Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-05
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TEXAS; OR anew EsTREMADuRA."

Far The Enquirer.
TEXAS; OR "NEw EsTREMADURA"
No. 3.
4 .Suruiss-Retnrn 10 Aust,n-.Shoyt Commons
An Aneedote-A Refcction- Itras Legislature
and State Dcbl-Es ultimate payment predicted
&c.
Dear Sir: Our ride to and from San Antonio
was along The borders OF mountains and within
lhe Indian range but We travelled without mo-
les,ation or alarm, except on one occasion, Wner
one OF our party took fright at deer or prairie
wolf which he mstook for an Indian. he was
fresh from Virginia, and as "ardent as SCUM
ern sun could make him" and seeing something
move in thicket, which, oil old, was iamou:
Indian pass, he spurred up his horse, and blazec
away with his six shooter, to the no small conster
nation of our whole party. Being in advance
with military friend, we both wheeled 10 cover
retreat, and, refining in our steeds, prepared fol
defence or a charge, as The case requIred-bnl
happily no Indian signs were visible, and The
surprise ended as il began, in laugh aud repri-
mand al our friend, and smoke al The enemy.
On our return 10 Austin we saw the elephant.
It's "hog and hommony" were insupporlabie, and
we hurried away, after shaking the dust from: our
feet, with deep lonsings for the Eesh-pors OF
Eeypt. which were soon after spread out before
us on The well-flled boards OF "Od Bakers"
verify believe The Legislature OF Texas would
have adjourned The first week 10 another and
more favored spot, il the Constitution had per-
mted. They wer literally starved out. Some
signs Of relief were visible, however, The morn
ing Of our departure, and trust the effects OF an
nexalion, elsewhere plainly visible in Texas, may
be speedily iel, in Austin, and that its inhabi-
tanls may have both TODD and raiment extended
10 mem, VI which, indeed, they are So much IN
want.
As for the substanials otliie no country in the
world can rival Texas. The meals are pretty
much the same, morning, noon and night. Coco
beef and pork, wild turkey, and venison, corn
bread and hommony and tIuii and honey-an
abundance OF coed fresh bulter-milk ana butter
and good coffee, which is universally crunR mere
al every meal But Austin just now, IS an ex'
ception, and our fare here called forth humor'
Gus anecdote from one of our comic travelling
companions who was rambling in the country
some twenty years since, and who amors other
curious adventures was witness 10 The following
scene. He and another traveller stopped al log
cabin and asked iflhey could be accommodated iol
the night "Ralher poor chance" was The an
swer. !" but alehi and see. Come in, and vel
come" "Haye you any corn for our horses !
"Not an ear" "Any fodder g Haven't seen
blade for three months pat" Anything to
drinks" "Nothing, not even whskey." ''Can
we GET piece Of corn bread?' Sorry you cans
out OF corn meal, and no mill within twenty
miles" "Giye US a glass OF milk, il you will,
"Bless your SOUL Mr.. the cows are all wild and
no chance 20 catch 'em-and nobody 10 milk 'em. =
"In the name of God, how do you do" "Toler-
able, thank you sir; how do you do persel ?--
AT this last reply our travelling friend burst into
a convulsive laugh and rode on. Ever after that
his travelling wallet was well supplied with liquor
and provisions.
With meagre ralions and short commons we
believe the laws OF no assembly can be well al.
sesied or written. We therefore hope the Legis-
lalure of the new State OF Texas will be well led
during the remainder OF the session. The mem.
bers are chiefly young and good looking men, and
most OF them, dare say, used 10 soft pallets ana
better fare The session probably VIII not be
long one 1t will be chiefly consumed in organ
izina new courts and counties, and providinS re-
venue for the State government, clc.
Ii is expected charter will be granted for a
railroad from San Antonio 10 some point on Inc
Gulf. If so, and the road should be completed,
all The new sugar estates that are established
will be West OF this, between San Antonio and
The Rio Grande and this city will once more be-
come the hourishing emporium OF new and i'm
porlanl State.
The national debt OF Texas will undoubtedly
be paid hereafter from The public domain. II IS
sufficient 10 pay len times the amount, and there
is no want OF disposition on the part OF the 60
vernmenl or people 10 pay il. Time and eonsi-
deration-a right understanding Of the matter
are all that is required There are few if any
regulators left in Texas. Some may insist upon
scaling The bonds and notes, and limiting them 10
The point al which they ere originally issued
I'm, his 10 say nothing Of The justice and equity
of The thing. would be difficult, il not altogether
imnractcable. Many OF them were issued Al par
value. and others from fifty 10 sixty and ninety
cents on the dollar. But the argument for their
full and speedy payment has been already eI-
hausled upon other claims the French claims,
for example-and applies with full and convin-
cling force 10 The present case: The facts OF this
case warGan, The special application oil The same
argument-and here il is
Objection has been made on erroneous views
OF the character Of The claimants, that is, OF the
right in which they claim; il being supposed that
,hey are individuals who have bought up the
claims on speculation. Surprising this objection
10 have any foundation in TACT II Goes not seem
10 have much on The score oil equity. IL is bad
enough for government 10 DELAY the payment OF
inst claims, so as 10 have The effect OF depressing
their value in the market j, would be still worse
10 lake advantage Of ones own injustice, and re.
fuse The ultimate satisfaction OF such claims, be
cause the original holder had been compelled by
his necessities and our wrongs, 10 sell them al
depreciaied rate The whole sense Of the Gov
eminent OF the United States, ever since lis foun-
dalton, from the time when The FINDING OF The re-
evolutionary debt was discussed 10 The present day,
has served 10 stamp such doctrine with repro
baton
Claims Of this nature, being unlqui'aled, do
not easily pass from hand 10 hand; and in point
OF TACT, lhey generally remain in the possession
OF the original parties or their heirs-or if
transferred in some instances, il has been in pledge
ONLY as collateral security for leans leaving he
equitable properly still in The hands of the frs,
owner. or in the course OF The assignment OF the
effects Of insolvent debtors to their creditors. In
this case, honest creditors or their heirs, the
sisnees Of bankrupls, or persons having lien
on The bonds or notes for advances, possessing in
law and equity the same rights as the original
sufferers, are the present owners OF vastly the lar
sesl portion OF the claims.
Upon all the facts and considerations assumed,
the present holders seem IN have the highest title
in right and us.ice-juslice OF the nation or State,
wholly disconnected from party Interests, objects
and questions, 10 receive full indemnify, with in
teresl, TO The "amount OF The bond"
One word in regard 10 the Treasury notes
They are inlrnsically just as valuable as The
bonds-Red Backs and all. They all draw, or
are entitled TO draw interest after The first year,
and each will be redeemed al The same rate. They
are all receivable for land, from actual settlers;
and, by an act OF Jany 10, lS45-the prc-emp-
ton law, as it is called-the actual settler upon
vacant or public lands shall have preference to
all other claims or claimants, 10 800 acres, and
the privilege ofpaying for il al The rate OF 81 per
acre, in promissory notes, bonds, or funded debt,
or other iquidsled claims against the republic,
now State OF Texas. There is no reason, then,
why one should hold higher rank in The money
markettban the other AT most, difference OF one
or two per cent is all that is warranted or can be
sustained between the 8 and 10 per cent. Treasu.
nv notes and bonds. Each and all are just and
equitable claims, and each and all must be laul-
dated at The same time, and by The same means,
and at The same rate. They should no longer be
a loot ball in The market for spectators, but re-
served by their holders as valid and equitable
claims upon The Government, which, sooner or
later, must be fully and honorably discharged
"Honor is the subject Of my story" and il neces,
sary TO enforce it, shall recur 10 il again. =