Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-09-30
MISCELLANEOUS.

hhAo IN ~.
[Ffcm he Ne,r Orleans P.Cagaae September l9.l
LATE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI
DlsssTRoUs STEAMBOAT EXPLosloN-iMpoa-
TANT TEXAS ORDINANCE.
The steamship Alabama arrived at an early
hour Yesterday, having sailed from Arkansas on
the 18th instant. She brought Us Ice news OF
Geplorable steamboat catastrophe, which we land
before our readers in Il second edition yes:ciGar,
as fully as the time would allow. We now pro
coed 10 add thereto sgch other particulars hare
come TO our khoU!edc".
On The l3ih ins'au, Tie steamer DAYTON burst
he, boilers when abonr half way bewcru Corpus
Christi ana 81. JoscTh's island. There were be-
tween thirty ard toyiy persons on board including
Uniicd States soldiers and the hands attached 10
the boat Ten individuals were hillesi on The
soo, including a.noag them Iicu.s Higgins ana
Be;sy al tie ilh regimen, ot Infantry. Seven
teen were wounded, some 81 whom were GOT
pec,e, 10 survive their injaries. Captain Cross
man lie QGarieT-masisr, vas on board together
with Two o:her officers. They were blown .oi III
distance OF one huadist yards b.: weg@ nai
verely injured Capt. {. hal one Of h., legs
somewhat bruised, hnt the mex, tai WAS able %
walk AMI attend 10 his business We have been
nnahla 10 Obtain Isl OF those who were killed
and wounded.
Wr MAKE an exirac, from private Letter
which We have recei-ei from IN officer oi Inc .ih
Infantry:
"CoRpus Cua.STi, Tgxss,)
"Sep,. 18th lsla.
nNly Dear Sir: Gloom like pail, hangs o.,'
our whole camp The steamer Dayton, while
on her way from This - Aransas, today, burst
her oui!er VIXEN about NJ cen miles from hc,e, and
sunk in about eight feet water seven persons
were killed and seventeen inJne ed. Among the
kiiie we're Li.n'enants Higgins and Berry, ot he
4h inian,ry TIE other names 80 no, know,
som Of The bodies mol yet having been found
These houah, were all ;ie o!flces.
The explos tool: place al haf-past II O.
clock, IN day time ana Or. CritleDGen, who was
on board, (>lighilv injured Informs me that sht
sunk in fifteen minutes aief, and as she went
down covered by the wa,cr) another boiler ex
ploded with most terrific report.
"Anoiher body (deck handy has Jus. been
brough, in. Yours in hasle $50"
Tie Dayton was an old boal, which ran on tie
Ohio in 1891. She is represented as having been
q mere she'll prior TO this dreadful calamity. She
has been Tor some time in the paw Of The Govern
men, transporting sores and troops from ST. 10
seph's 10 Corpus Christi.
We have received an entire copy OF the State
Constitution OF Texas, as adopted by lie Conven
Ito Attached 70 ii is an ordinance OF yasl in
portance in regard 10 grants OF Texas lands
Il will he suhmiucdlo lie people at the same time
as lhe Constitution We copy il entire:
AN ORDINANCE.
WHERE'S, various CONTRACTS having been entered
inio, by the Presiden, of,hc Republic Of Texas,
with divers individuals, with The expressed in
,en,ion Of Colonizing an enormous amount OF
Lie public domain Of Texas; and whereas, tits
beicvej ,h.i Sd i'd CONTRACTS are unconstitutional
and, therefore, void fIom The beginning, and il
carried out would operate as a monopoly, OF mp
wards oi seven millions al acres Of the public
domain OF Texas, in The hands Of a few iadi
viauals-when, in ruth, the citizen soldiers and
creditors of the Republic Of Texas had, bv the
laws and constitution Of said Republic, clear
andindisputahie, previously subSisling, right 10
locate upon public domain thus attempted 10 be
assigned Ia SAID contractors:
Sc. l. IEe7cf,ys, ,t1s dcrsty ordained cHd de-
el7rcl, That shall be The duty OF the Attorney
General Of the state, OF The District Attorney OF
the District in which any portion Of the colonies
may be situate, as soon as the organization OF The
Stale snail lie completed, 10 institute legal pro-
cesdines against all colony contractors who have
entered into contracts with The President ofTcxas
and it. upon such Investigation, /, shall he found
that any such contract was unconstitutional, .!!e
gal or fraudulent, or that the conditions OF The
same have not been complied with according 10
its terms, such conlrac, shall be ad]udsed, and de-
creed null and void Psorited, however, that all
actual settlers under such contract. shall be emit
tied TO their quantity Of land as coonisls-not 10
exceed six hundred and forty acres 10 the head of
tamily, and three hundred and twenty acres 10
single man. And in all suits brought By, or
against, any contractors, or any person claiming
under, by or through lhem or either OF them, il
shall be lawfal for the adverse claimant 10 set
forth any plea that il would have been competent
for the Stale TO plead; ard The parts may intro.
duce testimony TO prove the claim or title 10 have
been forfeited, as well for frauds, or illegaly or
unconstutionaity, as on account of a failure 10
comply with The conditions OF the original grant
or contract; and any such pleas shall be deemed
good and valid in law, in all such suit, or suits, in
this State.
SEC. 3. BE IL further ordained, That the Legis-
lature is hereby restrained from extending any
contract for settling Colony, and from relieving
contractor from the failure Of the conditions, or
the forfeiture accraing from noncompliance with
the contract.
SEC. 3. and be ii fv,lier ordaiaeQ, That this
Ordinance shall be presented 10 The people for
their adoption or rejection, at the same time this
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 Texas al the same lime The votes
for the Constitution may be returned
Adopted in Convention this twenty seventh day
OF August, ono thousand eight hundred and forty
FIVE. THOMAS J. RUSK President.
Attest: JAS. Fl. RAYMOND, Sec'y Con.
The Constitution which has been agreed upon,
!, is taought, will be accepted by The people with
ont hesitation. President Jones's Proclamation
directs the justices Of The several counties 10 cause
the polls 10 be opened on the 18th of October next,
FOR The purpose of taking the sense Of he nsople
OF Texas in regard 10 The adoption or rejection OF
the Constitution; also, for The purpose Of taking
the expression of their opinion for and agains,
Annexation; and, also, for their opinion upon
the adoption or rejection Il the ordinance which
we have copied above. The election is 10 be con-
dueted and The returns made in conformity with
the existing laws regulating elections.
TIE hon. G. w. Terrell, late Texan Minis
is,er 20 France and England, arrived al Calves
ton On the I'd inst in The Hone Howes.
Gen James Pinckney Henderson. al the urgent
solicitation Of his friends, has consented 10 allow
his name TO be used as candidate for the office
of FRS, Governor Of the STATE OF Texas The
Civilian thinks he will ceiiaiuly he elected
me Convention, without entering into an in
= y he mcrils Of Com Moore's case
passed resolution recommending that he be re,
instated in his rank in the navy Of the United
States.