Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-26
E.TExAs.--JOLn Dunn Hunter,

province Of Texas has proved to be a very
fruitful ground, in producing strange events at
least, and from its singular situation, nd the
odd kind of polity which governs it, it is proba-
bic that it will, for many years to come, be a
source Of annoyance to the United States
This province is bounded east by Louisiana,
southeast by the Gulf of Mexico, west and
southwest by the River Rio del Norte, and
north and northeast by Red River. 1t is eight
hundr cd miles in length, about five hundred
broad, and contains something like two hun
dred and forty thousand square miles.
At the time of the Florida Treaty, part Of
il was claimed by this country, but in the course
of the negotiation between Don Onis and Mr.
Adams, all claims to IL were surrendered, and
a boundary line between this country and His
Catholic Majesty was agreed upon, and as that
boundary cut off large tract of valuable coun-
try, towards which the people ofthe West look
ed with anxious eyes, the affair caused no in
considerable excitement; and Mr.. Adams was
by his enemies, accused of making an unnec-
essary sacrifice.
Soon after this period, military adventurcr,
General James Long, a native Of South-Caro-
lima, who had resided in Texas, took advan-
tage of the excitement that had already been
created, by man9upre, made himself Chief
Magistrate of the Province, and stimula ted the
people to undertake a revolution; and in proc
lamation dated at Nacogdoches, the twenty
third day Of June, 1919, declared the Province
ofTexas FREE and INDEPENDENT In his
proclamation, which was a very ingenious one
it was stated, that the citizens of Teas had
long indulged hope, that in the adjustment
Of the boundaries Of the Spanish possessions IN
America, and Of the territories of the United
States, they should be included within the linn
its of the latter;-that expectation so latter-
ing prevented any effec effort to throw off
the yoke Of Spanish authority, though it could
not restrain some unavailing rebellion against
an odious tyranny:-that the recent treaty be-
tween Spain and the United States, had disap-
pointed an illusion too fondy cherished, and
reused the citizens of Texas from the torpor
into which fanced ecurity had lulled them -
that they had seen themselves, by a Convcn-
ton, to which they were not party, literally
abandoned to the dominion Of the Crown Of
Spain, and left prey, not only TO impositions
already intolerable, but to all those exactions
which Spanish rapacity is fertile in devising.-
Considering these grievances, and the abandon
ment Of the United States, General Long. in
behalf Of the citizens of Texas, declared the
province free and Independent, and set the
mymidons of Spain at defiance. AT the time
Of the publication of this Proclamation, the ad-
herents Of Long did not exceed seventy per-
sons; but as he issued a newspaper, in which
he published fattering tales relative to the con-
dition of the province, and the prospects held
out to young adventurers, in little while.
band of young men, principally from Kentucky
and Tennessee, hocked to his standard, and af-
ter having suffered all the prvatons that the
folly Of Long could engender, some of them
pcrished; and others, naked, and in a state of
starvation, and decrepitude, returned to the
home Of their fathers
In the attempt to rcvolutonize the province,
and to throw off the yoke of Spain, General
Long associated with Laftte, the celebrated
Pirate, who was supreme in command at Gal
viztown, but as neither Of them possessed
friends, or the means of obtaining men to aid
them, the affair was ultimately abandoned, and
the adventurers undertook other pursuits
Long, like silly man, made visit to the city
Of Mexico, where he was taken, by Iturbide,
and thrown into prison. where he remained till
the Emperor was dcposed, when he was re-
leased, and commenced his journey homs.-
On his way TO Nacogdoches, he was assasi-
| mated by an Indian, and thus closed his career.
| Lafitte broke up his rendezvous at Galviztown,
and went to the Musqueto Shore, with Sir Gre
| gor McGrcgor, and has not since been heard
| from.
| Recently, JOHN DUNN HUNTER, celebrate
ed for his repeated acts OF imposition, has -four
ishcd in the Province Of Texas, and undertook
scheme, similar to the one conceived by Gen.
oral Long. What his precise plans were, we
do not know; but whatever they might have
been, they were cut off, with the life of the
author Of them, a short time since. Hunter
was assassmated by an Indian, whom he had
taken for guide through the forest.
Texas is fine fertile country, but at present,
is the common resort Of villains, cut throats,
wild boars, alligators, catamounts, and rattle
snakes. The possession of the territory would
be an invaluable acquisition TO this country
and we expect the day will come, when it will
come under our government.
nxT a., po.r Tho ,nc,s,,,u..n -. 4