Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 7, Ed. 1, Saturday, January 18, 1845 Page: 3 of 8
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TEXAS NATIONAL REGISTER.
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should pass. He had witnessed since he had
been here the passage of hills for the relief" of
almost everv officer of the government ins-
tices sheriffs coroners "collectors &c. Jurors
are as much entitled to pay as any of these
officers. The opposition here seems to be
principally from gentlemen not subject to jury
service. ' v
5Ir. Smith of F. moved to amend by adding
an additional section : ' Sec.3 that the ju-
rors receive nothing f..r their services as jurors
in the district court.V V&Jij' v
Mr. Scott hoped tlic "amendment would not
be adopted. It came from one of that class
emphatically styled lawyers-and not subject
in jury service.
Mr. Bonrland moved to lay the bill and
amendment on the table: lost. Amendment
rejected. f" r - -
Mr. Scott moved the engrossment of the
hill.
?Ir. Robinson : If lite provisions of this hill
are carried out the treasuries of the several
counties will present " a beggarly account of
empty boxes." No other creditors can he
pa'uhjthcre will be no funds in the treasuries to
meet exigencies aiiingin the administration
of county officers. On these grounds the com
mittee on the judiciaiy recommended the post
' Mr. Parker hoped the bill would be engross-
ed. Gentlemen complain of the amount of
the debt of different -counties. If I recollect
aright congress last year granted the county
of Fort Bend the privilege to lay an extra tax.
If other gentleman would pursue the same
course their counties would be better enabled
to pay jurors. The juror is "worthy of" his
hire." I care not what debt his county may
owe; the man who has to leave his plough
handle is entitled to his remuneration.' lie
has to be at court at all times at a particular
hour or he is lined : has to leave home at the
very lime he should be there. I have not
heard a gentleman upon this iloor save Inw-
3'ers except the gentleman from Galveston
oppose this bill. Pay your jurors and you
will have good service. Lay a direct tax if
you will for county purposes.
Mr. Henderson : If the advocates of the bill
will not permit it to he re-committed that it
may be presented in a more acceptable form
1 shall be compelled to vote against it. in
my county there is something like twenty-
two thousand dollars due the citizens from the
county. I do not know what proportion is
duo jurors; but it is very large. As courts
are held there longer than in other counties
it would take ten years to absorb these claims.
pouenieut of the whole matter. There is a i I trust ihe friends of the bill will permit it to
TEXAS NATIONAL REGISTER.
EDITED KY JK JriIJEIt.
U .1 S JI I .V GTO W. v' "T""
. SATURDAY JANUARY-IS 1S45.
TJr Gen. James Hamilton arrived in town
on Wednesday evening last
-
Advices to a late date have been received
from Torrey's tradinghousehy which we learn
that a large number of the neighboring friend-
ly tribes and among them ihe Camanchcs
are at that point. The latter manifest con-
fidence in the good intentions of the Govern-
ment towards them. There was to have been
a "talk" between the agents and the Indians
on the 9th iust. It is ascertained that the two
children of Mrs. "Simpson are in possession of
the Wncoes and Tpweash near the foot of
(j-
large clas of individuals in this community
who are bound to furnish their sei vices to the
government without compensation. The ciii-
r.ens of the western part of the country are
frequently called en masse into the field : they
have not been paid they have not asked
compensation. In almost every section of
the count rj' citizens have been called upon to
perforin services public services without
compensation. 15y pursuing the course re
commended by the committee equal justice
will be done to all classes. To make the
claims of jurors privileged debts would leave
the treasuries entirely empty. The county
boards would be unable to execute the duties
devolving upon them: court houses and jails
could not he built; the police could not be
sustained ; and all other creditors must be post-
poned to await the resuscitation of treasuries
exhausted by the payment ot the certificates of
jurors.
?ir. McLeod: I think there is a very clear dis-
tinction between the military duty obligatory
I'rinn i-vnrv p.itiy.f:i in common withal! where the
- w - j w.-- .--- .... . . . .. .
honor ami interest of the whole eonunmutv are I P;iss tliC ulM lor l;e 'cliet 0l 'jJJC.v iSavIS- rtJ-
at take and the civil duly in question where csidrd and the bill passed. The bill for
an individual is not under obligation to sacri- the rdlKj ol M:UT L- Williams : engrossed
lice his own interest to that of any other. The 'iic l)il (or t!tJ lelt(jr protection of the rights
hirer should not be compelled to throw away " n-reti women was uiKeu up ; on llie mo
tion to engross .
he ro-committcd.
On motion of Mr. McLeod the bill was re-
ferred to a select committee consisting of
Messrs. Scurry McLeod Dourland and Wil-
liamson. On motion of Mr. Bourlaud Resolved that
the committee on finance be instructed to in-
quire into the expediency of appropriating a
certain potliou of the direct tax assessed in
each and every county for the payment of
costs which have already accrued in the dis
trict courts against the republic and report by
bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr. Moucfee the House ad-
journed until three o'clock p. m.
Tnitcc o'clock p. m.
The bill authorizing the county surveyor of
Houston county to transcribe his records:
amended and engrossed. The bill to incor-
porate the town of Boston : engrossed. The
bill for the relief of Amasa Turner: rejected.
The bill for the relief of Martha B. Runnels
ami others: passed. The vote refusing to
the Wichetaw mountains about 400 miles
above the trading-house. As soon as the grass
springs up the agents will go out and endea-
vor to recover them. The tradiughousc on the
Trinity has been established and is in success-
ful operation.
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his time for the benefit of other citizens with-
out some compensation. In the county I re-
present the evil is greatly felt. The Lurtben
there falls chiefly on mechanics and working
men unending on their daily labor for sup-
poit. For their lelief I hope the bill will pass.
Mr. Jones of S. P. moved to amend by ad-
ding an additional section. " Section 8 Be
it further enacted that the certificates obtain-
ed i'or jury services shall not be transferable.1'
Mr. Scott hoped the amendment would not
be aiioptcd. Individuals who pay only one
dollar tax may have to serve weeks on the
jury. Many persons only pay a poll tax.
Motion to amend lost.
Mr. Smith of Fannin moved to lay the bill
on the table. If this bill pass the House and
the Senate and is approved by the President
the county revenues will be reduced to no-
thing at all. Debts hate grown up under the
circumstances of the limes which have yet to
he paid. The creditors have their certificates
payable in itA backs which will now have to
lie received as good money if you authorize
the collectors of taxes to receive jury certifi-
e.ates in payment of direct taxes you will de-
prive some counties of their entire revenues.
Is tills politic? I ask the Ifous(c to pause and
consider before they act.
Motion to lay on the table lost.
Mr. Parker moved the engrossment of the
bill.
?slr. Scurry: I am satisfied if that bill goes
into effect it does destroy all and every thing
like a county fund. The debts now due in
inanv counties far exceed the revenues accru-
jjjir from county taxes' The amount of dues
tojurors acknowledged by certificates from
the dir-trict clerk covers twice the amount of
the county tax in the county in which I reside.
On my last visit to this place I brought a pe
tition from the county court praying the pas-
sage of an act authorizing Red River county
to increase the amount of its direct taxes.
Unless we do pass such acts to increase coun-
ty taxes they cannot bemade higher than at
present; and the certificates in existence will
absorb every dolla'r. " Those who have here-
tofore served and taken out their certificates
have done so with the full knowledge that the
counties were unable to pay them and it
would seem useless to afford" relief to those
whoprobably do; not expect it. I think there
are other persons to whom the several coun-
ties are indebted who are equally meritorious.
To absorb then the whole tax in the payment
ofjurors would be doing them great injustice.
o make room for the proceedings of Con
gress which are doubtie&s more interesting
and therefoie moie acceptable to the reader
than any original matter we could give we
are under the necessity of excluding for the
present from our pages not only the various
contributions with which we have been favor-
ed bur our own remarks even upon the cur-
rent topics of the dtiy. We are satisfied that
no apology wJl be required by our readers
for this appropriation of our space : inasmuch
as the congressional debates which we fur-
nish weekly will serve belter than any thing
else to elucidate the merits of the prominent
measures brought forward and advocated or
denounced by the representatives of the peo-
ple. ? We learn that Mr. Simeon Bateman
one of the oldest settlers on the Guadalupe
near Gonzales and Mr. Matthew Jett a set-
tler on the filed in a and for the last year at-
tached to Capt. Hays1 company were barba-
rously murdered on the night of the 10th iust.
near Virginia point. It appears that the de-
ceased were on their way to the United States
and that Mr. Bateman had in his possession a
large sum of money for the purpose of pur-
chasing negroes and bringing them to Tex-
We publish this week the annexation bills
of Mr. Welierof Ohio of Mr. McDufBe olV
S1. C of Mi: Ingersoll of Pa. (the same as
Mr. lUcJLriillie's; and ot Mr. Benton of Mo.
- .In relation to the latter the Galveston News -has
the following remarks in which we most
heartily concur as expressing the sentiments
'which we hope are entertained by every pat- .
riotic citizen of the Republic. Annexation is
a matter of too much moment to he treated
lightly. When once accomplished it cannot
be undone. Let us therefore calmly and dis-
passionately consider it in ail its bearings
upon the' future as well as the present well ft
being and glory of the nation. The Xuvs'A
says: '-Should Mr. Benton's hill pass the
Senate which is more than likely from the- I
laetatiat llie wings will support it in order to
defeat annexation then event true Texan
ici'd reject it with ihe lit most contempt and in-
dignation. There is a large majority of the
people of Texas in favor of annexation ; but -
they ioish to be admitted into the American
Union vpun honorable terms without any con-
lingencies that may hereafter involve us in-
difficulties and troubles. We seek annexation
not from fear oj sustaining ourselves as an in-
dependent nation; because ice conceive that
Tczas is fully able to repel any attemit here-
after made by Mexico to subjugate the coun-
try; and it is generally admitted tec possess
enough of the Angle-Saxon blood to render us
capable of self government.'11 - j'
We have received a copy of the proceedings
of an annexation meeting recently held at
San Felipe. The people are entitled to bu't
heard upon any and every subject which in-''
volves their presenter future well-being; and
hence if our limits permitted we would cheer- ly'
fully give place to this expression of their
will; notwithstanding wc doubt the proprietv '?
of agitating a question which as it now.--stands
cannot possibly be advanced by any
action of ours. We cannot force a decision:
and certainly a show of extreme eagerness '
followed by another rejection might place us
iu no very enviable attitude either before our
selves or the world. It' there was any pros
pect of the immediate accomplishment of the
measure to which we allude if there was
auv doubt as to the public ieciin- in relation
to it if there was any evidence of the un-
soundness of the views of the government
upon it and if it were possible for either the
Congress or the Executive or both combined
to transfer modify or annihilate the sovc-'
reignty and independence of the nation with-
as. With this view he had wirb him his over-
eer by the name of Shultz who was doubt-!0511 lhc "ti'riy.f the people themselves
Mr. Lewis of Montgomery county would
make a1 few remarks' explanatory of the
bill. By the passage of a r.v in 1S39 dower
was secured to ihe widow; by the passage of
a law in 1S40 that provision was repealed
leaving the widow dowerless. The first pro-
position contained in the bill is simply to se-
cure to the widow one half the community pro-
perty against the payment of'dobts contracted
anterior to the marriage. It asks nothing hut
what is equitable. The wife leaves her home
her parents and ventures but into the world to
encounter all its vicissitudes with the huband
of her choice is it consonant with justice or
propriety to Mm her loose upon the world up-
on the death of her husband'? A; the law
stands now even' thing is taken from hewi . !ir v? 'oni New Orleans up to the 0th
she has no interest in the acquests no inflBkinst. furnish not?iing additional as to the pro-
less acquainted with the fact of his having th
money The pmty had encamped for the
night and while both of the deceased were
asleep Shultz accomplished his purpose by
shooting them with pistols and afterwards
mutilating their bodies with tiie Knife. The
following morning early he crossed the ferry
lo Galveston and without being suspected
ot on board of the Now York then in the
act of sailing for Kaw Orleans. The bodies
were discovered next dny ; but not until the
uunderer had escaped. We understand some
of the citizens of Galveston immediately pro-
ceeded to sea in a pilot boat for New Orleans
with the hope of overtaking Shultz at that
place
rest in the community pioperty which she has
assisted in accumulating after the marriage.
I take it for granted that this proposition is
fair and philanthropic in its principles. The
bill next provides that if "the husband shall dis-
pose of any community property the transfer
shall not be set aside; the right to the proper-
ty sold shall enure to the purchaser hut a
portion of the husband's separate estate shall
be set apart for the widow equal in value to the
property transferred. The third provision is
that one third of the real estate at the death
of the husband shall enure to the benefit of the
widow; that she shall have a dower estate.
I presume no gentleman here except from
the states where the civil law prevails will
object to this'section of the hill. Why Sir
for what object have two thirds of the people
emigrated to this country? To acquire land
The emigrant's wife comes! with him ; she is
subjected to all the toils and privations attend
ant' upon emigration to to a new country.
And is it proper when death'shal! deprive'Mier
of her protector that she should have no inte-
rest whatsoever in lands'acquired in this coun-
try? To guard against evils of this kind to
give protection to the helpless'widow are the
objects Aof this bill; and I trust there will he
no objections to any of Its provisions. Ques-
tion" put on the engrossment. Lost. And
bill rejected. ?
On motion of Mr. Williamson the House
adjourned until to-morrow morning 10 o'clock.
in ess of the Mexican revo ution. We. hare.
however received from Matamoros by way of
Corpus Chris"! i the intelligence that Paretics
with S000 men had man-bed against Santa
Anna who had under his command 13000
troops and in a battle at Puebla had com-
pletely defeated the latter it was reported
also that Santa Anna and "Wo 1 1 had sailed
from the neighborhood of Vera Cruz probably
to Havana. Matanioros had declared in fa-
vor of the revolution ; and Gen. Cela com-
mandante of the city had been thrown into
prison. Ortega Governor of Monterey hi.d
been butchered for his fidelity to Santa Anna.
Ganales and Arista waro at the head of the
revolutionary parfv in ihe iiort'iern. states
where their triumph was perfect.
Business at Corpus Const i was brisk the
difficulties beyond the Ttio Gr
vorable to the trade..
expressed by their representatives clothed
with plenary power for the purpose in genera1
convention assembled tha case would he far
different. The constitution of the nation can-
not lie destroyed by an act of Congress. The
supreme power the people themselves must:
act noon the question whenever it arises. It
is one of their reserved and "inalienable5
rights. They and not the members of Con-
gress will constitute the grand tribunal to
winch the subject must be referred and from
which there will he no appeal.
We have" been favored with the following
extract of a letter dated Washington city
December 27th from a highly intelligent gen-
tleman formerly a resident of Texas to a"
friend in Galveston.
' My own opinion is. that the 4th of March
will find the Texas question unsettled; and'
could 1 influence the executive and legislative .
j branches of your government I would by ail
means urge them at once to adopt a policy
indepcndent' au action on the part of thtj
United States. Annexation after a long bit
ter and excited struggle may be consumma
ted (e'veu this is doubtful) ; and hence I would
warn those who in their executive and repre-
sentative character are to control the destiny
of Texas not to hang with desperate grasp to
annexation whilst every year of her miserable
uncertainty is sapping her energies. War"
with Mexico there will not be. Invasion of. 7
her territory is not probable. She is free i"
all intents and purposes ; and it is with the .
deepest sincerity I utter the wish that annex-
ation had never been proposed ; or since pro-
i i - r ' posed that the measure was ended one wav
antic being .a- j aml t.Jt right icedlyt yo;:
The Debt of 'Mexico. Besides what she
owed to the United States theacknowledged
public debt of Mexico was a 'year since
eighty-two millions of dollars upon which the
I hope therefore the House will not engross annual interest was and is nearly five mil-
the bill lions of dollars. '
i must either have annexation or peace belofi
i-a -ri . f - - " - 7 'you can be prosperous. Peace you could.
05s- Extract of a letter received by lust . f ... i .iJ t iion. lrnt n. .1....-.:
t UV ikimtJi"m " " v " w.ww .tvk
f ' .
mail from a citizen of Red Tiiver.
" 1 have seen a copy of ex-President IIous-
was pleased to
jition when? 1 fear if the measure is pur-t
sued you and I a others will ask longaf--ter
this when?"
ton's message. I like it ; and
find that he was silent upon the subject of an-
ne.VJtton. I sincerely hope hv. Jones will
.!.- IP.-oti'iCA m it !f inmitirin i; lliot !.x ....II
oppose it I think two refusals should sufneej nst0 " his wnJ Ilomp; 0lc 2Irt uh
fur the present. Ve can do better winiout j He may ho expecteu here by the next steamer
iioni iuv. iie.ni.-.
- The Hon. Ashbcl Smith Charg6 d'Affaires
cf Texas to Paris and London arrived at
the United States than they can-do without
us. Although certainly not opposed to annex-
ation in the present posture of our nifairs I
am heartily sick of being treated in the con-
temptuous manner in which the United States
have treated all our wishes heretofore. "
There is by far the largest immigration this
fall that we have ever had ; not less than one
thousand waggons have crossed Red River in
the last six weeks."
We see from the La Grange Intelligencer
thatI.E. McGuIloch Esq. Sheriff of Gon-
zalescounty has succeeded in retaking near
Segufu the slaves which recently runaway
from the upper Colorado. We hope he will
keep a lookout for and be equally successful
in overhauling those which runaway from he-
Falls of the Brazos about the first of the
month.
. r
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Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 7, Ed. 1, Saturday, January 18, 1845, newspaper, January 18, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80101/m1/3/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.