The Morning Star (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 235, Ed. 1, Wednesday, January 22, 1840 Page: 2 of 4
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THE MORNING STAR.
Moaston Wednesday Jan. 39 1840. j
TEXAS AND ENGLAND.
England has declined refused to recognise the inde-
pendence of Texas. Our commissioner appointed to ne-
gotiate Ja treaty of recgnition with that government has
returned. What coarse onght we to pursue in this mat-
ter? In order to come to a right decision on this subject
it is necessary briefly to recapitulate the leading circum-
stances of the case; and from the publicity of diplomatic
negotiations in modern times our statements will be found
we believe in the main correct
In April 1836 the battle of San Jacinto was fought
which utterly destroyed the Mexican rule and extinguish
ed all vestiges of power and precluded any attempt of hers j
to exercise authority in Texas. This was nearly four
years ago. Since that time Texas has enjoyed without
interruption an organized government has exercised with-
in her borders all the attributes and functions of sovereign.
ty in the fullest manner and has been and is de facto as
perfectly an independent government as any nation in the
world possesses.
In the snmmer of 1837 vpicards of a year after our
independence was achieved Gen. Henderson was sent to
England and France as commissioner to negotiate treaties
of recognition &c with the governments of these coun-
tries. The subject of his mission was laid before the Bri-
i
tish cabinet and it is understood to have been avowed on '
that occasion that England would in the case of Texas I
be guided by the same rule she has ever acted on. This j
rule the only safe and just one in deciding questions of J
recognition and the rule invariably pursued by the United j
States is to acknowledge every government de facto im-1
mediately its ability to maintain itself is rendered apparent !
without making any question of right or inquiring into '
its domestic polity. But Mexico was at that time threat-
ening us with a fresh invasion; and the British Ministry !
is 'understood to have urged this fact as the ground for '
their deferring our recognition; and it was regarded as 'j
the only obstacle to their taking this step at that time. j
Gen. Henderson then repaired to tbe court ot ranee and
after surmounting great difficulties succeeded in making j
a treaty with that government in which our independence i
as a matter of course is acknowledged. That treaty is j
.now before our senate for ratification ; its provisions have
not therefore been made public '
Our minister on his return from France passed through
England and according to the statements of the English
journals the subject of our formal admission into the fam-
ily of nations was again presented to the consideration of
their ministry. We had now been nearly rouR years
INDISPUTABLY A GOVERNMENT DE FACTO. This fact
was undeniable could not be any longer questioned. Our
right to a recognition was perfected. The former rea-
son for delay would serve as a pretext no longer. From
the English journals and from various sources it is now
perfectly apparent that the only obstacle to our acknowl-
edgment is tbe existence of slavery in Texas. ffConncll
whose name is a by-word of infamy by his control of a
party in parliament can give a majority to the ministers
or the opposition; he has issued his insolent mandate to
the ministry not to recognise Texas so long as slavery ex-
ists in our borders. And the ministry have bowed to his
dictation and refuse to acknowledge our independence. I
We deem it our duty to lay these facts before our citizens; ;
and we assure them that nopossible uncertainty exists of
the determination to interfere in our domestic institutions.
What course then we repeat and we are ready to an-
swer tbe question ought Texas to pursue towards Eng-
land 1 We do not inquire whether Texas will submit to
any interference in our domestic affairs. We know the
temper of this people ; and England may refuse our re-
cognition till our posterity shall possess this country from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific till the lime when Tcx-
ian diplomacy backed by Texian armies and navies shall
be able to dictate the law to old England before we will
even entertain the question of any foreign interference
with slavery. Texas is a slave holding country and by
the grace of God and onr right arm will remain such.
If we can make any change in this or any other of our
institutions it will be of our own spontaneous act and nei-
ther suggested nor dictated by any foreign influence.
Slavery is no longer a question for discussion and settle-
ment it is a closed subject We will hear no proposi-
tion concerning it
At this time Texas has no agent of any nature whatso-
ever in England. Gen. Henderson has just been greeted
witb the heartiest welcome home. Mr. Macintosh se-
cretary of legation is left charge de affairs at Paris.
The course of Texas is to take so further step
WHATSOEVER AT THE PRESENT TIME TO OPEN AN IN-
TERCOURSE with England. If her ministry who we
believe really desire to acknowledge our independence
dare not perform this act of right and duty through fear of
afouI-mouthedUernagogne; we have nevertheless no fear
but that Texas will continue to flourish and soon attain a
pitch of importance among the nations of the world ubich
must needs force our recognition from all. The acknowl-
edgment by England tardily made will deprive her act
of all its grace. Besides we should feel no surprise should
Congress proceed soon to pass laws imposing the highest
discriminating duties on all the manufactures and com-
merce of such nations as have not recognised our inde-
pendence. Whatever and far more Man tee need can be
obtained from France and the United Stales.
We arc informed on the best authority that Gen. Hen-
derson while he disDlaved the courtesv nnd skill of an a-
ble negotiator did not forget for a moment what was due
to the dignity of an independent republic
Marriage Frolic. A New York paper gives a hu-
morous account of a marriage-hoax which recently took
place in that city. It appears that certain merry girls in
Hudson street a short time ago conspired with certain
young hangers on of theirs to have a mock marriage. To
this end a pretty black-eyed girl entered into a mock-
matrimonial contract with a beau of whiskers and invita-
tions were sent to some fifty persons to meet the happy
pair at home between the hours of eight and nine on a
given evening. But the quasi bridegroom thinking that
a good joke might be carried a little further engaged a
friend of his to act as holy father on the occasion and ar-
rived at the house a couple of hours before the time for
the ' at home' and solemnly insisted on the ceremony be-
ing performed. The black-eyed beauty was at first taken
somewhat aback as the sailors say but she finally with
great apparent reluctance consented and the ceremony
was performed. The party arrived the pseudo-minister
evaporated wedding cake and wine were handed round
the wedded pair congratulated and after the company
departed the married couple looked at each other rather
foolishly not knowing exactly what to do. It was final-
ly determined that the joke had been carried a little too
far and the best thing that could bedonc was to make the
false match a real one with the quickest expedition. In
a few days after therefore a real marriage uas got up
and in the mean time the uneasy lovers for they really
werc such beguiled the dull and tedious hours as best
they could.
Marriage is a ticklish thing nnd it is better for children
not to meddle with edge tools.
From the New Orleans Bee.
THE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN PRESS.
We have frequently noticed several striking points of
contrast bjveen the English and&ngerican press. Some
of them are curious and worthy attention. The first re-
mark which a careful observer of English journals will
make is their general superiority as regards' talent to those
of America. This arises from various causes; the prin-
ciple one is that the number of newspapers is much more
limited in Great Britain and hence the selection of men
of cultivated understanding to conduct them can more
readily be made. The remuneration is considerably more
liberal than with us. The chief editor commonly receives
84000 to 5000 per annum for his services; the sub editor
from 82500 to 3000 and in many instances much beyond
this amount Hence the inducement to men of abilities to
write for the public journals is more flattering. There is
undoubtedly much talent to be found in the American
press; but there is also much mediocrity and some posi-
tive inferiority particularly among the country papers.
But as respects the newspapers in England the rule is
universal. They arc all conducted with ability; many of
them with consummate vigor.
Another marked contrast between the English and
American journals is the style of the editorials. The
Americans arc uncommonly prone to rhtectorical flourish-
es polished periods out-bursts of fancy and frequently
specimens of what is termed fine writing. The English
are particularly sedulous in avoidingall this. They rare-
ly indulge in ornamants tropes and figures; never in gen-
eral declamation and other ad captandum devices. They
appeal iq the common sense and to the passions if you
will but seldom if ever.do they seek to mislead the judge-
ment by captivating the fancy. We do not recollect hav-
ing ever witnessed in an English paper any article re-
sembling some of those wordy and windy lucubrations of
which the staple material is rant that are so frequently lo
be met with in American journals. The English press
is remarkable for the simplicity of its style; even expres-
sions 'the most hackneyed absolute vulgarisms are em-
ployed by them; every grace of writing seems to be sacri-
ficed to absolute perspicuity; their language while ner-
vous and forcible is divested of even the slighest exuber-
ance that is not indispensable for the preservation of the
sens!.
The American press has been considered particularly
abusive. The foes to popular governments and republi-
can institutions have instanced the vituperative character
of our political journals as evidence of the unbridledlicense
into which liberty has degenerated. There is no doubt
that our press is altogether too personal; too much dispos-
ed to unconditional invective; too indiscriminate in its at-
tack on individuals. Hence its usefulness as a means of
holding up the guilty to censure and opprobrium has been
materially abr.dged. When praise and blame become
equally lavish and inconsiderate distrust is the speedy
and nataral consequence. The unrestricted liberty of the
press in this country has in this manner proved a correc-
tive of itself; for its freedom from censorship while it
gives it almost entire unanimity in its assaults upon the
character and principles of individuals neutralizes its
malignant influence by disseminating a general want of
confidence in its loose and reckless assertions. These ob-
servations are of course not without exceptions; but as a
general rule we are persuaded this will be found just.
But however few and feeble the restraint upon the press
in America and however bold and indiscriminate maybe
its attack upon persons we are fully of opinion that the
journals of England are far beyond us in the art of vituper-
ation. The ministerial and opposition papers in London
mi"ht well instruct us in a point in which they are more
perfect than ourselves. The variety of abusive terms
which they hurl not only at each other but at the leading
politicians in the kingdom is inconceivable: 'scoundrels'
liars' cbeaU' 'knaves' 'perjured villains' and the like
are fair samples of the luxuriance of invective in which
they indulge. The peers and potentates of Great Britain
are the principle objects of attack and royalty itself es-
capes not unscathed. The simplicity of style which marks
their compositions gives them opportunities of indulging
in the coarsest personalities. No courtly trope or delicate
allegory half conceals while it discloses the keen sarcasm
and biting retort In naked virulence of language do
they fearlessly scatter the filthy garbage of their rancor.
Reprehensible as is the tone of the American press it is
more seemly and dignified than that of our transatlantic
neighbors.
With all the tact and intellectual resources displayed by
the English press there is less of raciness freshness and
originality than are commonly encountered in this coun-
try. Nine-tenths of the British journalists appear by
their writings to be hacicneycd partisans. There is a spe-
cies of mechanical labor in their compositions which im-
presses itself disagreeably upon the mind. The leading
editorial rarely wears the aspect of the spontaneous pro-
ductof observationand reflection. It has mere frequently
an artificial character as if it were connected by a mind
which had been drilled and disciplined to the mechanical
act of writing an article every day. It looks like a regu-
lar business transaction. The editor receives a certain
compensation which is debited by a per contra of copy-
One mode of accounting for this peculiarity is the exclu-
sive political character of most of the public journals.
The editorials treat of nothing but politics and of course
discuss such subjects entirely in a spirit of party. A man
who goes to work with dogged perseverance to indite po-
litical disquisitions six days in the week can scarcely fail
to give to his compositions the form and impress we have
noted. A few of the leading papers in this country are
rapidly subjecting themselves to similar criticism by pur-
suinga course which we consider unwise and unnecessary.
STANZAS.
Oh for the bright and gladsome hours
When like a wandering stream
My spirit caught from earth and sky
The light of every beam;
When if to my laughing eye
A tear-drop chanced to start
'Twas banished in a moment by
The sunshine of the heart!
I'm musing on the happy past
The first spring-time of life
When every tone of wind and wave
With melody was rife;
When all youth's hopes and promises
Those rainbows of my sky
Danced forth in fairy vision
BSfore my wandering eye.
My heart is with the leaping rills
That murmur round the home
Where first my lips were taught to speak
My tiny feet to roam;
The sweet songs of the happy birds.
The whispering wild-voiced breeze
That caught the faint breath of the roje
And waved amid the trees.
How many mournful memories
Steal gentlv through my mind
Like spirit voices borne along
Upon the wandering wind;
And as thought leads me back again
I almost seem to trace
In each sweet flower and shrub and tree.
Some fond familiar face.
'Tis thought because I smile on all
That I am vain and gay
That by the world's light flattery
I may be lured astray:
They know not that my heart oft breathes
Its fragrance out in sighs
That sad songs tremble on my lips
And tears within my eyes.
My thoughts are all as pure and sweet
As when I was a child
And all my bright imaginings
Are just as free and wild;
And were it not for one bright link
Within affection's chain
I'd wish to wander to that spot.
And be a child again.
I O Uare the vowels which create more disagreeable
sensations in the minds of honest men than all the rest of
the alphabet together.
The men employed by the State of Maine on the
Aroostook have returned home usable to get their pay.
Hard times in Maine potatoes 10 cents a bushel eggs
8 cents a dozen pork 5 cents a pound shingles 85 a
thousand pine logs cheap but no money at any price.
When we hear a man boasting of his "love for the dear
people" we are strongly inclined to suspect him of a love
for the "dear people's offices. It reminds us of the Irish-
man who was about to marry a girl for her property.
"Will you take this woman to be your wedded wife?"
said the minister. "Yes your riverance and the nagurs
too" said Pat Ticksburg Whig.
Forthcoming Lectures. We are informed that
during the ensuing winter a great number of curtain lec-
tures will be delivered in various parts of the city for the
benefit of poor Benedicks ; none but married men admit-
ted. The chief subjects will be: On the importanceof
attending to domestic duties and the evils arising from in-
terfering in foreign affairs. We have been promised an
account of some of these lectures and shall publish them
when received. Atlas.
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The Morning Star (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 235, Ed. 1, Wednesday, January 22, 1840, newspaper, January 22, 1840; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth79999/m1/2/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.