Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-12-01
uIscELLANE OUS.
s From the Hesperian.
NOTES ON TEXAS.
4 nII u n, L IL
CT A p T Z X Y.

L
-. of the Citizens-lu erchants-Price
S.r..d.-Groceries- Dissipation Gambling
sx,aaics- SpecuIators--!Soldier's discharges
a,ad Riehes--Riot and afroys-First Ser
sua Houston.
\ ]. emulation thrown together from all quar-
4 = The world, as was the case IN Houston, IT /
4 q. subject Of curiosity with some to know |
N 4. go was to occupy the attention and en-
/ 5 lie time of all. 1t is well known that char
Il -. been made against the people of Texas,
!, 4. calculated to fatter the pride Of the ma
n !. not necessary that | should give any
- al this time, of the proprety and justice
5iasc charges, applied to the people generally,
sf,ooose. at another time, to say something
+. mbiect The mercantile business engaged
4 !. ,,,en,ion of quite a number, there being from
81 10 ten stores during the latter part OF the
rraer: and were to Judge from the enormous
q. Il which goods were selling, | might well
+ raste that they were in the most prosperous
ediion.
,d., the operation Of the tariff, every thing
i ..ne enormously high. The direction which
- ~ thing took before it reached the consumer.
! ! ,ctount for these extravaganza prices. The
Il ~kan, of Now-York, after Re has paid profit
u a. importer upon the original cost, and duty,
n !. he GOV eminent Of the United States, sells TO
/ ,erchant of Newt Orleans, at living advance
4 = he whole. The latter in his sales to the
j INN. Of Texas, feels authorised TO add at
A I'D hirty per cent for his profits. The Texian
n a uys duty of twenty five per cent upon
4 i. a,osced price to his government; and when
4 :. rssIer that he is not satisfied with less than
i ). hnaed per cent. upon tine entire cost, it is
10. =, hot t,,
4 Ase.rie Of trade has the worst of the bargain.
f1eh which did not cost originally more than
dre dollars ward. and which would be rofailod
: lie United States, at from five to SLY, was sell
he here from fifteen to twenty. Hats which did
+ pt cost more than two or three dollars at whole
I ae we're selling from ten to fifteen; and It was
common for boots not worth more than ilve or
az dollars any where else, to bring eighteen dol
hrs pair.
The grocers, who were quite numerous, APP
|rared to do the principal business OF Houston.
While hesitate to admit, that there IS something
|slaxing in the climate, that makes 1t necessary
tr all TO indulge in The use of some kind OF slim
!Aas, to extent, to keep up the spirits; |
1uusi acknow ledge that there were but few who
M no. as. ss- eA,ee1lpe, <-e.. ~Ao 1ssf;,uos
y Ssh oppressed the system under the power of
4 Saa. While there few who did not ex-
a adhc limits of moderation, large majority
z hT no restraint to their appetites. The extent
+ sshich this vice was carried, exceeded all be-
#a II appeared 10 be the business of the greai
ms Of the people, to collect around these cen
ssn Of vice, and hold their drunken orgies, with
rt seeming to know that the sabbath was made
IN moro serious purposes, and night tor rest
kmkng was reduced to system, and had IT
@sn laws and regulations. Nothing was regard
asS greater violation of established etiquette
an for who was going to drink, not 10 III
' rte all within reasonable distance TO partake
nthat the Texans being entirely military pee
20, not only fought, hut drank, IN platoons. Gam
Ing too was carried to such disgusting eXten
II all times, that Congress, during the summc
q sion, passed law making it highly penal I
y " But as those who passed the law. were tn
s. at active i'll breaking it, the law itself was {
T. ME consequence, any further than it afforde
& gambler the double satisfaction of known
d. be was breaking the laws of God, and thos
\ man at the same time. If except one or tw
aaors, who did little besides mendag, there wcr
70 mechanics IN Houston, but the carpenters.
7 net, little mechanical labor is done IN TeXa:
apart from building. While speaking of the dI
'erent ways in which the people of Houston wcr
u Employed | ought not to omit TO mention ia
! INDUS operandi of the specuator, who tiuds fin
aeid here Tor the exercise of his shrewdness an
I energies Some were engaged in purchasing III
discharges Of the soldiers, each Of whom is ent
lied, beyond has pay of eight dollars month
government paper, to six hundred and fifty acre
iaha iof each six months service, and IN pr
rs''1on ior less period. Fox this be gets &C
1 81 from The government
Ans discharged soldier comes to Houston, hui
~ s.' "na next 10 naked, with nothing but his clam
- ssa me government; which his situation cor
70 "iin TO SELL Il he gets ten per cent for h
=, s %"e! scrip, and fifty dollars Tor six month
Ie ss"afss, ne receives quite much as the:
sans were selling for during the whole SUI
'aen the storm-boatcn soldier thus sees Il
81 ld OF all his sutieriugs reduced to few d,
w. we has too much reason to lament over Il
~ which he has worse than thrown away; al
- "a In despair gives himself up to total aba
= nent Upon this subject might say niue
~s Texas may have need for more soldiers,
.eai that should be silent. Another class
aens were busy in buying what in the langun
Il ne country are called head rights In ord
- - ne reader may understand what these are
y add that the constitution OF Texas proyit
all white males of a specified age. who va
s* "e country on the second of March. lS36.
.@ ~ 80 the declaration of independence, provid
persons are married, shall he entitled tc
80 ~ and labor of land; aud il single to o.
IVA league. As the land Office has be
r ~ SINCE the commencement of the revoluti
rights are nothing more than claims uF
A4s,ernment, but are more valuable than
atscharges, or go,ernment land scrip. as
- Auuuon provides further, that all such rig
priority OF location, for six months. wi