Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-11-08
TEXAS.
MESSAGE
Or THE President, TO THE FIRST CONGRESS oF THE
RIrrgLIc OF TEXAS.

RIrrgIc OF TEXAS.
Fco,o. citizens of the Snate ard House c.,
The assembling cf the elect representatives OF re'
and sovereign people: within t'e lue
as is an event that calls for the warmest
every patriot heart. But muluai calculations aone
would be inadequate to express the h'gh seht,c"tS t
ouph 10 ucryade our bosons on tins solemn ana interest,"
lar OCCASION Holer and loit!er feelings become US Io
is meet that we raise thoughts and our thahksgv
ings to tina, onnpocnt Being who rules the universe az
reefs the Affairs Of empires, and guides the Destiny o. a
Amorr the many revolutions thai have varea Tux Po'
litical condition OF men, few have exempIieu 'Tte
clearly ;han that in which we now engaged, tie
conironr supervisiyn and the high aPprooatto" "
benefcent Providence. We have reaseu' ny u.
Trons,rc,jon that :he battle is not always WIN ihe
slropr" Tie enemy came Upon US, wcA h'irSnai""
host with great vgor and might but he was repeied oy
handful pa,rics and tie sush OF his eohdehce'
Inspired By numbers, was turned 10 paeneSS anu 'e'
b;np il therefore tehooves U.S. IN The spring OF our
national existence to lift up hearts with defout ga-
rde 70 the God of battles that peradventure lie may
continue his blessings and vouchsaie TO US happy Issue
to all our abols =.
On vou citizens members of the first Congress
of the republic Of Texas, la5ors oil the most aTduouS the
mos, in,crestinr and the most important character de-
yolve To you is committed the ginning OF eg'sla
tom and as you shall lay the foundation, so Will BE- rear
ed the supersructue. On YOU therefore, rests the h'sn
responsibility of giving political character, and moral
rspuation 10 one born into the family OF nations
The present generation will feel and exhibit the impress
Of your dongs, and our poSterIty will transmit to ge-
nera,ion unborn. pray therefore, that in all your de-
I}rulions YOU NAV he guided by spirit OF wisdom,
of Justice and OF truth, that when the star OF lexas
shall eullrnae in all It's big EtRess, it may sted forth
glorious and beneicemt gt And whether she take her
station among the usrous constellation OF The Norlh,
or revulye on her axis and within her own sphere.
that she may display, on the goodness OF God, but
the wisdom and prescerce Of her early Legislators.
On me rests the duty of presenting to your considers
ton brief exhibit OF our present political condition
and 70 suggest such may be adapted to sup
ply the wants secure the well-being, and developc
the resources of beautiful country. In the execu.
ton of this task, there is much 10 excite embarrassment
and apprehension but more to animate our hopes and
foster spirit OF perseverance. Many difficulties have
been overcome and any remain 10 be subdued. But 4
sincere devotion 10 the public veal, will easily sur.
them all and Texas will he enabled to
ssrt Legitimate claim to be received among the nations
OF the Garth.
The government ad interim, over which have the
honor preside has hitherto conducted its abors under
every imaginable difficulty. At The institution Of that
government the forces of the enemy rapidly ad-
vancin1 into the country, with an imposing
The means of repeillng the formidable Invasion were
not OF sufficient power 10 inspire general confidence, aud
many families had abandoned their homes, and were flee
ing from the approaching devastation. The entire set
tements from the Nueces TO the Colorado had been bro
ken up and the fall OF the Alamo, where the gallant
Travis and his brave associates consecraed their lives to
the liberty Of Texas, had spread dismay TO the line
OF the Brazos Our military force w;he field was great.
ly ineriLr IL Numbers to that Of tie host wh was
marching agunst US and were it not that there
vast dlscrepance between Ike military capacities OF the
opposing armies, the suhuga.icn Of Texas would have
appeared inevitable. But that discrepahc had consIi.
tuted important ground OF confidence III the seces
zion, and it was worthy Of all esmation for, it w.s
discepancc not OF military powers, but OF moral attn
butes and of political knowledge. y
The administration which had been organised at u
town of Washington, deemed it expedlent TO change IT.
location to Harrisburg, from which point 1t could pos
easier 10 foreign copptres, from whence
our chief supplies Of munitions were to be obtained ant
direct supervision of The naval aud other maritime
concerns. Such removal was accordingly eNecteo with
in few DAYS after the government was created.
At this gloomy period the financial affairs OF the conn
try condition more depioraDe than It's military
e0uipments The commissioners, hlessrS Austin, Ar
cher and Wharton, appointed by the late Provisiona
Government had negotiated 4 loan for two hundret
thousand doIIas, and another for fifty thousand viii
sundry individuals III the city of New Orleans 1t
doubtless the best arrangement that could be made
that period Mr.. Robert rplett, PRINCIPAL subscribe
to each of the a5ore uanS presented himself TO The Go
yernmcnl at Harrisburg. Twenty thousand dollars hal
been paid in the first uan and the whole Of the
was advanced. The ratification o. these loans had been
submitted to Tie Convention, and by them referred
10 the Executive Government. On inspecting the
of the loans, Of the conditions considered in
admissible The exclusive right TO an immediate luca
ton of the scrip privilege, which it believed
would cause niEite dissatisfaction in the Country.
be especially obnoxious TO the volunteers OF the nrny
the nature Of whose services would seem TO preclude
any of priority OF location IN Others For spe
entitled 10 recompense than tia: which is rendered in
the field Of battle. Under theee Impressions pro-
posed to Mr. Tripett, modification OF the loans and
agreed to reduce the price of the land rather make
donation of thirty two leagues OF land, to be distributed
pro rata an0ng the Stockholders, In consideration of
REIMBURSEMENT OF the rig ht Of priority OF location,
ceded to them BY The terms Of the original CONTRACT
The modification accepted by Mr.. Trpett for him.
self He was not vested with authority 10 bind his CO.
lenders; but he expressed opinion that they also would
accede to Il. From the first oan the Government conf.
IDENTIFY anticipated fiscal aid Of some Importance in the
then pressing emergency; but the sequel will disclose,
ahey were unnappiIy disappointed Mr.. Triplet, his
return 10 the United States, presented his modified
act to his associate stockholders and surprise
they unanimously voted against its reception, ard de-
elined advancing the tesiium of the loan.
Some disappointment resulted from this decision of the
lenders; and the government felt the Inconvenience of an
illusory antc patton new proposition has been made
to the lenders, to adjust the amounts advanced on ,.
principles Of the modified coatracG but no definite an
swer has been had to that overture. Tie n,.sun,,,n
is that it will not be accepted and that the settlement
of the whole transaction will devove Congress: f
have long since determined 10 submit the whole ma,
ter to your decision.
dence of the impracticabity of anticipating the wants
of the county, by ordinary loans. Some other course
was necessary, and the government resolved 10 issue
scrip for land, considering the public domain as the
most available and the least objectionable source of pub.
lie revenue. Accordingly, the agent appointed in New
Orleans, Thomas Toby, Esq, gentleman who had al.
ready considerable advances account of the
vernment, and bad manifested sympathy in our
BEHALF authorised TO issue scrip to the amour, of
FIVE hundred thousand of land be located on the
public domain of Texas; and to dispose Of it, at the es
fabshed minimum price Vi fifty cepts pc. acre He has
subsequently been empowered To extend his issues one
million of acres
The finances Of the country is subject Of vast i'm
porance and will command itself to The early and seri-
Gus attention of Congress. The adoption Of plan for
permanent and certain revenue is indispensable; and
trust your combined intelligence will suggest such
system will the great purposes intended, and
will afford general satisfaction to your constituents
The principal points to be observed in drawing conubu