The Corpus Christi Star. (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 41, Ed. 1, Saturday, June 30, 1849 Page: 2 of 4
four pages : illus. ; page 13 x 19 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:
THE CORPUS CHRISTI STM.
BY BARNARD $ CALLAHAN.
j as. it. Barnard
CHAS. CALLAHAN.
corpus christi Saturday june 30 isio.
K?" Wc are indebted to Sir. E. Older for a copy of
the Galveston News of the 23d inst.
n7" Wo received by tho last mail a number of the
Bonliam Advertiser published at Bonhani Fannin Co.
by Messrs. J)o Morse & Hunt. It is a neat well printed
sheet and discusses the local politics of that section
with considerable spirit. The editor Air. Richard S.
Hunt is a nephew of Gen. Mcmucan Hunt well known
to many persons in this section.
NEWsrArEn Agency1. Tho Now York Truth Teller
has appointed Mr. C. Cahill of this place agent for that
paper. Mr. C. is authorized to receive subscriptions
from air persons residing in San Patricio Refugio Live
Oak Point Saluria Galveston and Corpus Christi.
Rangers. The Victoria Advocate of the 22J instant
says that Isaac W. Johnson Esq. of Goliad has ob-
tained permission from the Governor to raise a company
of Rangers for the term of six months. This company
is intended for the protection of tho country from Goliad
to tho Rio Grande. Tho compauy will be mustered in
at Goliad on the Cth of Julv.
Rumored Death or Ex-Phesidknt Tolk. A late
Picayune mention? a report of the death of James K.
Polk brought to New Orleans by the steamboat Savan-
nah the olliccrsof which boat informed the editors that
it was the current rumor at Vicksburg the night they left.
Tho news was said to have been received by telegraph.
The ex-President had been ill for several days.
California. The latest accounts from California
rather serve to increase than to allay the universal fever
for the gold region. New mines are said to have been
discovered even more productive than tho former. A
number of vessels have recently arrived in our eastern
ports bringing large amounts of gold etc.
K7" Among the appointments recently made we no-
tice. that of Robert Hughes Esq. to be Attorney of tho
United States for the District of Texas vice F. II. Mer-
rinian Esq. We see very little political news of interest.
Col. Benton is now very generally spoken of as the De-
mocratic candidate for the next Presidency. His name
Jias already been placed at the head of several papers as
a candidate i that high office at the next election.
Railroad Across Panama. The engineers who have
been engaged iif-surveying the road across the Isthmus
of Panama returned on the steamer Crescent City hav-
ing completed the survey. They report tiie route a very
fine one without any difficulties or obstructions in the
way and can be finished in two years from next fall.
The distance across from depot to depot will be about
ibrty-live aid a half milC3.
. -- ;
j Mujt-msCoxrEXTiON. A card published in the Mem-
phis Eagle of the Sth inst. over the signatures of the
Committee of Arrangements announces the postpone-
ment of the Memphis Convention from the 4th of July
to the 16th day of October next. The existence of the
cholera on the western rivers and the panic prevailing in
regard to it are the alleged causes of the postponement.
Aid to the Romans. The stand the Romans have
taken against the French and Neapolitan armies has ex-
cited the sympathy and admiration of Americans and
wc see it stated that meetings are to be held in New Or-
leans and elsewhere for the purpose of devising measures
to supply the Romans with arms in which their troops
arc said to be very deficient.
p- The Austin Democrat of the 9th says : " We are
paincil to have to notice the death of Lieut. H. Stone-
inctz of the U. S. Army who was drowned on or about
the 11th ult. in the Rio Bosque while attempting to
cross that stream on horseback at an uncommonly high
stage of water. Lieut. S. was a gentleman whose death
the whole community regret and whose loss will be
sensibly felt."
ArroiNTMENTS. A telegraphic despatch from Balti-
more dated June 12 says that Abbott Lawrence has ac-
cepted the appointment of Minister to England; Thos.
W. Chiun of iouisiana is appointed Charge to Naples;
Jas. B. Clay son of Henry Clay to Portugal. General
Twiggs succeeds Gen. Gaines. J- L. Van Allen aid to
Gen. Taylor is appointed Charge to the Republic of
Ecuador.
A previous despatch stated that Balie Peyton had been
appointed Charge to Chili.
Contemplated Attack on a California CojirANV.
Tho N. 0. Crescent says a report has reached the frontier
that tho Osages and Comanches are going to join toge-
ther to intercept attack and rob the Fayetteville Mining
Company that lately rendezvoused at the Grand Saline
and arc now on their way to California. The Osages
arc said to have left the border within a very short time
without staying to make their usual preparations when
they go on the prairie to hunt; and some individuals of
the Osages have stated to some of our people that such
things are in contemplation by them and the Comanches
stating that they did not want a public road made through
their hunting grounds by the white people.
Santa Fe. The last number of the Austin Democrat
contains an interesting letter from Judge Baird addres-
sed to Governor Wood and dated at Santa F Texas
March 31 1849. The news from Santa Fd is decidedly
encouraging. Judge Baird says that Texas is rising in
tho estimation of tho people of Santa F6 every day.
Before his arrival demagogue politicians and abolition-
ists had wrought up a high prejudice against us telling
the people that we wanted to make slaves of them etc.
That prejudice had in a great measure worn away and
the Judge doubted not that he could in a short time
bring ab 'ut a complete organization under our jurisdic-
tion. His proclamation claiming the jurisdiction of
Texn j over that country was already printed but its cir-
culation was delayed- at the request of Col. Washington
tho Military Commandant until the action of the last
Congress touching the Territories could be ascertained.
THE MAJLS.
Wc do not believe thcrcTis a State in the Union where
tho mail service gives such general anil such jnt cause
of complaint as in Texas. Tho mails from Saluria toi
this place arrive regularly with Galveston way-bills but
one-half tho timo without a single letter or paper from
New Orleans. This singular state of alfnirs is accounted
for by the fact that the mail for this town anil tho places
west of it instead of being sent to Galveston is made
up in New Orleans direct for Lavaca and goes from
thence to Victoria and reaches here sometimes in two
three four and even five months. As a proof of this
the mail which arrived here this week from Victoria
brought us copies of the N. O. Bulletin of the Mlh of
March. We have received advices by private hand of
important letters having been sent to us more than throe
weeks since none of which have been received. By
whose orders the Postmaster at New Orleans semis our
mail to Lavaca we do not know but there being no
mail communication between Lavaca and Saluria the
result is that wc are entirely cut oil". The New Orleans
papers should look to this as their subscribers here are
grumbling considerably.
The mail from Victoria to this place is a perfect nui-
sance and deserves the immediate attention of the De-
partment. It does not arrive on an nvcrasc more than
once in three weeks and then one-half the mail matter
is generally left at the different post office on the route.
In addition to the New Orleans papers of March men
tioned above the last Victoria mail brought us some of
our Texas exchanges of February last and we received
four numbers of the Victoria Advocate dated respec-
tively March 30 April 20 May ! and June 22 Victoria
being only SO miles from here. We commend this
route to the especial attention of the Assistant Postmas-
ter General. The people of this section have been hum-
bugged long enough and it is time the matter was
remedied.
Peoncnciamento in Matajioros. Capt. G. K. Lewis
who arrived here on Monday last in thirty hours from
the Rio. Grande informs us that on the 19th or 20th inst.
information was received at Matamoros that a body of
troops were on their way from Mexico to that city and
that the principal citizens immediately held a meeting
and issued a pronuncinineuto calling on the people to
prevent the entrance of these troops into the town. In-
formation of this movement was sent to this side of the
river and assistance solicited by the pronunciation. A
force of one hundred well armed men was quickly raised
but they refused to cross the river unless specially in-
vited by the leaders of the popular movement. Dr.
Mallet formerly a Surgeon in the U. S. Army proceeded
to Matamoros for the purpose of obtaining information
on the subject and while there was r.rrested and com-
mitted to the calaboose where he remained at last ac-
counts. Col. Dominguez the well known commander
of the Mexican Spy Company in the U. S. service du-
ring the late war with Mexico was arrested by the au-
thorities of Brownsville on a charge of an attempt to
violate the neutrality laws; but nothing appearing upon
examination to criminate him he was discharged. Thus
the matter remained when Capt. Lewis left but wc learn
from other sources that much dissatisfaction is felt
throughout all the Northern provinces with the present
restrictive laws of Mexico ; and that the decree creating
Matamoros a comparatively free port had caused a deep
feeling of discontent in both the cities of Tampico and
Vera Cruz.
Gov. Wood. This gentleman addressed the citizens
of Victoria on the 15th inst. upon the subject of the past
and future policy of ourState. A synopsis cf his speech
is published in the Advocate of the 22d. In the course
of it he animadverted with some severity upon the pa:
and present administrations of the General Government
for the incllicicnt maimer in which they had protected
our frontier from the attacks of marauding parties of
Indians and showed the utter folly of even hoping to
protect such an extended frontier as ours and infested
by savage horsemen by the aid of Infantry. He said
he had made frequent representations to the War De-
partment of the inefficiency of such troops and of the
necessity of keeping up a corps of Rangers but without
success. When urged by the necessity of the case he
had ordered out a few companies to protect the most ex-
posed situations but they had been mustered out of ser-
vice immediately by order of the War Department.
In conclusion upon this subject he recommended that
unless the policy of the General Government was
changed in this respect the State should make war upon
the Indians from all points. If the U. S. Government
was forgetful of her duty and the Indians were not re-
strained by arms or treaties the circumstances of the
case and the law of self-defence rendered it necessary
that the State Government should take the matter into
jts own hands. He knew there was sufficient patriotism
and humanity in the people of Texas to pay whatever
might be necessary for the protection of our people from
the scalping knife.
Titc Indians. The latest news received from Lieut.
Walker states that he was closely pursuing the Indians
having been seen beyond the Sulphur Springs and from
the freshness of the trail he thought he was quite near to
them. His horses were pretty well tired out but tho
men are represented as being in high spirits at the pros-
pect of speedily overtaking the savages and expressed
their determination to follow them 011 foot should their
horses give out.
On Saturday last a party of nearly one hundred Indians
made an attack upon the Rancho del Alazan killed one
man (a Mexican named Miguel Bocancgra) and thrco
horses and drove ofT twenty-five horses and about one
hundred head of cattle. The mayor doino of the rancho
Bios Falcon narrowly escaped with his life and after pur-
suing him nearly to the house the Indians sat down within
full view and quietly cooked and ate their breakfast. As
soon as they left information of the outrage was sent to
tho Toloso where a party of twelve rangers under Lt.
Aikens were stationed. These immediately started in
pursuit but through a mistake of their guides they
missed the trail and returned without seeing the Indians.
Married. The N. O. Crescent announces tho mar-
riage on the 7th inst. of Lt. Col. Braxton Bragg U. S.
A. to Miss Eliza B. Ellis in the parish of .Terrebonne
La. " A little more grape Copt. Bragg !"
MINISTER TO MEXICO
We can scarcely pick up an exchange paper from any
part of the country that does not speak in the most fa-
vorable term? or the reported nomination of our towns-
man Col. Kinney for the important position of Minister
to Mexico. The following article from thu Bradford
(Pa.) Argus shows the feeling on the subject in tho
Colonel's native State and wc are informed by private
letters that a petition signed by the most influential citi
zens of the Kovstoue blatc iir"injr the nomination of
Col. .. has been semt to Gen. Taylor. -That his appoint-
ment would bo acceptable lit the people of this State no
one can doubt arid from the movement in Pennsylvania
it would appear to be equally so in the North. These
facts together with the removal of his principal com-
politor for the office by the appointment of Balie Peyton
to Chili leave but little doubt on our minds that Col.
Kinney will receive tho nomination :
Ministi:!!. to Mexico. Among the names men-
tioncd for office under the administration of Gen.
Taylor we have teen that of Co!. II. L. Kinney
of Goqius Christi Texas in several of the papers
in connection with the Ministry to Mexico. This
gentleman possesses peculiarly favorable qualifica-
tions for the post named in our opinion. lie was
the first settler west of tho Nueces the. claim to
which territory by the State of Texas caused the
war between the United States and Mexico. Strug-
gling against innumerable difficulties and having
to contend against alternate bands of Indians and
Mexicans for years lie maintained hi positi-i and
with it the claim of Texas against all his savage
and semi-civilized foes lie was for many years a
Senator and Representative in the Congress of
Texas and wasseleetcd by (Jen. Houston as a Com-
missioner from the Republic of Texas to the Go-
vernment of Mexico and actually succeeded in ne-
gotiating a favorable treaty with the administra-
tion of Bustamcnte through the agency of Gen.
Arista then commander of the northern provinces
of Mexico. .Before this treaty could be consum-
mated however by the action of the Mexican Con-
gress Bustamcnte wasoveithrown by Santa Anna
and the Commissioner of Texas was thrown into
prison. When Gen. Taylor Iand-d at Corpus
Christi with his little army in 1&I5 Col. Kinney's
knowledge of the country beiwcen that place and
the Rio Grande and his numerous friends in the nor-
thern provinces of Mexico were of material assis-
tance to him. But little transpired in Matamoros
or any other point ujioh thellio Grande that was
not soon known in the American camp and fre-
quently Gen. Taylor was in possession of the ene-
my's intentions before their commanding general
deemed it possible they were known to any save
his chief oliicers. "When the army left Corpus
Christi for the Rio Grande guides furnished by
Col. Kinney accompanied it and during titc whole
of that celebrated campaign which ended with
the capture of Monterey his services were of such
a nature as to draw from (ten. Taylor a special lau-
datory report to the War Department In the bat-
tle of Monterey he fought gallantly and immedi-
ately afterward he left the camp with but one com-
panion and travelling only at night he succeeded
in passing through a country overrun with guerilla
parties and delivered Gen. Taylor's despatches into
the hands of the American commandant at Mata-
moros. Should Col. Kinney receive this appointment
wc think the country .would have cause to congrat-
ulate itself upon the choice and hi-knowledge of
the language and maimers of the Mexican people
would materially assist him in carrying out the
views of his Government. Col. K. is a native of
our State and we should hail his appointment as
another triumph of Pennsylvania energy and ability.
Late rr.o:t California. The steamship Crescent
City arrived at New Orleans from Chagres on the 10th
inst. bringing nearly one million of dollars worth of
gold dust and 12li passengers among whom we notice
the names of Mrs. Smith wife of Gen. Persifor F. Smith
Governor of the Territory ; Mrs. Ozdcn wife of Major
Ogdcu U. S. A. ; Col. Mason U. S. A. late Governor of
California and several other officers of the Army and
Navy.
Some Indians had made a descent upon the mines anil
killed live Americans besides carrying oil" considerable
plunder. A company was at once formed and Parted in
pursuit of" the savages whom they overtook and routed
killing ten or twelve and taking twenty-five prisoners.
These were brought into camp to be trieil by his honor
Judge Lynch. During the night however the Lillians
tried to make their escape ; the attempt was luckily dis-
covered and all the rascals but one were shot.
The people of the mines had petitioned Gen. P. F.
Smith to tend an armed forco to protect them. This
however Gen. S. was compelled to decline the danger
of desertion being too great.
A sort of " Native American" question was being
mooted at the mines. Tho Americans at the placers
were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the fleet of Go-
vernment vessels which sailed in January and February
in order to form a party with a determination to drive all
foreigners those not actually American citizens from
tho mines.
Mexicans Indians and others were daily arriving at
the "old re"ion. Gen. Smith's proclamations were to-
tally disregarded and the utmost disorder prevailed.
Several gentlemen who arrived at San Bias by way of
the city of Mexico report the road as being very bad.
The roads across the Isthmus are very bad the rainy
season having commenced. A great deal of sickness
prevailed. The cholera had broken out and at Gorgona
which contains only S00 inhabitants ten had tiled. The
disease is confined chiefly to tho native population.
Good. The oldest Senator in Congress is Wm.
R. King of Alabama. The Senator longest in
Congress is Col. Benton of Missouri. Atone time
Col. Benton was toasted as the " "Father of the Se-
nate." He denied the "soft impeaclunent" and
transferred the honor to Col. King who was as an-
terior in service entitled to the soubriquet of Father
of the Senate. "Bnt" added Col. Benton "I
regret to add that my friend a hopeless bachelor
as he is is father of nothing cUc (!) "
Indians at tke Salt Lake. Capt. Lewis informs us
that on the 2 1th inst. a party of Indians made an attack
on his house at the Salt Lake and carried off all the
horses belonging to him. Capt. L. who was at home at
the time as soon as he heard of the robbery immedi-
ately raised a party of six or eight men and started in
pursuit. Night coming on they tracked the Indians by
their own signals and finally overtaking them recovered'
all their horses and one or two belonging to the enemy.
Tho Indians however escaped.
Capt. Lewis reports the condition of the whole Rio
Grande country as deplorable in the extreme. From
Brownsville to Laredo with the exception of the towns
of Rio Grande City and Roma the whole country on
this side of the river is deserted most of the inhabitants
having taken refuge on the Mexican side ; and a region
which was a short timo since covered with largo farms
and ranchos and comparatively thickly populated ha
become a howling wilderness.
From Independence Mo. The Huntsvillc Banner of
the ICth inst. publishes the following extract from a let-
ter from Col. P. Gray who left that place some weeks
ago for Independence. Mo. 011 his way to California.
The letter is dated ten miles west of Independence
Gth of May:
A company of 50 or CO men under the command
of Capt. Suhlctt (an old mountaineer) left here
some three or four weeks since and attempted to
make a new route above the head of Platte River
to avoid the immense crowd on the route heretofore
travelled but being compelled to pass through the
Comanche settlements they were attacked by the
Indians some of the company killed and all their
stock taken. Suhlctt obtained a reinforcement of
150 U. S. troops who shared a similar fate. The
Indians numbered (100 or more. The number of
emigrants on the route is estimated at 10000.
The distance from here is estimated at 1600 miles.
Lieut. Bryan of the Topographical Engineers
leaves to-day for El Taso by the way of Frcdc
rieksburg accompanied by thirty-five mounted men
principally Texians. His object is to make a
recotmoisaucc of the route travelled by Maj.
Neighbors and ascertain if the country through
which he passes is as practicable for a road as the
route by the Lcona. On his arrival at El Paso
he will compare notes with the engineers who
accompany the expedition under Maj. Van Horn
on their way to El Paso after which they will
determine and report the best route for the military
road to El Paso which eventually will be the
great thoroughfare from the Gulf of Mexico to
the Rio Gila and the Pacific. Western Tcxian.
All accounts from parties who have travelc'd the road
to EI Paso via Fredericksburg agree that the scarcity of
water on the route will forever prevent its being traveled
to any extent. A letter from one of Capt. May's com-
pany published in the Galveston News says they were
four days without water.
ROME TO FRANCE.
The following powerful document has appeared in tho
European papers. It is headed "The Address of the
Roman People to the Invading French Army :"
Frenchmen ! the land you tread on still preserves
the traces of your glorious ancestors ; but these
brought us liberty and you bring us slavery. In
destroying the Roman Republic you will destroy
your own and you will be fratricides at the same
time that you injure yourselves. Oh shame! you
stood by and reganlcd with a laugh of mockery
the misfortunes of Lombardy. You had not a
.-ingle word of consolation for the fall of Piedmont.
Your venal writers utter blasphemies and calum-
nies on the heroic efforts of Hungary. On this
very day with an impudent mockery you come to
destroy Roman liberty. Frenchmeu ! your im-
placable government subjects you to the greatest
of all infamies it binds you to the train of despo-
tism and of injustice and obliges you to follow in
the wake of the Croat and the Cossack. Are you
indeed soldiers J If you are choose a foe worthy
of your courage. Do not come to defy the rising
of a petty State. If you wish to combat against
Republican arms cease to be Republicans your
selves or confess that you are the satellites of
tyranny and hypocrisy. French citizens tear aside
the v.eil of policy and answer whom do you wish
to restore to power ? Arc they the priests ? this
hereditary nice who have caused so much blood
to How and occasioned so many woes to France
herself ? Study your own history and you will sec
what a fatal present you are about to make to us.
Know it once for all from our earliest infancy even
to our old age we have cherished an implacable
hatred of sacerdotal domination. You wish to re-
impose it on us by force. You arc about to place
us on a level with the Chinese. Y'ou will force
us to curse the soil which has given you birth.
Wc are unfortunate because we are the sport of
the violence of powerful men; unfortunate be-
cause wc are despised and trampled under foot by
the very nation which was always the illusion to
our mind and the source of our hopes. French-
men ! before undertaking the detestable work ask
of the blue heaven that is above you and it will
auswer that it has been polluted by sacerdotal
iniquities and by their horrors in all ages. Ask
our youth and jam women and you will leant
from them an uninterrupted tale of seductions of
debauchery and of venality. Ask of our fanners
for whom they have labored ? they will answer
for the priests! Ask to whom belongs the fifth
part of the State? to the priests! Ask to whom
belong the most luxurious abodes for whom are
the most exquisite delicacies and who are those
obeyed by thousands of menials? The cry will
still be the priests! the priests! Frenchmen!
your mission is tho work of hell. It will bring
down upon your heads an universal malediction
for which your past glory will not prove a recom-
pense. On this very day you lose all the pride and
glory of warriors. The children of the conquerors
of Areola and Marengo have alas become the
janissaries of the sacristy and the champions of
the accursed mitre '. "
V
ft
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
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.
The Corpus Christi Star. (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 41, Ed. 1, Saturday, June 30, 1849, newspaper, June 30, 1849; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80233/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.