New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-02
THE GERMANS IN TENS.

SAN ANTONIO DE- DkAAk' leAdr' NV 80 i-'o'
am, BY promise under Obligation to write you
about the German population of Western Texas which
in some respects is placed under particular clrcum-
stances and therefore has particular points OF
interest | am sorry, however that am unable iuily
10 satisfy your wishes in that respect To treat the
subject in satisfactory manner 1t would be- necessary
10 speak of German notions and German feelings Ter
man life and German tendencies in the United states IN
general topic which, though 1t might AFFORD me an
occasion TO say some useful things is 800 extensive tor
NE at present-and still more II would be necessary
10 be more intimately acquainted with the hislor! o.
German immigration 70 this country IN particular tnan
am The most interesting data must be sought Tor IN the
archives of Netr BraunS in the correspondence OF the
Prince of Hokersoims Braugis whchis still in the hands
ofsome Of the first German settlers and other mlornd-
on must be gathered from the verbal accounts OF these
men which am entirely in lack of time 10 do IL
should however be done by somebody before II VIII De
too late 10 save these facts from oblivion lhey are Id
mart remarkable enough and even not without hstor
cal importance Let only aude 10 the circumstance
that il really was the intention OF Prince h'heH
sol,rs Braunfcis to establish independent German
COLONY here and that the English Government had
promised troops for the realization OF that PROJECT
Rut without entering any further INTO these partcU
lars-one striking fact of the highest interest results
ao from superfcial observation of things here-the
immense assimating power of American life, and az
the same time / may add the great atfnlty ana AZ
traction existing in the German mnd 10 Whatever Is
essential in that life The great majority oil German
immigrants To Texas arrive here directly from ueIma
nv They have never experienced the influence OF those
more powerful conditions which exist in the more al
yanced parts OF the Union and they settle mere among
a comparatively small number oil native Americans.
Nevertheless they are Amercanzed at least IN the
notical sense of the word II is true, on the other
hand that the influence of German manners ana no
tons is more felt here than in any other part oil the
States where have been do not think, however,
fiat this influence extends beyond the right limit, ana
have observed that the Germans here are wise enough
TO place themselves by their own tree impulse under
certain restrictions in that respect The cause oil e
fact however appears to be less in the relative number
than in the circumstance that the German element has
existed here from the first beginning OF the present
population. and has been composed from that time
greater proportion of weleducated men than IN mos
of the other States German settlers here, indeed are
among the conquerers of the country, and among the
principal pioneers on these confines OF CIVILIZATION.
German settlers have made their own treaties with the
Indians here, and their habtatons are even now adj
yancing az the head of that moving population whch
slowly ascends the rivers Of this country up to their
head-waters between the rocks of the northwestern
table-laud And YOU may see here the German baron,
the officer in kings army, the professor OF the higher
sciences the professional gentlemen OF the best
requirements going behind his pillow or riding
on horseback behind drove OF cattle, all
more or less prospecting and well cOntented with
the independence OF their situation There is par
ticular circumstance 10 be brought in account. The
particular nature of Texan life has attracted the more
daring characters Of the German immigration, and
among the population OF Germany such characters
pertain to the better educated classes. In coun-
tries with arstocratc institutions, like those OF
EurOpe courage and hazardous spirit are more 10
be found among the higher and middle than among the
lower classes Exceptions are TO be found in a
certain class of immigrants who have been brought here
by spectators in colonization. Among these are
.l atiaUs In
call themselves Germans here, while IN Europe they
would protest most strongly against such an appela-
ton and would there BE- proud 10 be Frenchmen. bur
in general the German here IL not that awkward ana
cautious peasant whom You see IN the streets OF new
York after tie arrival of an immigrant vessel He is
among the best marksmen of the country; ne knows
how 10 handle his rifle and his revolver well as any
body he is bear hunter for amusement, and an In
dian fighter in OF necessity and many Oernan
who not only speaks his English, his French and his
Spanish tolerably well in addition 10 his native tongue
but knows his Latin, his Greek and, may be, his
Hebrew too, has been among the most daring rangers
OF this frontier. We have engaged such man as
one OF the drivers of mule teams an occupation
which he chooses from bis prediction tor rowing Ire
for which there is other opportunity just now IN
these peaceabe times You will believe me- that
am Tree from national prejudices, and know the weak
points in the character Of my eountrymen full as well
A. ANYBODY: but have been really convinced that IN
all the qualities necessary for frontier life, the Ger
man il able fully 10 equal the native American
Under such circumstances il is natural thstthe Ger
man incubation OF Western Texas should have more
independent feeling than that OF many other parts OF the
Union Nevertheless, ! see that my cOuntrymen here
are iudicous enough recognize American superiority
in all those Things in which it really exists, to fully ap
precafe the advantage Of living among the native popu
ation and not TO entertain any spirit OF seParatsm
They understand well that Il is not in their interest
10 I've ia places exclusively German. like New braun
:es where they are not Influenced By the stimulus OF
American ENTERPRISE and where they are IN danger OF
falling hack into the sualscsenotons OF their former
European lire or viii never succeed IN getting out OF
them.
PecprocaDv. the native Americans here seem to
recognize the good qualities o. 'heir German Ieio"
citizen. and whatever could observe here proves the
host understanding between the two races know OF
IN any part q. the United States
Germans here generally abstain from owning slaves.
Tie idea naturally repugnant 10 them. They do not
NEAR however TO make profession Of abolItiOnisn,
ecause perhaps they conscious that the practical
de of the question j. connected with difficulties which
,hey must confess not % know how tO remove. Ia
with this subject, however, il should be
mentioned that the inhabitants Of NewBrsunels have
begun 10 raise cotton by their own personal labor.
The trial may be expected, has first been made on
-ery small scale After the first in respect to
climate and soil. which has been perfect, they have
oTmed association for that branch Of agriculture,
nd this year they have produced zoo bales. Ihe
German settlers Of other places have done the sAme
With the most satisfactory results Ga tie upper
GUADALUPE On the road from here % Fredericksburg
mall colony OF German taIses exists where YOU ms,
md some libraries Of the most select literature anu
i;ler resources of refined lie. The eXpeumen, Oh
a.snC cotton by the persoual labor OF ilc sl''l l
proved equally successful there. II TIE movement