Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-03
TEXAS.

We have Galveston dates to the 18th instant.
The Legislature had just assembled in annual ses-
sion. It. Gov. HENDERSON is President of the
Senate, and FL. r. RUNNELLs Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
The principal topic of the Message Of Governor
BELL is the Pacific Railroad. After stating his
conviction that the Southern route is the best the
Governor says
From nay own knowledge of the country and from in
formation derived from the most reliable sources con-
WINGED that by far the best track will be found to be from
Memphis or some other point below the Mississippi,
entering State about the sd degree of north latitude
and pursuing that line to Ell Paso its neighborhood
thence in the direction of the hcadwaters Of the la
River and down the by the practicable route
to San Diego the Pacific This is the route that ma
ure indicates by features apparent that neither party
bias nor sectional interests conceal them. Even in
the most rigorous winters there would be no snow nor
ice sufficient to delay obstruct the progress Of
pleng the road or at any time nterruptng its regular
communication nearly the entire route but particularly
that portion between the Mississippi and the Rio Grande
would pass through mild and genial climate, over
country level gently undulatng and rich and beaut
full as any on the American continent"
He then proceeds to show the immense advantage which
Texas would derive from the construction Of the road and
says
To the construction of this great work through
the limits of State nothing more is wanting in my
opinion, than liberal donation of public domain to
such irresponsible company may be able to give suf
cen guarantees of their ability and COM
plete the same within reasonable period"
In view of the fact that of the proposed routes
for the Pacific and Atlantic railway whose survey has
been directed by the General Congress will this
State would therefore strongly recommend that steps
be taken at early day to make survey of such
within this State shall be advisable, and that your
honorable bodies make suitable appropriation to cover
the expenses connected with the surveys directed to
be made"
The Indian question claims share Of the Governors
attention. and he complains that the General Government
has failed to perform its duty in the matter He con-
tinues:
The principal embarrassment that the Indian Bureau
appears to have felt in the conduct of her policy with
regard to the Indians of Texas has been the Of
suitable locality for them within the confines Of the
State"
. The Department having mutually considered the
whole field that this impoant subject presents and fully
conscious OF its bearing upon the growing interests of the
State at home and abroad would therefore recommend
that your honorable bodies give the necessary authority
to the General Government for the temporary occupation
of certain district Of the State shall be deemed
adapted for that purpose and which will not conflict with
existing private claims any contemplated route for
the Pacific Railroads designating the district by
metes and bounds and STIMULATING that the district
pied shall revert to the State the General Gov
eminent shall be able to effect permanent arrange
ments for the final disposition of the Indian tribes Of
Texas"
The estimated number of acres composing the public
domain of Texas, after deductng all known claims is
102 301 The State Treasury contains 49, $685. 1280S
independent of $50 2S527 belonging the school fund
Gen. RUsK made great speech at the public dinner
given to him by the citizens Of Austin in which he re-
viewed the different routes for the Pacific Railroad and
pointed out the many advantages which that through
Texas possessed over all others.