Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-18

declaration of independence from this usdicionmu-
nicpaly of San Patcio recoect very well who repre-
scented it that OCCASION and has been represented
Congress ever since.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said Doubtless the gentleman from
Texas has knowledge Of many facts Of which ignorant
Powers and his may have taken Lpautana place
to be marked upon any map have examined
But did they keep Did they garrison the place and hold
permanent possession Where is the place How far from
the Rio Grande Was it in Tamauipas Who and how
many lived it And what they doing there shall
show from the laws OF Texas, before take my seat that San
Patrco county, whatever may have been its boundaries be-
dpopulaed II will puzzle the asuie politician
conce the idea Of conquest with positive acknowledgment
that the county abandoned-that had become depo
puiaied.
Reliance has been placed upon the settlement OF Corpus
Christi and the holding of that place. evidence Of Texan
occupation and possession Bu if have ascertaned the
facts connected with that settlement correctly they pre-
cely the Capt Henry who said there six months,
gives the account of It's settlement and how
pied and held At pages H. 49, and 20 of his book he
sit was first settled by COL H. l. Kinney in 1885, Who in
with his partner, NJ Aubrey established trad
ing post meet the mmensoSfaic carried by the Next
TWAS the extreme frontier settlement The incur
ons of The Indians frequent and attended with
DANGER that he forced keep regular company
men, his expense defend his ranch Its proxmi-
the Rio Grande made the most for the
conraband trade For the suppression OF this illicit trade
the Government Of Mexico kept constantly stationed the
Rio Grande species OF troops called commissioners They
were usually commanded by some worthless yagabond who
ready in sacrifice his duty for bribe"
Capt. H. then gives account Of an expedition sent by
the Government of Mexico, under officer Of the COM
mssiones and two hundred men, to destroy Knneys goods
aud take him prisoner Kinney crossed the Nueces obtain
assistance On his return he found his valiant company had
only deserted him, but stolen many Of his goods Kinney
evnced and bravery and finally saved his establishment
by brbng the Mexican officer and Capt Henry winds up the
account by saying
" So much tor little ingenious bravery and happy app-
cation of the hUer Of the leortd "
There sir, you have the history of Corpus Chrisa SNUG
Cling establishment in its origin and protected against Indians
ernment of Texas, and maintained against Mexico by the
bribery OF her officers. But, sir this is all my proof
have the statement of OF the most respectable in Ken
tucky whose nephew of the officers Corpus Christi
and who informs that his nephew told him last summer
when visit, that the small force Corpus Christi could
not hold possession at all times without tamperng with the
Mexican officers that his nephew had given fine horse keep
fair weather with the Mexican commander Matamoro and
that Col Kinney himself had taken the oath Of allegiance
the Mexican Government Now sir if these things be so,
and there be evidence that Texas marched army
the Rio Gande in the neghborhood Of Matamoro is il
preposterous contend that Texas by conquest extended
her territory in the State of Ianauas up the Rio Grande
find, by examination OF the laws of Texas, and the
laws of people constitute their best hstory,) much which
confirms the idea that Texas made and held conquess up
the Rio Grande On the 10th of December 1885, Texas
resolved call convention form constitution, and in
her resolutions declared that " all free white males and Mexi
opposed to central government allowed to vote.
Also soldiers then in the army allowed to vote by proxy
The judges and acaldes authorized designate the
places of holding the elections In these resolutions par
cuar district territory specified from which representa-
ves be elected They constituted general invita-
ton TO all persons opposed TO the central government Of Mexi
co to cooperate
On the 9Th Of June 1897 Texas passed resolution re-
atng elections for depopulaed Districts" in With it
provided that the President might order polls to be opened for
the depopuaed districts 10 part of the republic where the
citizens such district county may be temporarily residing,
until such times they could with safety their
homes This resolution to continue in force during the
with Mexico. Here then, is record evidence taken from
the statute book of Texas that part Of the districts Of Texas
had been depopulaled by the What districts they
The laws OF Texas furnish the answer, and furnish it most
efecually 80 far my present inquiry is concerned On
the 18Th Of January s45 the resolution relating elections
for depopulaed districts repealed far operated
upon the counties of Refugo and San Patco, and from and
after the passage OF the elections in these counties
be held within their limits and elsewhere The 4h
ton Of the Of s45 provides that the reorganization of these
counties shall be had within Fix months from and after its
passage, and proper returns made of oil elections county
officers the Department Of State The 5h section Of the
Of 1916 makes Corpus Christi the county Of San Pa
tco county Before that time the county had been
the side Of the Nueces. BY the constitution Of Texas
adopted 18th March, 1885, San Patco county entitled
TO one representative Thus we have the laws of Texas
proving that San Paco, the Nueces depopuated
county, and remained subject the operations Of the resol
ton of the 9Th June, ls37 depopulatcd county, until the
passage Of the act Of the 18th January s45 and before the
six months allowed for the organization of the county under
this had EXPIRED Texas in convention had accepted the
proposals made in resolutions for annexation Il thus
appears that instead OF Texas extending her settlements and
possessions towards the Rio Grande she admitted by her
laws that of her counties districts had become depopu
lated and she did not attempt 10 reoreanize them until
about nine years after the battle of San Jacinto But
there is Texan law which bears upon the question
have been able TO discover any Of Texas which
defines the boundaries Of San Paco and Reugio counties
limited in time in making researches and then the in
dexes deficient my progress slow. did fnd how
ever resolution dated 18th December, 1885, requiring the
chief justices Of the several counties give information to the
Secretary Of State the boundaries Of their counties
From this infer that there statute prior that date
giving the bounds of the counties Of San Patcio Rego
if there statute that did extend their bounds
Of the Nucces Whether the chief justice Of San Patr
clio reported that his county went to the Rio Grande do not
know he did, bis report cannot extend jurisdiction over
the Mexcans upon that river and separate them from the State
Of Tamaulpas.
In the map published by Thomas G. Bradford in $780, and
entered according the act Of Congress in 1888, Texas
laid down being bounded west by the Nueces That map
lays down the line separating Coahula and Tamaupas
crossing the Rio Gande above Laredo, leaving that place in
the State Of Tamaulpas Coahuila and Texas united
and formed into State by ac decree passed at Sal
lo, the I5h Of August, 1924, in which they declared
be State and the territory thereof be that recognised
Legislature of Coahuia and Texas find act, under date
introducing steamboats, to Bradbu Staples in that por
ton Of the Rio del Nore aEas Rio Grande that belongs
the State I; thus showing that only part Of that river
lion, find passed in March, 1927, which gives the
districts OF Salo, Paas, and Moncova three Deputies
propretors each that Of Texas and the Rio Grande
hava nundn Taxa he aha