New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-06-09
,1,rroe Edwards.

State Prison much later than ne deserved. Inc
story OF his life is not without interest:
Monroe Edwards was born IN Kentucky. Hls
father removed TO Texas several years pror TO the
revolution which separated it from Mexico, and
died there previous to that event. lie was very
respectable man, both by his habits, connections
and associations Monroe received 4 PLAIN ecu
cation in his native State, and commenced life IN
early manhood in Texas. He was not particu-
iariv employed prior to the Revolution. except at
one time as clerk in the counting house Of Morgan
g. Reed. who did business at Galveston Bay. The
reputation he left with his employers was by no
means enviable, and but little calculated TO &C.
vance his interest liz mercantile career IN lna'
country The grand drama Of his eventini I'VE,
commenced in the winter Of lc35--36 when al tfle
CITY Of New-Oreans he became acquainted WIN
Mr.. C.. Dart, formerly Of Rodney, Miss, and hay
inp firm IN the CITY of New Orleans under the
stYle Of Franklin &; Dart, and c. Dart & Co. OF
Natchez.
Dart had become embarrassed, and not having
the means OF paying his debts, after revolving
many means Of extrication, he at last fell upon
the one Of buying slaves IN the Havana, where
they were cheap In comparison with the prices IN
the United States, and setting them on planta
ton in Texas, where the lands were only one 2liii
of the price Of the fine cotton lands IN the south
west. and where the climate had been represented
to him as peculiarly adapted to the production OF
the cotton plant in It's great Pcriecton-iFo'n
which project he honestly expected IN few years
to realize ample means for the exhngustncnt OF
his debts, and have besides more than cornpe-
tency for his wife and children. But there were
difficulties in the wayne was neither practically
nor Theoretically planter-nor had he any turn
for that sort Of business. In addition to THIS, II
he gave his personal attention, he would have to
remove his family there, deprive his children OF
The advantages OF education, and expose his WIG,
who was an ,amiablc and accomplished woman
to all the hardships ond troubles incident and IN
separate from pioneer life; and in addition, II he
assumed the control and management OF the pro-
perry in person, and had things in his own name,
he might have been pursued by his creditors IN the
United States, and broken up before he had had
time to realize the very means with which he OK
pectcd 10 pay them, and so defeat the very object
he had in view.
AT this stage of his meditations he met Mon
roc Edwards who readily entered into his plans,
and promised an entire devotion to the success Of
the enterprise. Edwards had no money, but IN
lieu thereof he was to furnish talents, vigor en-
terprise, &c. and to cover the property in his own
name. Dart furnished at the outset $4,000 IN
gold and United States Bank bills, which were
equivalent at that time to specie, and they left the
city about the close of the year 50, for tho Ha-
vana, where Dart succeeded IN negotiating from
the house OF Knight & Co. loan Of S33.UO0.
thus swelling their cash capital to SS5, 900 They
bought and landed in Texas, on the Brazos HI
yer, some time in February '36, about 220 cx-
trcmely likely and valuable young negroes, none
being under 10 and very few over 20 years OF
are While in the Havana all incident occur
red, which plainly indicated what IN suitable
field of action, might be the future career OF Ed
wards Not satisfied with the large gang of ne
groes which Mr. Dart had fairly purchased for
him, he decoyed likely negro boy on board OF
the vessel, and there concealed HIM with the view
Of kidnapping him: his owner discovered 1t and
was about to apply to the authorities, when the
thing came 10 the knowledge of Mr.. Dart, who
by great excrtion hushed the matter up, by paying
che sum of $l700.
Arrived in Texas, Edwards pretended to com
mence the business of planting-bought an in.
different tract of land for the section OF country
in which he proposed TO commence his labors,
and at very high price on credit; he knew
nothing of planting, nor did he take the requisite
pains to inform himself; nor did he seem disposed
TO give the least personal care or attention to the
matter, being seldom on the plantation himself,
and employing ovcrsecrs, not for their fidelity and
ability, but for their cheapness. But there
one thing he did understand, however, and which
he los. no time in nduging in, and that was
splurging. lie wore. the best clothes, rode the
finest horses, and often travelled with servant.
His appearance in the little villages IN the coun
try was sure to produce a great sensation, from
the superiority OF his equipments over common
travellers.
He spent large portion of each year in the
United States, and at last, for the purpose of
amusement, greater expansion of mind, and more
complete improvement IN the grand art of hnan-
ciering, he resolved to cross the Atlantic, and the
taste TO select the occasion OF the GROWING OF
Britain's youthful Queen. Meantime Dart who
was living in the United States, principally at
Rodney, Mississippi, could gctno account of how
things were going on IN Texas, and was in the
deepest ignorance of the condition OF his partner
ship affairs in that country. He knew but one
thing with certainty. and that was that he had
not received one dollar of prof, whatever. I'm
der these circumstances, Edwards being not vet
returned from Europe, nc determined (lS3Sl to
visit Texas, and personally investigate the state
OF his business and property in that country. lie
did SO, and found every thing IN so dcyanged and
embarrassed q condition, that he employed law
yer, and seques.ercd the whole property as q last
means of obtaining his share OF the same, and at
the same time securing Knight X Co, !or whom
he very honorabiy entered upon record comics
sion of Judgment for the $4,000. which had
been borrowed for the concern IN the Havana.
Soon afterwards Edwards returned and hearing
upon his arrival in the United States OF Darts
energetic proceedings in Texas, not at all ahashed
he in due time makes ms appearance in Texas,
armed with two forged decds-,hc one relating to
the land and negroes, and the other 10 the inferior
transactions of the partnership-by which II ap-
pearcd that Edwards was the owner ofcveryhng
The forgcries had been made by taking two letters
OF Darts written TO Edwards iron Rodney. Ms