John P. Gill has been
a resident of this county for twelve years. He
was first employed on a farm then clerk for
the McNecIs in Brazoria and during the revo-
lution was a soldier in our army. He was en-
gaged in the battle of Conception and endifred
all the hardships and fatigues of the campaign
of '30. He headed a company of men at the
battle of S.m Facinto where he conducted him-
self bravely. After his return from the army
he made a hard earned living by driving a cart
and oxen in Brazoria ; and'it is still his boast
that if he cannot again be elected Sheriff he is
not too proud to be a drayman. In Febrtrarv
1337 he was elected sheriff and again elected
in IS39 by a majority of three to one over his
present opponent In the discharge of the du-
ties of his office he has sl.own dilligence and
impartiality and so far as his fees arc concern
ed bren extremely indulgent By far the
greater part of his fees remain uncollected
the kindness of the man's disposition prevent-
ing an enforcement of the summary method
of collection allowed him by law. He has hjd
a good English education and though he is not
possessed of a very capacious mind he can
boast a tolerably clear head. During his oc-
cupancy of the sheriffality he has been able to
gain legal lore sufficient to capacitate him for
an able discharge of its duties. He is a man
of family. Wherever he is most known he is
most loved. Eut I must conclude this notice
for whoever hns been intimately acquainted
with Bob Calder will find it very difficult to
speak of him in any other terms then the lan-
guage of panegyric. .
Jonn r" win itu. . i T-.. X resiuem
of our county and has distinguished himself
among the soldiers of the revolution. He fought
at the battle of San Jacinto. In 1336 and '37
he was connected with Daniel T. Fitchett in
the tavern at Columbia that house brought
him a very handsome profi: but subsequent
bad management has dissipated all his gains '
and he is now a poor man. In the fall of 1S39
he commanded on the Indian campaign and
did himself some credit He is a brave soldier
and an honest man and universally beloved
in private life. But he is illiterate he is wo-
fully deslitulc of the education necessary for
the sheriffality. He was appointed assessor
of the State tax for this coun:y in IS 10. and
was obliged to employ a person to make out
his return for him. Besides this his good na-
tured easy disposition renders him easy to be
imposed upon by designing persons. His
mind is barely mediocre. lie is an unmarried
man. He has been twice a candidate for the
sheriffality and I presume may be considered
so ad cternum.
Thomas BlackwcII the candidate for Clerk
in opposition to Willam Ryon emigrated to this
country with his wife early in 1536. Immedi-
ately on his arrival he shouldered his rifleand
marched to the camp a more enthusiastic inde
fatigable volunteer was not to be found in camp.
He bore more than his share of the arduous du-
ties of that arduous campaign. He too fought
at the battle of San Jacinto. After the war he
was clerk for Mr. Mills at Brazoria. In IS3S
he was elected district clerk and in the same
year appointed clerk of the board of ian'd com-"""""
missioners by Congress. He is an industri-
ous gentlemanly honest man. He is possess-
ed of a tolerable education and writes a beau-
tifulhand His long experience in the clerk's
office has rendered him intimate with its duties:
his books and papers areajwaysfound well
written up and nea
entirely dependent; mjBW'Z his office and
therefore has dcvSa ..rkfiv to its du
jp fiu- "rr-rf
i '..mcet
Ri"7'cu" J..V little. His
claims to the suffrr0.o oi the p.tiple cannot be
discovered with the aid of a"microscope.
One of those summer birds who .flew to qQ.
shorts after the winter of "Tuir struggles hud
passed without capacity without any claims to
our retard. I can see in him" nothing to ad
mire bat the assurance with which he solicits
our support.
I have now noticed sufficiently at large the
individuals before the people. I have asserted
nothing in which fact will not supporfnleTTind
I believe I have said sufficient to convince every
unprejudiced man of the superior claims of Cal-
der ami Black well upon our votes. They have
heretofore discharged the duties of their offices
without just blame and now possess a perfect
knowledge of the slate of business in theroa
knowledge which cannot be acquired without ""
the expenditure of much time and trouble.
Changes Uwavs produce confusion and should
rarely be made unless directed by imperative
necessity. Will any sensible man believe that
good reasons have been advanced wfiyJjgder
and Blackwell should be turnedjJJJTjJJI'iJfg-'
Will the public good be thercKy -vaiiccdl
Let candid reason answer these question:: and;
the reply must be in the negative
The: e is a maxim of very genera;! practico in
private life ''never entrust you'dusmess into
the hands of men who cannot tafce core of their
own." This is good counsel and it applies with!"
peculiar force to the present case. Messrs.
Gill and Ryon have shown themselves but in
differently well qualified to manage their own
affairs ; and there would be very little wisdom
in enrius:inj thjrq with those of the public
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Durnett, S. J. San Luis Advocate (San Luis, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 18, Ed. 1, Friday, January 29, 1841, newspaper, January 29, 1841; San Luis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth79943/m1/2/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.