Texas State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 23, 1850 Page: 2 of 8
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Tho Ri GraHdc Territory I
By the politoncss of Mr. Watson of Brownsville wo nro in
receipt of the Atnoricnn Flog of tho Gth February which con-
tains a dQloTllhlf?e ins?rrcclIonary movement IR ihouar-
ter ; the prominent features of which We present bolow. In lay-
mg'this intelligence before our readers we confess ourselves
somewhat at a loss in what manner to treat it. At the same time
flint wo ore indisposed to treat with levity the opinions" of any
seFdf men we cannot nevertheless consent to dighifjr-lhis silly
and ridiculous flare-up into a matter 01 imporiHiiw. xi u in-
tended for any thing more than mere bravado it is the corrupt
eflloresconco of a diseased and dfeoflcc(ed popular sentiment en-
gendered in an inordinate selfishness and fostered and encour-
aged bv tho base cupidity of some tho infamous ambition und
factidus insubordination of others. And perhupsythcrd may be
implicated in the movement othor and deeply concealed motives.
For it is possible that some ramification of northern fanaticism
may have extended there and under cover of some plausible
oribvanco it is sought to secure a stronghold in our very midst
from which aided by the sympathy and co-operatioti of the nbo-
litionists they can command the South. That tho recommen-
dation contained in Gov. Bell's message is used but as a pretext
we have not a shadow of doubt. Tho plan which ho recom-
mended was not only just and equitable but was iri its objects
and details precisely the same which was adopted by the United
States Government in reference to the titles in Florida und
Louisiana after they had been acquired by treaty.
These men however to whom Texas owes so much who have
supported her Government rallied under her flag and devoted
so much blood and treasure to the establishment of her Indepen-
dence must forsooth bo made tho recipients of extraoidinary
Privileges of peculiar and oxclusivc favors
Wo notice that a large proportion of those who participated in
this movement Wore Mexicans who from habit always favor
revolutions and suppose as wus the case uiider the Government
of Mexico that any ihing'which is wanted can be got by a pro
mmciamento. "We hope the State authorities will treat this mat-
tor as a mere abstraction unless it should assume the form of
opposition or resistance to the laws of the State in which dveht
it'iwiU be their duty promptly and effectually to crush it.
Ve also give tho proceedings of a meeting of many citizens
of the Rio Grande at Brownsvillo repudiating the action above
alluded to and recognizing and asserting the right of Texas
to that territory.
. Mass Meeting of the Citizens of Cameron County.
. Fallow-Citizens .-The undersigned invite von to join them
in u nublic meeting to be held in the town of Brownsville at
the school-house of Mr. 11. N. Stansbnry on Saturday the 2d of
February 1850 at 7 o'clock v. m. to toko such steps as are no
cessary for the organization of the Bio Grande Territory I
The time has at length arrived when tho people of this Vol
ley must act with prompilude and decision. We have too long
confided in tho justice of the people of Texas too long tamely
submitted to her unauthorized political jurisdiction. Our con
fidence in Texas has been misplaced and it behooves us to ap
peal to tho Federal Government lor a territorial organization.
We are entitled to it. Let us knock at tho door of Congress for
that protection which Texas denies us. The authorities of Texas
seek to annul tnc titles in real estate oeiween me nueces ana ine
Rio Grande it is a fatal blow to our future prosperity and will
involve the country in litigation ruinous und endless. This
scheme of flagrant injustice proves that we haye nothing in future
to expect from tho State of Texas but vindictive and illiberal
legislation.
.Aro you the owners of real estate in the valley of tho Rio
Grande ? Texas would force you into expensive and ruinous
law-suits. If ypu desire tho prosperity of this volley a rapid
development of its agricultural resources and tlio quiet enjoy-
ment of your property which you have acquired by years of
industrious toil you must look to the United States for a disin-
terested government and an independent judiciary. With a ter-
ritorial government land titles would at once be quieted and (he
country settled and improved by a producing population. Lands
with undoubted titles might then be purchased for a less price
than it would cos.t to locate them. t
A territorial organization is jiow within our reach. We have
only to make our wishes known to Congress and it will concede
all that wo ask. Many o( the States have instructed their Ser
nators and requested their Representatives to vote on all ques
tions which may arise as though this was a territory distinct
from Texas. A bill declaring it such has already been intro-
duced into the Senate.
Fellow-citizens not a moment is to be lost. This important
question is now before Congress. Let there he a' filll and gene-
raTattondonco ot'tbis meeting of the people of Cameron county.
Come oue comedli ! ! !
.'. . Preamble and RcsslatleHS adopted by the Meeting.
Whereas We believe that all tbnt portion of country lying
-East of the Rio Grande and South of the Jinc of Now Mexico
distinct from tho former province of Texas of right belongs
;td the Government of the United States and that the State of
cTexas hasoxtended her jurisdiction over it without our con-
sent c and that the late measures taken bv her will retard her
growth and prosperity by involving the property .holders in
-endless and ruinous litigation ujid thereby prevent tho deve-
lopment of its resources and.
WJiereas Wo are in geographical position as well as in inte.
h rest separate and distinct from Texas und behave mat a terrr
sttorial organization will greatly promote tho interest and wel-
xfiue of the pepple of this territory ; therefore
Resolved That it is tho opinion of this meeting.that the ter
rlt0rJ was. acquired by tho arms of the United States and is the
common mrAitariv of thn TTmnn.
Resolved That we recomfnond ' a' cdnvfityfon composed of
delegates fro'nfthd dtfTdrcnt section's qf 'sajd' territory to de'vise a
provisional government with siispeudcdfunciions lintil our
claims can be urgedbefore Congress by delegate chosen by the
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Rcsolvcd That the said convention consist of ten delegates
from each of the organized counties to wit : Cameron Starr
Webb and Nueces and ten delegates from the unorganized por-
tion f said territory chosen iivsuch manner as tho inhabitants
of said sections may deoin properand that it be hold in tho city
of Brownsville onv Saturday the fl.Gthday of March next ut
Resolved ThaHho United Stales lurs hitherto Unjustifiably
neglected to extend to the people of this territory that protection
und government which our situation so imperatively demands
unti hat" wtfnowcufl upon Congress to extend the benefits of a
territorial government to lis as speedily as possible.
Rcsdlved That wo put forth the following address to our fel.
low-citizens of this territory as expressive of the views of this
meeting in relation to our connection with Texas.
Mass Meeting of the People on the RIG Grande assembled at
Brownsville in tho county of Cameron
Pursuant to public notice addressed to all citizeiiSj requesting
theirattendance to hear discussed tljo right which the State of
Texas has to the territory between the Nueces river and the Rio
Grande and the question of the establishment of a Territorial Go-
vernment by the Congress of the United States over that region
of country a large assemblage of citizens couvened at the school-
room of Mr. B. N. Stansbnry on the evening of tho 5th of Feb-
ruary 1850 and organized by the appointment of Hon. I. B. Bige-
low President ; and Orlando C Phelps G. M. Armstrong Wil-
liam Nelson J. A. Baughey Vice Presidents ; and J. J. II. Gram-
rnonj Russell Howard Da'rious Bacon Secretaries.
On motion of R. Garland Esq. -the "President appointed a
committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the
meeting consisting of Messrs.'R. Garland C. A. Harper' Georgo
Lyon James A Watson William Lawrence M. M. Stevens Win.
Patterson F. A. Muflit C. F. King George Dyer J. St. Auburn
Peter Dowd Mr. LeBaron.
The committee retired and returned with a report of the fol-
lowing resolutions :
Resolved That we fully recognize and assert the right of the
State of Texas to thesovereiguty and jurisdiction over the terri-
tory between the Nueces river and the Rio Grande and hold
ourselves bound as citizens of the State to sustain that right
against internal opponents or external eilemies.
Resplved That' we do not believe the politico jurisdiction
which the State of Texas has exercised over the territory east of
the Rio Grande is either usurped or unauthorized by the Consti-
tution and laws of the State or of the United Stales.
liesolved That it is an imputation without the slightest foun
dation in fact that the people between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande have ever " lamehj submitted" to on unauthorized juris-
diction on the part of the State of Texas. We believe the peo-
ple and public authorities of Texas are too just to make such an
attempt and we know that we understand and respect our rights
too much to submit to it if such an attempt ever had been or
should be made.
Resolved That wo earnestly desire the establishment of one
or more tribunals by the State of Texas for the purpose of inves-
tigating legal and just titles to land situated between the Nueces
river and the Rio Grande and securing to every citizen his just
claims and homestead but we oppose and shall continue to oppose
all and every rlttempt that has been made and may now be mak-
ing to throw into the hands of speculators largo bodies of the best
lands in the valley of the Rio Grande under pretended titles
which will not stand the test of scrutiny.
Resolved That we have such confidence in the intelligence
and integrity of the Legislative and Executive authorities of the
State as to believe that no tribunal to investigate and quiet land
titles in the valley of the Rio Grande will be created which will
be otherwise than independent and impartial in its proceedings
and we regard it neither politic or just to denounce such tribunals
in advance.
Resolved That we do not concur in the denunciations which
have been heaped upon the motives and recommendations of
Governor Bell in his message to the Legislature of the State on
the 26th of December 1849. We have full confidence in his in-
tegrity intelligence and patriotism and there is nothing in that
message to. cause. us to distrust' his good feelings towards the peo-
ple and interest of the .Rio Grande valley.
Resolved That we regard with much suspicion the apporent
union which seems to exist in the Congress of the United States
between the extreme advocates of slavery and anti-slavery aided
by land speculators elsewhere for the purpose of dismembering
the State of Texas and depriving her of her vested and sover-
eign rights.
"The meeting was then addressed by Messrst Garland Harper
Lawrence Phelps Watson Durgin and Armstrong when the
question was taken oa tho adoption of the resolutions and they
were unanimously adopted.
Resolved That the editors! of the American Flag and El Cen-
tinella del Rio Grande be requested tojpublish the proceedings of
this nleeting in their respective papers in tho English and Span-
ish languages and that the President forward copies to the Sen-
ators and Representatives from Texas in the Congress of the Uni-
ted States also to his Excellency P. H Bell Governor of
Texas ttiid to each of the Senators and Representatives in the
State Legislature from tho country between tho Nueces river and
the Rio Grande.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
ISRAEL B. BIGELOW President.
Orlando C. Phelps G. M. Armstrong William Nelson J. A.
Baughey Vice Presidents.
Jij. HkGrammont Russell Howard Dorjus Bacon Secretaries.
Tho Jackson Statue '
A letter from Washington states that during the present month
the Eqiiestriau Statue of Genera Jacjtson in bronzef will bo com-
pleted nd placed on a granite pedestal in La Fayette Sqimrei op-
posite the President's House. The proportions of this statue are
represented as collosal and the figure is sold to bo thrown in a
very striking attitude. It differs soysthe.ptterfrom other eques-
trian statues in tho particular of the horse being self-poised. In
that of Peter the Great tho' horse is supported in his positioh by
fastening the tail to tho pedestal. This statue is tho tfrstofbronzo
ever made in this country rind it is said will reflect great credit
nn iJio artist. Mr. ChnrleslVIills. o vOuh American of m-enl ftp:.
.. ... ----- -i . . i a --.-. n. p..
mils. The work was ordered ny ine Democratic Association of
Washington and the .Government furnished the material in seve-
ral pieces o( catinon taken frpm tho British at Now Qrleaps
rrj-The strength of our nation isrin intelligence nnd the;Uriion;
American Dead of 1819.
Hon. Ambroso II. Sevier United States Senator.
Dr. Ezra Keller D. D. scientific professor in Ohio University.
Gen. Edmund Pendleton Gaines United States army.-
Rov. Win. 11. Popham missionary to China. ?'
James Knox Polk ox-President of tho United States:
Col. George Croghan Inspector General United States army.
Col. James Duncan United States army.
u Old Man Sam Jenkins" aged one hundred nnd thirty.seven.
Dan Marble the Comedian.
Dr. J( Dean professor in tho Vermont University. ... I
Hon. Daniel Duncan member of Thirtieth Congress.
Hon. David nale eminent editor of New York
lion. J W. Thompson. mem. of and fell dead in Virg. legisla.
Commodore Wm. C. Bolton United Stotcs novy.
lion. B. A. Bidlock Charge d'Afiuires to New Grenada.
Mrs. Anne Gerry relict oT Abridge Gerry signer dec. indep.
Hon. D. C. Claypoole proprietor first newspaper in America!
Commodore Irving Shubrick United States novy.
Rt. Rev. Dr. J. Powers D. D. Roman Oolholic Church N. Y.
Thomas Althorpe Cooper eminent tragedian.
Hon. Wm. B. Cooper ex-Governor of Deloware.
Major General Wm. J. Worth United States army.
George Porter Esq. associate editor of New Orleans Picayune.
Moj. Collison R. Gates United States army.
Gen. Edwin Morehouse an old Texian.
Mrs. Dolly Paine relict of ex-President James Madison.
Col. David B. Ogden distinguished lawyer of New York.
John Wilson celebrated 'Scottish Vocalists
13d emigrants lost at sea during a thick fog.
Col. Joshua Forman founder of the city of Syracuse N York.
Hoii. Albert Gallatin distinguished statesman.
Capt. Dan Drake tleurie well known Texas frontiersman.
Gen. A. G. Day editor 'Cincinnati Enquirer.'
Dr. James A. Houston former Repoiter to Congress.
Commodore Wm. C. Brasheor of the late Texas navy.
Hon. Silos B. Jenison ex-Governor of Vermont.
Gen. Manuel Rincou of the Mexican Republic.
Hoh. Elizur Goodrich LL. D Connecticut University.
180 lives lost by explosion of steamer Louisiona at N. Orleans.
Dr. G. Parkman supposed murdered in Cambridge Universi-y!
Hon. W. Short diplomatist in time of Washington and Jefferson!
Capt. George Tobin fomuos newspaper correspondent.
Rev. Wm. Miller founder of the sect of Latter Day Saints.
Gen. Pena y Pefia ex-President of Mexico.
The Retreat of the Mexican Army from Hitcna Vista.
The Globe in noticing a new book " The other side ; or n
Mexican History of the War" soys :
The description of the march of Santa Anna's army from San
Luis to Buena Vista and back is frightfully graphic. The loss
sustained in the first march from cold. fotigue"ond privations is
set down at four thousand men ; and the loss from all causes on
the retrpat after battle at ten thousand five hundred ; which
mokes fourteen thousand five hundred out of twenty or twenty-
one thousand. There must be much exaggeration in this; but
after deducting one-third it appears that Santo Anno lost one-
half of his army besides the loss sustained in the battle. So
completely demoralized Jiad the army become that on the re-
treat the soldiers murdered their officers with the view of con-
cealing their plundering and robbery ; and this is told by Mexi-
can writers who do not seem to be deficient either in talent in-
formation or patriotism. We thought it would hove been dif-
ficult to imagine anything of the kind more appalling than tho
retreat of tho French from Moscow ; but this Te treat from Buena
Vista throws it in some respects entirely into the shade.
A New Compromise Suggested.
The Washington Union mentions a new project of which it
speaks with some favor as likely to be offered for the settlement
of the slavery question. It is by way of settling this whole
question at once on the compromise principle to admit Califor-
nia as a State but reduced from the extensive boundaries which
her constitution covers erect Deseret and New Mexico into ter-
ritorial governments on the non-intervention principle without
any restriction of the Wilniot proviso ; establish the State like
that of Jacinto (in the Foote bill) and recognise the boundaries
of Texas to the Rio Grande ; or if practicable hy making some
arrangement between the U. States and Texas for assuming the
payment of her debts in consideration of the lands which are in
contest between her and New Mexico and erecting that pontion
of the country into ai territorial government or annexing it to the
. '.. :l ...... i Til ... am
mrruuriui yovuumiuin tu ew mexico.
The Whole Number of California Clearances in 1819.
The following interesting table tshows the whole number of Ca-
lifornia clearances or number of vessels whinh hnvn tfr tim At
lantic ports of the United States for that country in the year 1849 :
New York 194
Nfewbnrvn't 6
Plymouth
N. Orleans
Norfolk
Frankfort
Portland
Mobile
Portsmouth
Eastport
Thomaston
2
33
5
1
13
3
1
10
2
Charleston 7
Stoninglon 2
Philodephia3l
Sag Harbor 6
E. Machias 1
Bath 19
Belfast 3
New Castle 1
Providence 11
Saco 2
Norwich 1
Bristol
Baltimore
Warren
Mystic
Salern
Edgartown
Brigdport
2
38
G
1
23
4
1
N. London 17
Holmeshole 2
Hyannis 1
Wilminnton U
Boston 151
Gloiicest'r 6
Barnstable 1
N. Bedfd 42
N. Haven 5
Cherrytield 1
Bangor 13
Newport 2
Searspnrt 1
Nantucket 8
Total... C88
' The Cuban Expedition Started Again
Washington City Jan. 22 1850.
News has been received her6 for some days pussed by the Ca-
binet that the Cuba revolutionists ore agajn at work that they
have raised large sums of money that their expedition is again
pretty1 Well under way that they have plenty of arms munitions
of war &c &c. : but that now they wil act according to jaw
that they will not concentrate their forces hero in the 0. Stutes
nor organize here : but assemble altogether at a fixed time say
on tho Is.thmns of Darien or in Yvcntati or it may be on some
island the locus in quo if agreed upon not yet being known.
The heod-quarters of these revolutionists is at one or the ho-
tels in this city whence they are carrying on operations upon n
grand scale. One of their largest theatres of operations is in the
city of Now York. Their determination is not to act rashly now.
B3f- A Democrat who falters is half a Whig. A Whig who
gets'ahead of his party is more.than half a Democrat.
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Texas State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 23, 1850, newspaper, February 23, 1850; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80917/m1/2/: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.