New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-24
Lecture on Texas.

Rev. j. u. FERRY, OF tnls city GeiI'eiea osiofs
| the New-York Lseeum, at the Tabernacle last
evening, highly interesting Lecture on the His
tory of Texas 1t was long and entirely made up
of historical sketches. giving details Of particular
engagements, and an especially minute account OF
the battle OF San Jacints, at which the Lecturer
| was an actor. As literary performance 1t pos
sessed slight merit-deriving IT'S chief value from
the interest Of the subject and the accuracy OF the
Lecturers acquaintance with it.
He spoke, in commencing, OF the two antagonist
principles which had always existed in the Eartn.
One, he said is the principle of con traction, es-
sentially selfish: the other expansive, catholic,
generous, lberal-panring for the greatest good OF
the greatest number. The one is Despo,sn, the
Other Liberty. IL the contest between them thou
sands have persisted; vet never have there been
wanting bold and daring spirits, willing to devote
their lives and their fortunes defence OF the In
alienabe rights of Man To this class belonged all
the glorious array OF martyrs, and the noble de-
tenders of liberty and freedom, through all ages
and they deserved the warmesr admiration of all
the world.
He had come, he said, to speak of people
who had made high appeal to Heaven for deliy-
erance from the despotism beneath which they
were crushed; and as he spoke to audience OF
freemen-to those connected, too with those who
had struggled for Texan Independsnce-he felt
sure that what he had to say would be received in
kindly manner. He hoped many would derive
some instruction from the story he had to tell He
felt that prejudice had been entertained upon this
subject, and that Texas had been charged with
base designs which she had never entertained. At
this he not surprised, for 1t natural that
prejudice should obtain access into the human
mind.
For himself, he said, on the first outbreak of the
| contest he had enlisted in it from his sympathy
with struggling humanity, without looking at the
merits of the controversy. But he glad after
wards to find that he had been battling in the de-
| fence of human rights and human liberty. Those
who vera SO loud in denouncing the Texans for
the course they had taken, he felt sure would be
found in the end to be those who held fast to the
jus diuinum Of kingly power. The Texan people
| would when truth should be known and acknow-
lodged, be seen to have been driven to the stand
they took, by the cruelty of their oPprcssors. For
all the martyrs of Liberty, from leonidas to War
rem, he felt the highest ,eneration: but none OF
them, he said, ba,led for nober cause than those
who fell at Goliad or at the slaughter within the
Alamo.
The soil of Texas was rich and productive; and
ed its advantages. As early as 1892 settlements
were made at different points-but so hostile were
the savages that little progress effected Every
effort 10 redeem the country from the grasp OF the
savage tribes mad been unsuccessful, thong settle
| ments had been made at Bexar and Nagadoches
The government of old Spain finally soug BIT to pre-.
vail on the people of the United States to settle
and subdue the land and the offers they made
| induced many to do so. Early in 1921, STEPHEN
F. AUSTIN, a native Of Connecticut, went to the
Brasos river to secure the possession of portion
of territory which bis father had bequeathed to him.
He secured grant, and liberal offers were made
by the government to others who would go and
settle there Each settler was to have certain
quantity of land, to be exempt from taxes, and To
be entitled to the right of suffrage. The only re-
turn expected was that the wilderness should be
reclaimed and the savages held in check.
| Many settlers accepted these offers, and their
increase and prosperity soon began to alarm the
Mexican Government; and they were destined
soon to learn that they had subjected themselves
| to the iron rod of the stranger and the despst.
| When Iturbide was dethroned confederation was
formed and Constitution adopted, Coquila and
Texas were united in one State, and the system OF
tyranny was commenced which finally led to the
declaration of Texan independence.
The Constitution was ratified in November,
1924, and Immediately discussion arose in the
! Mexican Congress upon the subject OF Slavery
Most of the Texans were planters, who bad brought
their slaves with them aud were prohibited from
returning to the United States. law passed in
1885, prohibiting all traffic in slaves, and freeing
| all born in Texas arriving at the age OF IA;
and soon law passed absolutely freeing all slaves
within the limits of Texas The principle upon
which they acted was that the active aboitionsts
-. C,l,a hon
be had in this country, we should soon see that
similar results would follow among our people.
law was soon afterwards passed absolutely pro-
hibiting the emigration of any persons from the
United States. This blasted all the expectations
ofthose who had settled there. still more tyrann-
cal course was then pursued towards those who
had emigra,ed thither
| One Capt. Bradburn, commanding at Anahuac,
without law out aad seized six persons at Lib
| ertad, contuing them in close quarters. An at
tempt was also made to arrest the Magistrates, but
this was foiled. He annuled the elections of the
town, and perpetraed other outrages, which reused
the whole Municipality to armed resistance; and
after brief assault, Capt. Bradburn was defeated
and his prisoners released. The captors then
quietly dispersed Similar occurrences took place
| in other sections.
| The Texans continually petitoned the Congress
for relief; and STEPHEN AUSTIN, when visiting the
Capital on such an errand was seized and kept in
prison for two years. No favor was granted, but
the effort of the Executive to crush Texas was
steadily continued.
In the Provincial Congress efforts were contin-
ually made to free themselves from this tyranny;
and Gen. Coos was sent by the Mexican Congress
to dissolve the Legislature and seize the members.
They escaped, but tie Governor was seized. Coos
was also seut to seize Gen. Zavaa, but in this he
was repused with some loss. Similar acts of ty.
ranny were exercised by other Mexican Generals