New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-25
TEXAS.

In the changing phases Of affairs at the South,
there is something in the course pursned by
Texas which is peculiar to itself and might battle
all explanation without thorough understanding
of her anteccdents. The colonization Of Texas
while it belonged to Mexico was chiefly by the
fundamentally Of Empresarios, that is to say,
contractors with the Government for the bring
ing in of colonsts within a prescribed Territory
in consideration whereof large premium in
lands was allowed in proportion to the number
of settlers introduced. A poor class of emigrants
was brought ia under this arrangement, yet who
had at least this in their favor, that they were
by necessity cuItyatOrs Of the soil, and were
compelled to do their own work.
short period, however, before the revolution
Of 1886, emigration had commenced from the
Southern States Under the colonization laws
of Mexico, slaves could not be held there, but
the Mexican Government was weak aud a
tempting opportunity was afforded for the dis
membcrment Of this remote Territory. A reyo-
luton soon followed, and upon its success
Southern planters with their slaves resort
I'd to Texas Another element was, however,
intermingled with the population OF the Republic,
which has Lad an important influence German
colonists had been brought over in considerable
numbers by the Empresaros under the Mexican
colonization laws. Emigration from Germany
continued largely after Texas became Independent.
As these emgrnnts naturally congregated to-
gether it happened that Western Texas became
chiefly populated by this class Of emigrants.
Many. however, were distributed in other parts
Of the country as opportunity of speculation
offered.
| The Republic Of Texas was thus constituted Of
! two populations which we're wholly uncoDgeDial,
Southern planters and Adventures, who set
tied chiefly in the eastern part Of Texas, and the
| Germans, who colonzed the west, together with
some colonists fIOm the Northern States who
came into the territory held by Empresarios for
colonization in the central part of Texas, partic-
ularly within the grant made to Stephen Austin.
OF those who went from the Southern States
comparatively few had capital-they were in
much the larger proportion men who had been
unsuccessful in business, or had never had any;
lhwyers were numerous, politicians still more so,
| but few traders, as the Southern mind il OPP
posed to meniil industry, under which denomna.
| ton ia included the mercantile and mechanical.
| The traders and mechanics chiefly from the
Northern States.
Tie Germans, on the other hand, were chiefly
agricultural, and it was their general course to
take up lands in such limited amounts as they
could personally cultivate without the aid OF
slave labor. Southern adventurers, among whom
there were some who had capital, obtained large
H trncts Of lands which, to some extent, were put
II uader cultivation IN the manner practiced III the
II South--the occupation Of large area with
n the "orce ns it was then called, brought from
II some worn-olt plantation in the older States.
H NsItbern meI whatever might be their business,
H also vent into land speculations, but not very
II largely into the cultivation of lands; when they
Il did 90, it was in conformity with the custom IN
troduced from the South by slave labor.
II With this brief explanation the subsequent his
II tory and present. aspect of Texas will be in some
degree lntelRtple. The Southern mind, which, by
education, tie effect Of climate, and the utter
reputation Of mechanical labor, is singularly
predsposed b political life, became ut once para
mount in tn. public affairs of Texas, and the
policy Of the Republic, aud OF the State, has been
wholly Southern. This has, however, been sub
iect TO one restriction which has been, and still
il important n calculating the future destiny OF
that country, namely, that it has not been possible
to introduce Slavery to much extent in those parts
II Of the State where the settlers were by habit
ayerse TO il, as in the German settlements o.
II Western Texas, nor in the northern region
where slave labor has been found Improbable
From this i! has resulted that, although under
the terms Of the annexation as modified by tn,
subsequent acton of Congress, there was liberty
of constituting five States out Of the present
State-lt has never been practicable TO secur,
even two Stare States by any territorial division
which could to made. The annexation of Texas
to the United States in 1885, was Southern
mapeuver, and was carried through by the sit
II OF the Democratic party of the North-for Wha
u purposes subsequent events have very clearl,
developed
| 1t has been recently said that the people o.
Texas were not unanimous in favor of annexation
that it was even minority that accomplished it,
II it was So it was but foreshadowing Of what
has been enacted in the late Secession movements
Of Southern States-a few politicians in every
| town and village overawing much larger number
by menace and violence. But if we are rightly
informed, this was not the mode in which the vote
of the people of Texas Was obtained in 1916. Al