The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-26
From the New Orleans Picayune, Sept. "a.
LATE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI.

injured"
From the New Orleans Picayune. Sept. ~.
LATE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI
DISASTROUS STEAMBOAT ExPLosIoN--IMPoR.
TANr TEXAS ORDINANCE.
The steamship Alabama arrived at an early hour
yesterday, having sailed from Arkansas on the 18th
inst. She brought us the news of a deplorable
steamboat catastrophe, which we laid before our
readers in second edition yesterday, as fully MS
the limo would allow. s5F
There is no important news from the army under
Gen. Taylor They receive almost all their intelli-
geRce from this city. The United States sloop-of-
war st. Mary's arrived at the bay of Arkansas on
the 18th inst, with bearer of dispatches on board
for Gen. Taylor from Washington. On the evening
Of the same day, the United States brig Porpoise
hove-to off the bar, and communicated with the St..
Marys. In half an hour thereafter she sailed to-
wards Vera Cruz. Nothing as to their purposes or
intelligence transpired.
On The morning of the 18th instant, company
of traders arrived n Gen. Taylor's camp. They
reported that they had seen, within two days
march of the camp, about two hundred Lipans, and
as many Cumanches, on their way to Matamoras,
Thy invitation from Mexico, to Join the forces TO
be directed against Gen. Taylor The report OF the
traders was bti half credited.
Gen. Taylor sent out Lieut.. Scarritt with an es-
Of forty dragoons to fSconnoitre for 30 or Az
miles about, to ascertain everything possible; and
= The report as to the health Of the troops, both
volunteers and regulars, is entirely favorable. Not
a word had been heard, save via New Orleaps Of
Gen. Arisa; nor was there any expectation Of hear
ing Of him in the shape Of an attack. Gen. Tay-
lOr, however, was ever on the alert.
The government has In its employ the steamboats,
White Wing and Neva, the sloops Sarah Foye and
Tom Jack, and the schooners Denmark and Caro-
lima, all PLYING between Corpus Christi ard 81.
JUseph's. The old steamer Monmouth continues IN
difficulty ghe leaks so badly, that it is feared she
cannot be got round TO New Orleans for repairs.
The schooners E. y. Lamdin and Mary Wilkes
had both sailed for this port.
Ourpapers by this arrival come down to the 9Th inst
only from Galveston. They are principally 0ccu-
pied with the abors of the convention for forming
State constitution. That body terminated its sit
tngs on the 26th ult; and the President of Texas
Immediately issued his proclamation, in pursuance
Of is provisions for submitting the same to the peo-
ple..
We have received an entire copy Of the State con-
s,i,ution of Texas az adopted by the convention.
Attached to il Is an ordinance of vast importance in
regard to grants Of Texas lands. II will be sub
mted to the people at the same time az the consti-
tuition. We copy it entire
AN ORDINANCE
Whereas various contracts have been entered into
by the President ofthe republic Of Texas with d.
vers individuals with the expressed intention of colo
nzing an enormous amount Of the public domain of
Texas; and whereas it is believed that said con-
tracts are Unconstitutional, and therefore void from
the beginning, and, i carried out, would operate as
monopoly ofupwards Of seven millions Of acres Of
the public domain Of Texas, in the hands Of few
individuals; when in truth, the citizen-sodiers and
creditors of the republic of Texas had by the laws
and constitution Of said republic, clear and indis
putable previously subsistng right to locate upon
public domain thus attempted 70 be assigned to said
contractors:
SEC. l. Therefore, Is hereby ordaed and declared,
That it shall he the duty Of the attorney general Of
this State or the district attorney of the district in
which any portion of the colonies may be situate,
as soon the organization of the State shall be COM
pleted, to institute legal proceedings agalnst all
colony contractors who have entered into contracts
with the President Of Texas and if, upon such in
vestgation it shall be found that any such contract
was Unconstitutional, Illegal or fraudulent, or that
the conditions Of the same have not been complied
with according to its terms, such contract shall be
adjudged and decreed null and vod Provided, hoio-
eper, That all actual settlers under such contract,
shall be entitled to their quantity of land as colo
nists-not to exceed six hundred and forty acres TO
the head of family, and three hundred and twenty
acres to single man. And in all suits brought by
or against any contractors, or any person claiming
under, by, or through them, or either Of them, II
shall be lawful for the adverse claimant TO set forth
any plea that it would have been competent for the
State to plead; and the party may introduce tcsti-
mony TO prove the claim or title to have been for
feited, as well for frauds, or Illegally, or unconsti-
as on account of failure TO comply with
the conditions Of the original grant OF contracts and
any such pleas shall be deemed good and valid in
law, in all such suit or suits in this State.
SEC. g. Be u further ordained, That the legsla-
ture is hereby restrained from extending any con-
tract for settling colony and from relieving con-
tractor from the failure Of the conditions or the for
fixture accruing from Noncompliance with the con-
tract.
SEC. g. .and be II further ordained That this ord
nance shall be presented to the people for their adop
ton or rejection at the time the constitution
shall be presented to them; and the returns of the
votes taken on this ordinance shall be made to the
Office of Secretary of State of the republic of Tex
as, at the same time the votes for the constitution
may be returned.
Adopted in convention, this twenty-seventh day
of August, one thousand eight hundred and forty
FIVE.
THOMAS J. RUSK, President
Attest
JAS. H. RAYMOND sec'y of Convention.
The Hon. G. w. Terrell, late Tcxian minister to
France and England, arrived at Galveston on the
ID instant, in the Hope Howes.
Glen. James Pinckney Henderson, at the urgent
solicitation Of his friends, has consented TO allow his
name 10 be used as candidate for the Office OF first
governor Of the State of Texas. The Civilian thinks
he will certainly be elected
Ashbel Smiths long-winded letter has at last been
issued to the public in Texas, whittier it was direct
ed in the outset.
The convention, without entering INTO an inves.
tieation of the merits of Com. Moores case, passed
resolution recommending that he be reinsated in
his rank in the navy of the United States.
The city Of Austin was thrown into great confS-
sion on the 22d ult, by news that General Taylor
was about to be attacked by 5000 Mexicans,"
and all that. The Houston Telegraph represents
that il was very doubtful If any aid would be fur
nished General T.
1.-THE authority Of the lettcr-writer Of the Tele-
graph is to he credited, an express arrived at Aus
tin on the 23d from Capt Hays, at San Antonio
We copy from the Telegrnph's letter, dated Austin
the 23d:
stJim Shaw the Delaware chief and Sloat the In