Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-28
TOT We EH7AUcT.
COLUMBIA, (Texas,) April 4, 1916.

J. r. u Zen Wssn,..~i--i .. W.
My dear Sir. Before leaving Old Virginia,
promised many friends yourself among them) 10
give some rough sketches OF Texas, as 1t is;
and as find it impossible to write 10 all, | have
concluded 10 make my letters in this form 10 you
cancel all my promises.
On the evening OF the 26th ult., my son and
myself took shipping in the "Cresceni City" on
board of The splendid steam ship Galveston"
one of the four or FIVE regular steam packets ply
Ing between New Orleans and Galveston.
passage oil forty-fve hours said 10 be smooth,
brought US in sight Of the city and island. How
changed the scene since April, 1887, when yeu
and myself passed il in a sail vessel, the small
poI on board, and the MeSieans in full chase
Then. not a solitary house on the whole island,
save small fsherman's hut-notc, more than
one thousand-many not only handsome, but re-
ally elegant; four or FIVE very neat churches; 4
fine and commodious Hotel, conducted on the
plan of the ST. Charles in New Orleans, (ihe ac-
commodaons quite ae good,) and some six or
eight others on a smaller scale, affording good
fare a, one dollar per day; gardens filled with the
greatest variety and abundance of fine vegetables,
and with flowers Of every hue and beauty; po-
pulation Of eight or len thousand; large num-
Der OF ships brgs, steamboats,, &c. at The wharves,
ami arriving and departing daily from and 10
England, France, Bremen and "Ihe States" In
deed, every thing wears a city and commercial
aspect. The streets are wide, and laid off with
great taste. ] doubt whether any place in the
United States can compare with Galveston in
point of beauty and location, scenery, &c. On
one side, you have the magnificent Gull, and on
the other, the Bay, a large sheet OF water some
fifty miles in length, and ten or twelve in width
Such is Galveston al present. The island is
about thirty miles long and Two wide. The road
on The Gulf side is superior TO any McAdamized
road have ever seen. The soil OF the island il
remarkably productive. In this was agreeaby
disappointed, having been under the impression
that ii was sand bank, similar TO Old Point
Galveston has been better cotton market this
season than New Orleans.
From Galveston, took passage TO Houston
about 80 miles above, on Buffalo Bayou, al the
head Of steamboat navigation. The country
around Houston, for 25 miles in every direction
is said to be the poorest in Texas, and yet TO me
il looked very rich. Here, for the first lime since
| left Virginia, met with some old acquaintan-
ces: pine trees. Houston is the receiving point
for large and fertile disric, OF country. A very
large amount OF goods are sold here and more
cotton shipped than from any other point in Texas.
Daily communications are kept up with Gal.
weston by stea mboas, sometimes two or three a
day. 1t is also the point from which The emf.
EIdntS duu WIN dlIFC ny way VI ddl-
weston, diverge into the country.
You can now travel from the banks Of the
Rappahannock 10 Houston, and only have seren-
ty-thrcc miles Of staging, viz: from Cumberland
in Maryland, 10 Brownsville, Pa. Having reach
ed this point and being unwilling TO draw loo
heavily on the columns Of The Enquirer, shall
continue my sketch hereafter.
The election for members of Congress took place
las, Monday week. II is thought that Judge Pills
bury is elected from the West and gentleman
by the name Of Kaufman from the East There
was not the least excitement, and apparently but
little interest felt AL the candidates are no11 De-
mocrats. II is said, a Wing cannot be found in
Texas. Certain il is, have mol seen one-no,
not one-and do not believe they will gvo,c here;
certainly not such as yon raise in Westnereland.
Travelling brings one in contact with strange
company. At Galveston, was assigned room
with TWO strangers, one of whom crippled, bag
gard and care-worn as he was, | once knew in
Washington-a representative in Congress from
Louisiana confided in and idolized by the Stale.
High places have since been assigned him, but
oh how fallen now A wanderer and an out
cast from his State, his friends and his family
the finger Of scorn pointed at him wherever he
goes, and none to sympathize with him in his
misunderstanding ont miserable e1islenee-a
sad picture Of poor, fral man and bis infirmties.
Such is Judge Rice Garland All must condemn
the act which has made him what he is, and YET
may we no, pity the weakness which led him in
an evil hour 10 commit it? l confess fel, sof-
row al seeing man once so elevated now so dis
graced-one, who SO recently and proudly wore
the ermine, in his own person, showing TO the
world his inability 10 resist the TEMPER. He
seemed TO avoid the public eye but after he discs
vered that recognized him, be conversed freely
| and avowed his determination 10 return 10
Louisiana, as soon a, The exciiemen, passed Of
The notorious Virgil A. Stewart, who exposed
The Murrel gang in Mississippi some time since
was recently found murdered in the road; doubt.
less be has fallen BY the hands OF some Of that
party.
In the way Of nctrs, can offer you nothing.
| Yours, J. A.P.