The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-05
Public Meeting.

A mass meeting of the citizens of Galveston
was held at the City Hall, pursuant to public
notice, on the evening of Saturday Goth July
The meeting was called to order BY A. J. Yates
Esq, who nominated the Hon. George Pascha
to preside, and on motion, the Hon. A. b. Shelby
was elected secretary.
The objects of the meeting were explained
by the Chairman, stating that it had been called
for the purpose OF giving an expression of pub
lie sentiment in relation to the present position
of a portion of our territory, whose inhabitants
were attempting to establish a separate State
Government within our limits, ard on the action
of this State and Of the General Government in
relation thereto. es.
DIR. AsEbel Smith, having been called upon,
presented preamble and resolutions, which he
stated to have been prepared by several gentle
men, and which, on being read and discussed,
were unanimously adopted with degree of en-
thusiasm, rarely equalled in a public assembly
in this city--the responsive "aye," seeming to
come from every mouth Of the assembled null
titude.
The meeting was ably addressed by Judge
Love, DR., Ashbel Smith, Gen. Mcleod, and
Others. In the course of his remarks, Judge
Love stated that during the session of the conven-
ton which formed our State Constitution, it was
determined at one time to embodya declaration
of boundary in that instrument, but that Mr.
Donelson, the accredited agent of the United
States, requested that it should be omitted, on
the ground that it would give unnecessary Of
fence to Mexico and the request was finally ac-
ceded to, on the condition that Gen. Taylor
should Immediately take position with the
forces of the United States west of the Nueces,
which order was Immediately given.
Dr. Smith also read to the meeting a con-
densed statement of the treaty of annexation,
the negotiations relating to our boundary, and
the mutual obligations of the two Governments,
with the history and position of Texas in her
relations with the Federal Government since
annexation. ..
On motion Of Judge Love, committee of
nine was appointed by the chair, to which the
chairman was subsequently added, who were
charged with the duty of preparing and pub
fishing brief historical outline of the treaty of
annexation, and the mutual obligations, imposed
on the contracting parties, end the relative posi-
tons in reference to the territorial limits of this
State The chairman appointed Messrs. James
Love, Ashbel Smith, A. J. Yates, Hugh Mcleod,
w. Richardson, M. M. Potter j. C.. Megginson,
John s. Sydnor, M. b. Menard
On motion resolved that the proceedings of
this meeting be published in the papers of this
State
Whereupon the meeting adjourned
'. RESOLUTIONS .r. g..
Whereas, the title of Texas to the whole Of
her territories as set forth in the act of the
Texian Congress of 1886, was fully and dis
tinctly recognized by the Government of the
United States in the annexation resolutions,
and thus formed al essential part of the terms
on which Texas acceded to annexation and
whereas attempts have been made, and are now
making, by persons residing in the Santa Fe
district, acting under the orders, and with the
aid, counsel and advice of the United States
officers stationed there, to wrest from Texas
the portion of her territory in question, thus
working damage, injury, wrong, and fragrant
injustice to Texas; and whereas, the duly APP
pointed officer and Commissioner of this State
has been hindered, impeded, and by force and
threats OF violence prevented from performing
his duties under our laws, by officers of the
Federal Government cooperating with disaf-
fected citizens there; and whereas, the main
tanning military government in one of the
States of this Confederacy, in time of profound
peace, is in violation of the dignity and rights of
the State, anti-American, and subyersive of re-
publican Institutions: Therefore,
Be IL Resolved, That the title of Texas to the
whole of our territories set forth in the act of
1886, is perfect and indisputable; and that by
the act of annexation, the Federal Government
are forever estopped from calling our title in
question.