Daily Bulletin. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 9, Ed. 1, Tuesday, December 7, 1841 Page: 4 of 4
four pages : illus. ; page 8 x 12 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
right of the Consultation to make treaties of peace was
declared upon and secured by the laws of nations.
(He would read from Kent's Commentaries to prove
his position.) The doctrine then. Sir. here laid down
shows clearly" that the Consultation-had the right nay
the authority for which ho had contended. That body
not only made treaties of peace but declared war. It
declared a war and drove from without our limits the
invading enemy the country's common foe ; and that
body too Sir has been sustained in both ; sustained
by the people's representatives in General Convention
in 1836 when they declared their Independence and
by the people themselves when they at the ballot-box
in the same year ratified it. He would ask honorable
gentlemen then where was the necessity of such
an amendment as that under consideration ? where the
necessity of such minute distinctions as had been made
and taken on this floor I For himself he could answer
the question. The gentlemen were lawyers by profes-
sion (nothing Sir in derision of that high and dignified
profession) but Sir. as such they assume to themselves
and assert here upon this floor doctrines for home con-
sumption which would not be entertained. Sir : no.
Sir not for a moment entertained in our courts of jus-
tice. Glorious privilege this Mr. Speaker that by the
rules of this House honorable gentlemen have heaped
upon the best patriots of the age a tirade of abuse for
no $her purpose than to gratify selfish views or at
least fpr to carry out a sectional policy.
He read from the colonization laws of Mexico and
the colonization laws of Coahuila and Texas to show
that the Indians had a right to settle upon and occupy
the lands.
He therefore trusted that having shown by the laws
he had read that the Indians had a right to settle upon
and occupy lands within the limits of the Government
of Mexico that point would now lie at rest forever.
For the law not only made provision for the colonization
of Indians that might have come within the territories
ot Mexico but it expressly invited them to come and
avail diemselves of her colonization system.
But Sir much has been said relative to the condi-
tions that the colonization laws impose upon settlers.
It is now asserted Sir that the Indians never come for-
ward and embraced the Catholic religion and that their
lands were never measured off to them in conformity
with law. He would enquire of honorable gentlemen
how many of the early colonists of that portion of
Texas had availed themselves of the high boon of be-
coming Christian by the compulsory privilege; passing
the ordeal of baptism by a Priest. Thus transforming
themselves from professed adults to a superlative degree
ofhypocracy. But few Sir very few indeed Sir;
not one out of every hundred. Why then attempt to
exact a rigid and strict compliance with the conditions
of the law on the part of the Indians 1 Sir the days
of inquisition have long since gone by in this our
adopted country. He had seen the phantom pass and
trusted that honorable gentlemen would no longer in-
sist upon a principle which if carried out. would ex-
pose themselves to odium and contempt in the section
of the country they have the honor of representing in
this House.
The Consultation Sir acted wisely and soberly up-
on this subject at an important crisis. They released
the Indians from the odious conditions of the law a-
gainst the majesty of which they themselves the peo
pie of Texas had revolted. They granted the Indians
their land by certain out-lines and boundaries more in
accordance with the true spirit of American freedom
and liberty. That body made a solemn pledge guar-
anteeing to the Indians "the possession of the "territory
they occupied in strict conformity with the former cus-
toms of Americans and Indians in the United States.
They had acted with wisdom and patriotism in neutral-
izing savage barbarity within our own limits at a time
when the dictator and his myrmidons were driving a
war upon qs. That body Had immortalized itself by
that act alone in his conception'.1 They displayed uh-
parallelled sagacity in averting the tomahawk its
deadly aim at helpless women and children. - No body
of men under the emergencies could have done better;
few perhaps as well.
Shall we then Sir avail ourselves of the glorious
results of victory over Mexico on the one hand while
we brand them with infamy on the other? Forbid it
heaver ! forbid it justice !
Their acts were nil-binding and honorable gentle-
men have no riqht In draw a distinction in their -vnr.
The right that the Indians claimed under Mexi-
co was by occupancy alone and their risrhts. under the
Government of Texas were the same. They had been
put in possession of the lands in question by the Poli-
tical Chief of Bexar with a reservation of the ultimate
fee in the Government of Mexico and the treaty of the
Consultation guarantees the same in favor of Texas.
But Sir say honorable gentlemen that the people of
Texas were in rebollion in 1S35 against central Mex-
ico. Granted Sir. more the Consultation were a
band of rotal r&". Will honorable srentlemen then
oven in that event undertake to say that the people of
Texas or the Government of Texas are not entitled to
the benefit of their own splendid and unparallelled a-
chievements No. Sir; they miirht as well tell you
that we arc not entitled to the liberty we at present en-
joy purchased as it has been at so dear a price.
He then read from Peters reports that in the United
States Indians under like treaties could only sell land
to the Governmcn. lie contended that the same prin-
ciple obtained and that whenever the titles of the In-
dians to the land in question was extinguished the land
reverted to this Government and she alone has the
right of disposing of it as she may deem proper. Sir
I have shown that the treaty made by the Consultation
with the Cherokces and their associate bands had met
with the approbation of the Executive of this nation.
I repeat it : I will now prove it. Sir frequent attempts
have been made by the Government to purchase the
lands in question from the Indians and the last one at
the immediate instance of the Executive by means of
Commissioners appointed for that special purpose a few
weeks previous to their expulsion. Sir all attempts at
purchase failed the Indians referring the decision of
their rights to the God of battles rather than abandon
their ancient homes. They were unsuccessful ; they
were forced to leave the country and shall we now
bestow on those the lands in question who. by intrud-
ing upon the Indians have been chiefly instrumental
in bringing on the war ? That Sir is what this a-
mendment asks for and no more. He was not a member
of this House when the original bill passed to section-
ize and sell the lands in question therefore he declined
any remarks as to its policy or expediency ; he had
only vindicated the rights of the nation in contradis-
tinction to those of individuals. He had occupied the
House longer than he intended and asked their kind
indulgence.
DAILY KULLETIN
Published and Edited by SAMUEL WHITING
The undersigned this day issues the first number of the Daily
Bulletin for the purpose of giving day by day a synopsis of the
proceedings in Congress skeletons of debates which are of general
interest and furnishing the news of the day as it is received in an-
ticipation of the weekly papers. To this will be added occasional
comment upon public proceedings- notices of public men and a
general and spirited presentation of events to interest the reading
community during the session of Congress.
It is presumed that the close of one Administration and the induc-
tion of another will furnish much to interest the country at large;
and it is also presumed that accurate notices of men and things at
such a period with such literary variety as may be within control
of the publisher will make the Bullktin a desirable visitant at the
residence of those citizens of the country whose avocations require
their attention at home but who feel that interest in the administra-
tion ot affairs and the revolution of events which constitutes and
characterises the imn of intelligence.
The Bulletin will contain such selections from Foreign Journals
as will be calculated to interest its readers and every effort will" be
made to give it variety zest and character.
The paper as first issued will be small but as nearly all of it will
be filled with original and selected matter it will contain as much
reading 'material as sheets of larger surface. Should circumstan-
ces indicate the propriety of enlarging its size and the patronage
q-xjended warrant such a course that" alteration can at any time be
made. hov27 SAM. WHITING. '
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Whiting, S. Daily Bulletin. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 9, Ed. 1, Tuesday, December 7, 1841, newspaper, December 7, 1841; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80064/m1/4/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.