The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-09

Union second "Botany Bay" inasmuch, for
sooth, upon the first settlement of this country,
many rogue sought shelter here to elude the
haDgnan's knot in Europe. And it may be assert
ed, with rigid regard for truth, that if our own
American Union is vili6ed by the clustering John
Bulls across the Atlantic, the citizens of the Lone
Star are no less traduced by many Of the people of
this country 1t may he declared, fearless OF con-
tradiction from candid and well informed sources,
that the Texans, as mass are not inferior IN
intelligence, morality or hospitality TO the same
number of persons in any State OF our confedera-
cy And it is fact worthy of no small degree OF
considera ton, that there are as many places of
worship, and as great number of seminaries OF
learning in Texas, in any one of our new States,
possessing no greater population Even the Eng
lish historian, Kennedy, was compelled to confess
the erroneous opinion he had formed of the repub-
lie, in consequence of the Misrepresentation Of
Northerners. On page 5, he says:
81 found stable government, religion respect
ed laws well administered, protection afforded TO
property and person, and the general tone OF man.
ners the same as in the United States. Astonished
to perceive condition Of things entirely different
from what had been led to expect by the people
and press of the Northern States, l intimaed an
intention to publish work on the republic on my
return to England, for the purpose of explaining
its true position"
GEOGRAPHY OF TEXAS.
The boundaries OF Texas have been established
by an act of the Texian Congress, and are as fol-
lows "Beginning at the mouth of the Rio Grande;
thence up the principal stream of said river to its
source; thence due north to the 42d degree of
north latitude; thence along the boundary line, as
defined in the treaty between the United States
and Spain, to the beginning -
The area of Texas embraces more than three
hundred thousand square miles.
Texas has gull coast of about four hundred
miles extent, which is indented by some OF the
most secure and accessible harbors on the southern
side OF North America; the principal OF which are
Sabine inlet, Galveston bay, Maagorda bay, Aran-
saso bay, and the bay of Nueces, to which may
be added the mouths of the Brazos and the Rio
Grande, which empty directly into the gulf Gal
weston bay is superior to any the entire southern
coast, with the exception, perhaps, of Pensacola
bay, in Florida.
The chief rivers of Texas are, Red, Sabine,
Neches, Trinity, San JacinIo, Brazos, Colorado,
La Baca, Navidad, Guadalupe, San Antonia, Nu-
eces and the Rio Grande These streams pursue
souheasterly course and all empty either direct
ly into the gulf or into some one of the bays, be-
fore enumerated, with the exception Of Red river,
which pours its turbid waters into the Mississippi
short distance below N Natchez. Each of them
is susceptible of navigation by some one of The
species of water craft now in use, and many of
them are destined by nature 10 bear upon their
bosoms the larger class of steamboats,.
In the interior of Texas are to be found no noun
tains worthy of consideration, but on and towards
the northwestern boundary of the republic are to
found ridges and spurs of some magnitude.
Cities and towns have sprun g up throughout
the country as if my magic. Their enumeration
will not be attempted, but they number several
scores. The progress of Texas may be imagined
by glancing at the growth of Galveston city
Where but some half dozen miserable dwellings
stood in 1887, now flourshes city boasting its
FIVE thousand inhabitants
The face of the territory of Texas is divided
into three classes-the level, the undulating, and
he hiIly and mountainous. Upon leaving the
ccas:, and passing in northerly direction, the
country is found level for distance varying from
twenty 10 eighty miles; then succeeds the undula-
ting land, and next follows the billy. Although
much of the country is level, it is free from
sEamps and marshes.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH OF TEXAS.
One who has not been in Texas, nor experienced
the balmy breezes of the South, cannot realize
aay description which may be given of the climate
of that beautiful land. In the summer, the south
= States Of our confederacy oppressed with
excessive heat and it may be asked, why is not
Texas with no less southerly latitude, similarly
affected? The answer is this. During the hot
months, from morning until sundown, there pre-
walls a strong, southerly breeze, spreading over
the entire country a refreshing and inyigoratlng
GOODNESS. This breeze is not occasional. but uni
form. 1t is produced by the laws of nature, and
must continue until those laws are changed. 9th
er subordinate causes also unite TO produce this
pleasantness of temperature, and they are thus
summed up by Senator BentOn, in his customary
vigorous style: "Texas is in fact, the north of Ita
ly, the south OF France Of North America and
made so by the same causes which make northern
Italy and southern France the paradise of Europe
the proximity of mountains covered with snow;
elevated surface; clean shores; due intersperson
Of hills and valleys, of woodland and prairie; and
complete openness to the reception of the sea
breeze
Edtcards says, on page 81:
"In Texas, from river to river, we have an open
ascending country, wherein a pond or putrid
stream is not to be found; with clear, sea breezes,
as invigorating to the frame as refreshing to the
spirits In Louisiana and Mississippi, from river
TO river, we have compact woods and level coun-
try, wherein are to be found many large swamp