Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-27

E capital at once on the spot Congress
had designated as its eventual site.
twas situated at the extreme verge {
1.-THE white settlements, and in erea
danger Of Indian Iorays, but the in
crease ofpopulation consequent 10 til
Il permanent location Of the government
Twas better safeguard to the borde
) than all theforts rdiseiplined regiment
Texas could command. Onthe beau
'ifui Colorado, in a region of surpas
sing beauty, and in ascIIme of unmatch
Eed purity, lose asif BY magic the 70
mantle village Of Austin, and there fo
I three years the restless Congress- Cab.
] met OF Texas had constitutional abb.
I ding place. But-alas for stability!-
on the fourth it was abandoned to the
Indians, the "governmentn resumed Is
wanderings, and the wild buffalo and
1ravening wolf were invited to make
their lair in its abandoned balls
Since then the representatives of for
elgn powers have been kept making
perpetual excursions in search of the
Executive. Still it is something that
the government was cat home'' for
three years, and that fact lends kind
OF distinctive complexion to the ad-
mlniStration of Gen. Lamar.
The cause of education received its
first national impulse under Lamar
The Texiars are intelligent, liberal, land
! alive to the vital importance of this
great clement of republicanism, but
there were so many calls upon their in
adequate means, that they had over
looked making provision for its support.
With a broad forecast for the future,
Lamar pointed cut how the timely ap-
preparation ola minute fraction of the
national domoin would secure eyen.u-
ally the blessings Of universal instruc-
tion, and urgently recommended that
suitable grants should be selected and
set aside whilst the best lands were
vacant.
The venturous expedition to Santa
re was the best and boldest, though
the most unfortunate and least under
stood feature Of Lamar's policy. 1t
has been called by ignorance and fa-.
naticism plundering excursion. Men
do not go thousand miles through the
un!ried wilderness to bring back herd
or two ofcattle, when they can have
them for next TO nothing at their own
door. Nor could a few hundred men
s ed ' msh aszs sns ts aq aPns eeeahF
wagons, reasonably expect to conquer
and lead into captivity the whole State
of Santa Fe.
Ii was wise and well conceived
through unsuccessful mission-partly
private and mercantile, partly public
and diplomatic, inasmuch as the gov
eminent lends ITS aid, countenance and
flag to effect national good. But for
a concurrence Of adverse cIrcum-
stances it would have effected more for
the honor and independence of Texas
than anything done or attempted since
the day of San Jacinto.
Sure intimation had reached Texas
that the inhabitants along the Rio
Grande, crushed and down-trodden by
the intolerable tyranny Of Armijo, the
Mexican governor, were ready TO with
draw from the Mexican eontederacy ,and
make common cause with Texas. If,
as Texas claimed, and was eager to
have foreign powers admit, this was a
portion of her lerrritory,it was essential
TO make some show of sovereignty IN
its defence, and if possible bring the
inhabitants into the common fold. All
things seemed 10 farora decisive blow
and Commissary General Cazneau, a
man of approved ability, received or
ders to fit out the EXPEDITION. When,
with as much promptitude as the re-
sources OF the country permitted, the
preparations We're completed, the intre-
bid adventures set forth, under the
command Of the gallant and accom-
plished General H. M'Leod. In the
face of a thousand discourage ments
they traversed the Prairie Desert, ano
would have accomplished their Object
| but for the black treachery of one o
1.-THE officers. At the worst it was no
altogether useless. To open new
route to the distant settlement of he
claimed territory, to give them assn
rance of the goodwill and co-opera-
ton of Texas, and to arrange the pre-
liminary steps for final and perfec
, alliance, was the honorable and politi,
aim of the Santa Fe EXPEDITION,
Ifithad not miscarried, orif the ex-
perience so dearly bought in the frs
! had been made to bear upon a. secon
attempt, Texas would now stand in r