Texas State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1, Saturday, March 9, 1850 Page: 3 of 8
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TEXAS STATE GAZETTE.
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The Upland Cotton IlcgloBlfr'.lio United salcs
Maybe said to lie between Ihe aonndlWof north latitude extending in
length from east to west from southern VJfgina 0 le Rio Gr.mde. Its rust
una most striking characteristic wlthm e bounds 1 that it is an annual
growth and bears an annual crop like wjj&i'or corn- There is the regular sea-
son of growth flower Jrult and decay. JI' is supplied with regular rains and
its growth in due time is arrested by fro The .sap of the plant instead of be-
ing employed jn the formation of leaf alt Vyobdy fibre is expended in the pro-
miction ot its pods and Seeds. Instead off'P'rIB lo die character of a tree the
whole cotton held presents a uniform appearance the plant seldom exceeding
six feet In height with numerous later pa" branches. The crop is also uniform
in appearance and staple and Is nearly'!! ready to be gathered about the same
period. It is besides a beautiful plantVlhe cotton field in blossom is highly or-
namental and the snow-white appearance when the bowls arc opened is li pos-
s ble Mill more to. The yield is mor((bundaiu in consequence of the medium
size of the plant the circumstance of ih vigor being exhausted in the production
of its Jrult while (he uniformity strength and firmness ol the staple is precisely
that which peculiarly fits It for nincty.ninc hundredths of the cotton fabrics en-
tering into the ordinnry use and coriMiniptlon. To show how much the iruil is
influenced by the climate and locaL'iy .'cite the well known fact that the upland
cotton seed When carried lo the sei-coast and to south of latitude 30 changes In
two years time to the black seed jnd long staple ; and so vice versa.
South of latitude 30 there isf continual effim of najure to form wood leaves
and blossoms at the expense oUtfSft uit : and beyond the region of frost it grad-
U.1HJ' uciuiuca o. jrciciiin.li aujeiiincs a irce ot course a thin ueaier its staple
irregular silky and veak.''peihaps belter adapted to some delicate fabrics and
.i.ibuiu.. on.. "" 'iir. peina
comparal Ively toU consuiiiptit
'""""iiSlHTrival within the
ion. i'or tins reason tlie American upland col-
llo 1trtnliB Hllllpp ill llio Wncl lmlinu lit.. Urn"!!.?
nr-jAfTT' i. . .. .! !.. 1!.- ......I C'!lo . 1. .I... . f A !!.. !.. ..
rtruuui. li i a iiiiu ma. icw '. lies 11u1.11 uiuu uui .11 a. jnu. ui .uita uciug uu
the western side of that hemisphere the climate corresponds with 20 on the
eastern side. It seems now to be admitted that from the peculiarity of clim'ate
and position there is no country on the globe that can rival or supeisede the U.
States in this invaluable production unless it be the British possessions in Aus-
tralia; and the distance is too great if the same article could be produced to
transport to the European market in preference lo other articles produced in
those countries. It seems to be the peculiar gift of Providence to our lavored
land.
At one time there was thought lo be danger of over-production; but lecent sta-
tistics prove that the danger lies in the deficiency of the supply and hence Ihe
steady rise in price. As to the increase of production it cannot be as rapid as
heretofore: Ihe easily cultivated uplands of ihe cotton States havinj been pretty
generally occupied and a large portion of them worn out. But there are still
large bodies of low land west of the Mississippi Red Itiver &c copable of being
brought inlo cultivation. Cotton at twelve cents is abetter crop than sugar at
six; and consequently the rise in price will tend to check the establishment of
sugar plantations. Nothing can surpass the comforts and advantages of a well-
regulated cotton plantation in Georgia Alabama and Mississippi. The labor is
light healthy and does not occupy the time so entirely as to prevent the planter
from raising an abundance of provisions for the sustenance of his people and
even for pioviding them clothing. The planter generally lives in the midst of
his people and sees lo all their wants; and whatsoever may be said or thought
by those who are not personally acquainted with their situation they are a happy
and contented race with .strong mutual attachments between them and their mas-
ter's family.
Cheap Postage.
The Report of the Postmaster General has disappointed the friends of Cheap
f OSiage. Willi u inosi prosperous vumnuuu ui uic uci'iiiiiuc... wim a iiijjiu 1"
li an income of s:.iM.7(;j Irom letters a
crease of business; with
slone ?nd &8I9-
010 from ticwspapeis ; with a clear surplus in hand ol ?pG91G92 which will be
increased by the auili ot June to $ji.uJj.7iu; ana wuu me people expecting ine
adoption of a proper system of cheap postage he only recommends a reduction lo
a uniform rale ol five cents per half-ounce.
On the great mass of letterslhis is no reduction at all. On a calculation which
is certainly lame he sunnoser it may reduce the revenue S775.000 which will
not nearly absorb the surplus. But if it should have the effect which all other
reductions of rate have had. the increase oj tellers will more than compensate Jor
the lower price and keep up the icvcnuc to its present mail:.
The expense of transportation of the mail in this country is $2577407 ; and in
Great Britain it is $--.9763 which shows that we can carry letters as cheaply
as England. The ivhole cost of our Post Office is $1 19019 ; Gf the British
$7010250 which is all paid by the Penny Postage. Our 2ll millions of people
with the same privilege would write as many letters in proportion as their 27
millions which would give us270 millions to their 3iG millions. At the lowest
calculation Cheap Postage would more than double the number of letters the
first year. It did so in England where the weekly number of letters' which in
1810 was 2102281 became 4355237 in 1841. This would give 128 millions
yielding $-500000 the very first year. The postage of Congress if charged at
present rans the Postmaster General says would amount to $792700 besides
what is paid to Postmasters for delivering free letters at two cents each amount-
ing lo nearly $100000 more all which Congress ought it pay out of its contin-
gent fund. To this add $850000 for newspaper postage and you have $1222-
700. Then let the expense of the Octan Steamers be transferred as it ought to
the Navy account. There can be no' doubt that by the lime the surplus now on
hand is exhausted 'he vigorous increase of postage would enable the Department
to support itself out of its curreat receipts.
Five cenls is not " Cheap Postage." This is a technical term well understood
and is applied to Ihe philosophical system invented by Rowland Hill and which
has been in ue in England lor ten years. Penny Postage or two cents is what
all mean by Cheap Postage carrying letters for what it is worth and not taxing
letters to pay for other objeets. The experiment in Great Britain proves that the
bervice can be aflbrded for iwo cents and therefore that is the only jnst measure
of its value money's worth for the service performed. To charge live cents is
to impose a lax of 150 per cent for other purposes. To charge three cents is- lo
impose a tax of only 50 per cent. ad valorem.
Nonsense of Legal Technicalities.
What can be more absurd asks the New York Sun lhan many of the forms of
Jaw in useinotiruourtK. lane tor instance ine wording oi the indictment in
Prof. Webster's case. It contains four counts' ihe fust of which alleges that the
killing waseiTec ed by a stab with a knife which the murderer held in his right
hand and with which he inflicted a slab on the left breast one inch in length and
three inches in depth. The second says that tlie mortal wound was inflicted on
the head with a hammer which the slayer held in loth hands. The third makes
. out that the manner of the murder was an immense number of blows and kicks
inflicted on the head breast back belly sides and other parts of the body which
. ttruck ihe slain man to the floor where he received many other blows kicks
strokes wounds and bruises so that he instantly died. And the fourth has it in
ceneral terms with means weapons and instruments unknown.
This indictment asserts at least three distinct lies for Dr. Parkman could not
have been Killed more than once while the indictment kills linn lour times. And
by what evidence does it say Professor Webster killed Dr. Parkman with a knife
held in hisrte7i hand" How was it ascertained that he died instantly when it
is still a matter of doubt if he died at all and Mill more a doubt if Professor
Webster killed r.mi I Is it not a disgrace to the common sense of the age that
such nonsense is tolerated in the statute book 1
England and the United States.
The London Illustrated News in its article on the signs and prospects of the
new year compares England and the United States in this manner:
" An empire twenty thirty filly times as rich as ours has already arisen on
the oilier side of the Allanticto entice intuits bosom the best blood which remains
tons. The vounsr the hardy the persevering of our country and 6f all eniuurlp:
of Eur.ipe that gioan under a weight of debt and difficulty and Of a surplus of
jiujjuiciiiuu mm nun canmusiiy .is uiu new uuuuuus inai every man is a man
welcomefor the sake of his manhood lo the gieat feast of nature where tlier it
. enough and to fpare for Ihe montst arc daily invited lo leave the shores of
ellele Europe and settle in America. The growth oj the United Slate is indel
Jhe dawnall of Great Britain All tho unhappy circumstances thai are of preju-
dice to us are of benefit to them. With us ihe months that clamor to be fed are
causes of decay. Witlmvery additional mouth i an additional pair of hands
and every additional paii of hands is an increase of power wealth and influence.
Let us pour our millions into the great valley of the Mississippi and ii will hold
and feed them all were ihe numbers quadrupled. While in this country the
pauper vegelales and dies in that new country he no longer vegetates but lives
and counts by thousands his flocks a Jacob in the land of plenty.
"Let those who dream of a perpetual Britain think of these things. The signs
of decay are around us on every side. Events are more powerful thin we are.
We must sooner or later yield our place to the more prudent the less embarrass-
ed and more vigorous ofi'-shoots of our race and consent lo occupy the easy chair
of our senility. Nor is there anything to regret in this. The civilization that is
removed is not destroyed; and the genius of our people can exert itself as well on
the borders ot the Ohio as on the bank ot the Thames and rule the world with as
much propriety from (he White House as from the Palace of St. James. Eu-
rope has enjoyed power and lias abnstd it and the sceplure of ihe world's domin-
ion is passing from her grasp. Civjlizatiop( as of old is following the course of
the Sun and the doctrines of humanity will work themselves oui in a new field
and on a larger scale."
As good as it' it were Esop. -
A mouse ranging about a brewery happening to fall into a vat of beer was jn
appentng
d appple
imminent danger of being drowned and appealed to a cat to help him out. The
cat replied:
" It is a foolish request; for as soon as I getjovt out J shall eat you'''
The mouse replied that fale would be better than to be drowned in beer. The
at lifted himouit'bntlhe fume of ihe beer caused puss 16 sneeze arid the mouse
The cat called the mouse to come out
hnn1irpal unn 1' 1') .T t li
" Ah'! replieYMhe.mousc'f! but you know'l'was in HquoYHt' lhe4irneVK'TJ"
'l' Ycmsir did yu not promise that 1
Joint Resolution .providing for the rcmovalof fccrtain Spanish
Documents from Nacogdoches County to the state Depart-
ment. . '
Whereas tlioro arc depositqd in tjio office of tho qounty clorjc of
Nacogdoches county n number of Spanish documents which
arc snid to lmvo been fojnitl in the oflicoof.ilm locnif political
chief of the depnrtmqnt and tho Alcaldesofjjie municipality
of Nacogdoches which documents may) be of value to the
State or to individuals : therefore
Skption 1. Bo it resolved by the Legislature of the Slateof
Texas Tfiat the Secretary oi State be and he is iicrcuy author-
ized and required to cause said documents to bo delivered bv the
county clerk of Nacogdoches county to tho .order of the Secre
tory ot State lor the purpose ot being placed in the.btate De-
partment for safe keeping and examination and for such other
purposes as may be hereafter direc.lcd by law.
Sue. 2. That the sum of fifty dollars or as much thereof as
may be necessary for the transportation qf said documents boj
and tho same is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the
State Treasury not otherwise appropriated subject to the order
of the Secretary of State.
Sec. 3. That this Joint Resolution take effect and be in force
from and after its passage.
Approved Jan. 24 1850.
An Act for the relief of the several Sheriffs under the late Itc-
nublic of Texas.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of he Slate of
jexas l imi me uompirnuer ot i'udiic Accounts oe anu ne is
herebv authorized to examine the claims and vouchers of the
several Sheriffs under the late Republic of Texas for the sums
ot money expended by them and due them as Shcrifls : and al
ter deducting from the amount any payments heretofore made on
said claims allow the balance thereof or a sufficient amount to
cancel and liquidate the claims which the Republic of Texas
holds against the said Shenfis or any of them.
brcc. M. Be it further enacted That it alter the paymentof the
claims as provided in the foregoing section there shall still be a
balance due the said Sheriffs or any of them by the Republic of
Texas it shall be audited and paid in the same manner as other
like claims against the said Republic ; and that this act take ef-
fect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved January 24 1S50
An Act to provide for the Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the
State of Texas for the year 1851.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Texas That the Assessors ot each and every county ot this
State shall at the time of assessing taxes in the year eighteen
hundred and fifty one take an enumeration of the Inhabitants
of their respective counties to wit : first the number of qualified
electors ; second the number of white males over eighteen and
under forty-five years of age ; third the number of white males
under eighteen years of og'e; fourth the number of white males
over forty-five years of age ; fifth the number of white females ;
sixth the number of children under eighteen and over twelve
years of age ; seventh the number of children over six and under
twelve years of age; eighth the number of children under six
years of age ; ninth the number of slaves and tenth the number
of free persons of color.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of
the several Assessors to make out duplicate returns ono of which
shall be filed by them in their respective county clerk's office dn
or before the second Monday of November in the snme year
eighteen hundred and fifty-one and the other transmitted by
mail or otherwise to the seat of government directed to tho Sec-
retary of State.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted That the several Assessors
shall each receive two cents for each white inhabitant and one
cent for each slave or free person of color by them enumerated.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted That the said Assessors shall
each take an oath before some competent authority to discharge
promptly and faithfully the duties requiied of them by this act
and shall also enter into bond in the sum of five hundred dollars
with good and sufficient security to bo approved by the Chief
Justice or any two associate county Commissioners of their m
spective counties payable to tho Governor of the State and his
successors in office ; conditioned for the faithful performance of
the duties required of them by this net and which said bonds
shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of their respective
counties and if forfeited recoverable by suit to be instituted by
the District Attorney in the District Court.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted That this act take effect and
be in force from and after its passage.
Approved January 24 1850.
An Act to permit tho County of Fayette to levy and collect a
special Tax.
Section 1. Beit enacted by the Legislature of the State of
lexas That the uiuet Justice oi Jtrayetio county snail give no-
tice to the citizens of said county one month before the first
Monday in March in the year eighteen hundred and fifty that
on election will be held on that day by the qualified electors of
saiu county to determine whether a special tax notipexceca
one nan oi ine state tax snail oe icvieu upon an ine citizens aim
taxable1 property of the "county for the years eighteen hundred and
fifty and eighteen hundred and fifty-one ; and thut said election
shall be conducted under the law regulating county elections so
far as the same is applicable.
Si2c. 2 Be it further enacted That if a majority of all the
qualified electors of the county voting at said election shall vote
in favor of levying and collecting said special tax ; then the coun-
ty court of said county sljall direct the assessor and collector of
the county to collect satd special tax under the law regulating the
collection of county taxes so far as the same is applicable.
Sec. 3. That the County Court shall apply the money sb col-
lected to the buildingof a jail in and for said county and for n6
other purpose whatever. ' i
Sec. 4. That this act take effect from its passage. ' .. '"
Approved January 24 1850. i
r The Press. ltv Hon. Cass.
p. (i public opinion embodied by the press in the daily journals
u pours lorm is uurnc inrougti the civitizeu woriu piuuouii-iu
the judgment ot the present day and anticipating that of posterir
ty. There are none sp high as to be beyond its censure none
so low as not to bo encouraged by its approbation T he from
tiers of a country may bo armed at itsappronch butit will pns?
them.;";It: isstron'ger'thah thei bnydnet more .vigilant! than the
suspicions df despotism"! .1 .t 'to .. r m"m;! utwmt.1'
'' e Dcsf ructl yo Conflagration lit lVcws Orleans. ( l
A fearfully dostructi'te tiro occurred on'Cam'p strict In'NeW 0rlen on tlio morn-
ing of tho lGth ultimo. Tho amount of -property dostrbyc- is immonso although
tlio ruins do not occupy an area of more than ono liuruWod yards squaro. Tho lp
is estimated by lhefwo Polios ntatlonsthalf a million of dollars. Tho insurance
offices nrp the rcatcst suflbrprsj several or which wero burnt out. Among' tho
extensiyo and mojt vnjuablq ostnhlishmonU consumed wo nro truly sorry to findtho
ofTicoof tho Pieayune onumomtQiI. Tho loss of tho omco and its vatuablo J rind
cos'ly nppurtcnaricos though insured for tho greater part is iromenso. Thoy
however with characteristic energy wcio soon located In other quarters and issu-
ing their popor. Tho Dencahr Repuhlihancr the Gorr-an pnpur wns another
printing establishment wholly consumed. f.
Jn nil ilioro wore twenty lno stores destroyed says tho Delia racli of which
would average $00(10 in value which would mako I ha loss in buildings nlono about
$200000. Thofiro wns nt length nrrcitt-d within a few fc6t of tho Bunking House;
of ltub & Co It originated nt No. 05 Camp MrooU ;
The Operations of the United States Mints
For several ycais hava been ns follows:
United States Coinage.
1047. 1840.
$202.1305 $3775512 50
23744.10 2040050 00
01740 G4.157 99
Gold
Silver
Copper
184G.
$4034177
2558500
191073
1849. ii
$3.()'J7.7(H
2114950
4l'894 '
$G784G29 $22077575 $5879720 59 $11104605
Tlio whole coinage prior to 184G was $48310305 of gold $06493435 silver
$104C55G copper making $115340350 consequently in iho last four yenfs
thero has boon coined 75 per cent ns much gold as for tho previous fifty years. Of
tho gold comed in 1849 $6147519 was Cnlifornia gold; in 184(1 thoro was rn-
ci'ivcd from that smirco $44177 and in Jnnudiy 1050 $900900 making $7091-
090. Tho operations from gonornt trndo lmvo; therefore been small this yeari ''
2r A Gem The Fredericksburg News sneaking of the probability of a
controversy in the Senate between Calhoun arid Denlon says: ''
" We mifjht aS easily imagine a contest between the bright serene stars oftnn
Italian sky and ihe yawning jnuulh of Vesuvius casting up its murky volumes
of flame and smoke as if it hoped to extinguish the immortal lustre of the Ue'a-
vens." '"
The Salaries of the Governors.
The following are the salaries of tho Governors of the several
States:
" The salary of tho Governor of Maryland is 2000 dollars ;
and an attempt is now being made in the Legislature to increase
it to 4000 which was formerly tho same. lie has a house fur-
nished by the. State and must reside at the cupitol. There is but
one Governor in the States whose salary exceeds 4000 that is
the Governor of Louisiana who hits 6.000. The Governors of
the other Stntes receive salaries as follows : Maine 1500
New Hampshire 1000 Vermont 750 Massachusetts 2500
Rhode Island 400 New Jersey 2000 Pennsylvania 3000 De-
laware 1333 Virginia 3333 North Carolina 2000 South Caro-
lina 3500 Georgia 3500 Florida 2.500 Alabama 3600 Mis-!
sissippi 3000 Texas 2000 Arkansas 2000 Tennessee 2009
Kentucky 2500 Ohio 1500 Michigan 1500 Indiana 1500
Illinois 1000 Missouri 2000 Iowa 1000 Wisconsin 1250."
The Great Gaines' Case
Has been decided says the Galveston Journal by the United
States Circuit Court in New Orleans. Judgo McKinsey ex-
pressed himself opposed to reversing the previous decision of the
Supreme Court but as there was no possibility of the Judges
agreeing in opinion he should deliver no opinion himself. He
thorefore left it with the associate Justice McCaleb to decide
the case. His decision was against Mrs. Gaines ; but tho case
will go up to the Supreme Court. The chief ground for this de
cree was that tho mother of Mrs. Gaines was never legally mar-
ried to Daniel Clark.
( i j ii
The Postmnster General furnishes some data in his report.
He says :
The number of postmasters appointed within the year ending
June 30 1849 was 0333. Of that number
2782 were appointed in consequence of resignations ; .
183 were appointed in consequence of deaths;
284 were appointed in consequence of changes of site of office
2103 were appointed in consequence of removals ;
11 were appointed in consequence of commissions expired
and not renewed ; ? r
215 were appointed in consequence of commissions renewed;
23 were appointed in consequence of becoming presidential
by an income exceeding $1000.
291 were appointed in consequence of new offices.
SLjP The number of fornign immigrants into the port of New-
York during the year 1849 was 220603 ; of these there were
from Ireland 112591; Germrtnv 55705; England 28321';
Scotland 8890 ; Norway 3300 ; France 26S3 ; Holland 2447 ;
Wales 1782; Switzerland 1405; Sweden 1007; Italy 602;
West .Indies 449; Portgunl 287; Spain 214; Sardinia 172;
Denmark 159 Nova Scotia 151 ; Poland 133 ; Belgium 118 ;
Canada 59 ; Russia 38 ; East Indies 34 ; South America 33 ;
Mexico 23: Sicily 20; China 9; Arabia 8; Greece 6 ; Tur-
key 6 ' !:
D33 In the whole Turkish Empire there ure 22000000 in-
habitants or thereabouts. Of these not more than 13000000
are Mohommedans the rest are Christians Greeks Armenians
Nestorians Syrians etc. and Jews with some heathen such as
the Gypsies.
P The papers of Philadelphia say that the census of this
year will show that tlht city is the largest within tho Uniied
Slates. Thej estimate the population hard on to half a million.
ttjy When Mr. Jefferson was asked respecting his.religion his
memorable .answer was : " It is known to God and myself alone.
Its evidence bqfore the world is to be sought in my life ; ifithat
has been honest and dutiful to isocietyj tho religion which has
regulated it cannot be a
inn nun." . ti..
JO3 The following is said to be a correct estirnate of the Hunv
ber of slaves in the following countries United' Stntesj 3()95-
000'; Brazil 3250000 Spanish colonies 900J00; Dutch colo
nies 85000; South American republics 340.0005 AWcanusct-
lenients; 30000. Total TOQO. J .' ! l
' . Meteorological Observations Austin CitjV M'rtI
TI1RMOMETER.
ending
Week
March C. 1850.
?: "ft
S. '9
Sun. !li
.M. -.4.
M'll
T
"i'W.l wg'-
71
52
55
55'
42
CV
52 1
82
03
70
rn
731J
Bo
05
G7'
50
58
75'
55
WIND.
REMARKS.
i
Calm. S2S:5
N3 HE3
ChnAV;lfW5l"V
N2NlIV3 .
M.Nl.NE
8l.S3!NWif
!WWW2c.ilm.
Cloudy partly .clquntled.
Orer-ost . . ."
Thi nly 'overcast cle'arv
Clear. ' Oa.
OvercaM clouM
Clear? P'Wt:
The numbers in this coiutnn denote Ihe force of the wind; Ccalm"
art
mmfr it.
4
& ?
1 1
m
..jr?
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Texas State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1, Saturday, March 9, 1850, newspaper, March 9, 1850; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80919/m1/3/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.