The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-03-16
Miscellaneous.
General MOSeley Baker,
or, the True Reformer Of
T. II X A s.

or, the True Reformer Of
Il Il X A 3 6.
A. tho session OF tho nlcalde's court, held
4 6f lhr i0wu of san Felipe Do Austin, on the
west lank of the lirhZos, in September, el2,
a stranger attended, whose npprhTnnee aud
rorir7 Mike beesHa Iho subject Of genefnl
rr1rk. lie was young man, some iwsn.
nine years Of age, with hnndsome ientures,
80 elegant figure, and hRbted IN clothing
naeh superior 10 that usually worn ~ that
ln IA Texas, So far II might be- said Tborh
ss. nnlhing 10 eXcliL special attention; but
+ hem Il soon irnnrpifed that this person, with
4 be- dress aud manners ofh gentleman, had
mrrcd the yillngc an foot, and instead of
king bOnrd nc The tavern, had sought out
ss hul Of poor Mexican with whom he had
Nrelcd n eonlruct,nol only for yenr's lodp.
r., but nlso for instruction In the Spanish
-sggage, paying IN advance "a asplcndid gold
4 nlch,
liesidos there was something very peculi.
r IN the strangers couuieuancc which could
not luh 10 strike the most careless observer
ofpbsIognomy; u wns n look of mournfi
regret, as for a loss NJ once mighty and ire
eo,cmblc, aud yet relieved 10y the expression
ola bmye resolution to dare, do, and endufc
nII aud TO all eternity, if fate should 70 or
hn 10
UuUug lUc 6Css0H O7 III1' ICGUTT 10 40 ~
,Inhls be seen in one place, seated on II
ual hcnch which lac had provided for him.
sIl IN a corner, with several volumes around
has and when nothing Of interest wus going
lsln forensic nature, lac held one pcrpetu-
sly open before hls fine blue eycs. His
olks proved him student orlbc law. They
I e
nd the statutes Of Coahuila aud Texas in
spanish aud English, 10 which might be ad-
ttd Byron'S "Clildo llnrold"-lhe lajler,per-
lps, ms n sort Of gloomy medicine for the
sounds of proud and melancholy spirit,
'tc mind discussed and foyered over fulsc
rraliunAm
Thomas J. Rusk, now n senator from Tex
Il. Mls prchcni nj the nlrnlde'a courI on the
occapn referred TO, and, with his character
isie generosity, felt deep sympathy for the
ircndless and studious stranger, whom he
mon contryed to engage Ia discourse. The
thnre statesman, Tue of the kceneri Judges
.ai ever read the human heart, was aston
'hed aud delighted with his new acqunin-
nee Ito found Moscley Baker, as the other
aAed limselG n classical scholar, but Only
pi commencing the science of juristiru.
deuce, lie rconud as eloquent in FpUcrh
be be- was profound aud varied in thought,
.nl manifested moreover, IN n striking de
ycc,hc union o. strong prieiicabllity aud mr.
lrnt cUiliusinsm, which together torni the
ihdftum of Rusk's own character both us a
man and politician
Butc,cr aud anon,as the stranger conVcrs-
%, there would fit across his face, ns the
'.adow FROM the wing of n thunder cloud,
'.ll look Of regret, the memory ofn nnmeicss
.WS' Rusk tccnmo more mud more inter
'e,rAbut hc was too kind as well ms too cour-
tou' to probe the secret sore, lie did much |
hucg lac. prollcrcd tho right sort of mid
Is you are Stranger" said the great soul j
ed Texan, "anG most strangers, like myself |
az first commonly arrive with but slender
means, ! wish you 10 remember that you
may Use both my Influence and my purse as
lWey were your own"
A bright tear Of gratitude spnrklcd in the |
blue eye of Baker, as hc replied simply, III !
iiank YOU from my heart, aud would he glad |
10 uAa,n the lonn often dollars for one year .
', am very anxious 10 purchase Il copy of I
SL-lAle'A Evidence, which Judgr Nchh has |
,o ,clln
Rusk counted out the sum and handed IL |
m iir olhcr, remnrking as lac did SO, Il fear (
.Al Sarkic will avui but little to prepare
lon for the TcXau bar, us all proceedings |
1c regulated 10y tho civil, not hy the common !
law
III will not bo so long" said Baker, with
Nagqlar animation, aud uuering prediction
rrrItiUt 10 INC -tuIrur -yrur,n curt-
aoued, "thcy will give MS American nlcaldes,
"ho, knowing no other, will decide -hy the
yommon law; and then in three more yeHrs I
Texas will he independent and have law
1iher own"
R,isk Stated. II wns the music oc his own
Nicam-thn, grand word "independence I"
and mom the instant they were bosom
friends
During tho ucxt twelve months Mosriey
Baker was busy. among his books, by day |
seated under the shade ofn superb magnolia 1
Aear the bunks ofihe Bruzos and at night |
Coming Spanish lessons in the hut of the |
poor Mexican. The court Of September !
came round again, and he applied to the al |
adu for Acense ns an attorney. commit |
'es Of lawyers were appointed TO examine
@profciency.nnd the state of learning com |
mon to the bar nj that period may be inferred |
Nlcn 1t is stated ilInt the committee soon
D4ad themselves transported into water be =
!old their utmost depth 10y the student Of |
single year
lie had thoroughly mustered not only Span |
'i, but The Spanish laws, and he seemed 10 |
mfe both Blackstone and Justinnn 10y heart |
besides, lac had composed for his own use n
Norough digest Of all the DEGREES, orhinnn-
,'' and contradictory statutes, not only of |
ne supreme Mexican federation, hut also of |,
we subordinate states Of Coahuila aud Tex
a. a. The committee reported an eulogy, and |
Noseey Baker received his first license. y
ihe next day kusk invited the new RtIof-
ney 10 make n volunteer speech in one Of his
y"n cases |, was an immense land suit for
"e Possession of fifty le0gues;and then might
AR al. - =.