New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-01
THE TRIBU N E.
For The New York Tribuns.
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
~ 4. rrxlS Jkny
BY A TEXAN LADY.

III TEXAN LADY.
II Wurx the adventurous La Sale unfurled the
r,;ee of France in the Bay Of Matagorda, and
,ool nossession, in his kings name, of the ada
cent country, according to the usages of civilized
nations and by the admission of other powers,
Texas. though as yet nameless and unexPlored,
became French territory AS the understood
\ apoauage of Louisiana, it was ceded to the Uni
II ted States Almost unconstitutionally, and GER
i tsiny without an equivalent, 1t was resigned to
\ s,,in. Mexico, on throwing off the yoke of
Spain, and taking her position as an Independent
nation, carried Texas with her as sort of outheld
If the Spanish colonial domain; it never had
heen an integral part OF Mexico. She never
bouoht, conquered, settled, or protected 1t. 1t
was separated from Mexico by an immense de-
ser-dry, barren and Improbable then as now
which interposed its sterile wastes between the
Spanish and Anglo American settlements. East
of the desolate steppes of the Rio Bravo, lay the
lovely region watered by the San Antonia, the
Colorado, the Brazos and the Trinity rivers, with
| n host of smaller and tributary streams sort of
no.man's land, on which the most savage and
! dangerous Indian tribes were concentrating as
they fell back from the hated advance of the axe
and plough. Mexico had neither the will nor
the enterprise to cross the Rio Grandc, with its
fowning barrier of mountains and deserts, to cul-
,vatc this distant field and still less the energy
TO reclaim or conquer its hordes Of ferocious In
dians Still it was essential the Indians should be
subdued for they were beginning to harrass and
drive within fortified walls the most promising
settlements on the Mexican side of the Texan
desert. On the other hand, only the narrow bed
of the Sabine divided the rich and growing planta-
tons Of Louisiana from this uncontrolled Indian
camp and the omnipotent law of elfdefence
would soon compel the United States to re0btaln
Texas Our noblest.minded statesmen were
mourning over the sectional narrowness which
had thus cut into our territory, broken up our
direct and nature-defended border, and mutllated
the navigation of our rivers and the integrity of
our sea.coast, by giving away Texas. 1t made
portion of the great Valley Of the Mississippi;
and glance at the map of North America will
show how naturally the trade Of Texas must
flow with her rivers toward that Of the United
States.
At the required moment, Divine Providence
called forth man, or rather family, fit and
ready 10 redeem Texas from the savage, and Gre
ate new Anglo lo-American State. The Austins
arc a remarkable band.-One led the American
merchantmen TO explore the rich trade of the In
dian seas; another introduced the manufacture
OF shot into the United States, and still another
gave an impulse and value, before unknown, to
our mining operations. Old Connecticut has
reason to be proud of these her hardy and enter
prising sons. At the head of them all stands Ste
phen F. Austin, the Father of Texas Moses
Austin first conceived the plan of settling Texas
on the Empresario system. With him no project
was too vast for consideration, or too hazardous
for execution. He set out for Mexico-not in the
known and safe paths of travel, but through the
wild and trackless region he sought permission to
add to the map of Anglo-American civilization.
A thousand miles through the wildemess-almost
alone, and on such an errand !-Itwas an earnest
of bis capabiity for great deeds.
Mexico, newly emancipated, and too inexperi-
enced to use her wealth discreetly, was reeng to
and fro in the intoxication of Freedom, and Law.
ishing her resources on every hand with blind
and careless profusion. She was making her ex-
pertinent in Imperialism, when Austin appeared
in the Capitol, and he found Iturbide on the
throne. He unfolded his plan and was favorably
heard Whatever evils afterward sprung up,
when the artfully fomented suspicion and dislike
of the two races brought them in angry collision,
the Mexicans began the intercourse in courteous
and generous spirit. With an overhowing abun.
dance of wild lands, and every possible induce
ment to cultivate them, they could not give much
attention to Texas but were willing TO entrust its
development to the Republicans of the North, and
wished them to find large reward for their ex-
ertons. His chosen tract of country, of surpas-
sing fertility equal in extent to Vermont and New
Hampshire, and embracing the Colorado and Bra,
zos rivers-either almost equal to the Hudson
with the corresponding coast and harbors, was as
signed to him as Empresario, or colonizing con-
tractor, with power to give liberal tracts of land
to each colonist from this ample domain. Lib
eral indulgence, in the way of taxes and duties
on imported goods, was also guaranteed 10 the
Austin settlers. The hbsrality OF Mexico excited
the enterprise or cupidiy OF other adventures,
and EmpresaIio grants were asked and obtained,
antil Texas was covered with them, to the serious
embarrassment of her Government. Exulting in
his successful mission, and rejoicing in the long,
fair prospective of usefulness thus opening before
him, Moses Austin returned 10 the United States
to lead his pioneer band to their adopted home
but alas for the promises of human life! He had
overtasked even his power of endurance, and
hardly had he time to transfer his views, his hopes
and his powers to his son, Stephen, before the
grave opened to receive him. Stephen F. Austin
was worthy to bear the family name. In the vigor
Of manhood, of urbane and conciliating manners,
brave, selfcontrolled, far-sighted, and much en-
during, he trod unainchingly the path marked
cut by his father.
In December, 1921, few families under his