The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-14

ally, On tSFms OF rlRnt rOyAi OOuhtys eHo
to protect US from the irsasion OF Mexico
on the one side and the annexation u the
United States on tbs other. Other great
powers, whose miDsters held court at our
unpretending caJftal, entered with their
Tallyrands and Richelieus into the artful
intrigues of State Craft, z" TO prevent the
annexation Of Texas to the Union.
The subtle whispers of the syren were
unnoticsd and the tempting cup was dashed
| from sne lips by the statesmen and the he
roes OF the Cabinet, and the Congress of
the Republic,
We held high counsel together with
Jackson and Tyler aud Polk and Benton,
ana that great American Congress of 1874.
On the one side, and Houston and Rusk and
kaufman and Van Zandt and Henderson,
and the convention Of Texas. on the other.
We became q member of the Union by
solemn national treaty, signed aud duly at
tested by the great seals of the S@te, and
ON terms and conditions self-impOsed, which
can never be broken.
Texas became q more than co equal State,
because she Tcse1 red as her own All her pub
| lie lands, then amounting to nearly two
hundred millions Of acres, and the right
to be exercised at will-of dividing her
territory into other States for the Union;
right-pardon the digression-which will
nerer be exercised, my countrymen, until
San Jscinto is forgotten, and the martyr
dom of the Alamo fades from the memory
of men.
That annexation cost this government
nothing = TEXAS paid her ODn DGr debt,
amounting to millions Of naOney.
1t is true, war with Mexico ensued ten
years after Texas had shattered her lances
and routed her legiOns, with the emperor
and dictator supPiiant captive at her
feet.
What did that war effect2 In addition to
the lustre shed upon our arms, it extended
our possessions to the Pac ,fic-embracing
the FL Dorado of the west-and making u
indeed and in truth an tOcesn-bound Re-
public"
/ And in addition to all this material
wealth, the annexation of Texas brought to
the Union a history, all illuminated by the
noblest sacrifices and the heroism of men
who were willing to die for their country.
She came bearing as precious gifts the
traditions of the early colonists, and bear
ing on helmet and shield battle scars of the
struggle and of the victories from 1924 to
49,"
She brought to you Goliad and Concep-
ton and the Alamo, and points to the in
/
stones on which Crockett and Bowie and
Travis fell as to the brazen serpent in the
wilderness: ''Thermopyla had her mes
senger of defeat, the Alamo had noncl"
And last, but not least. she brought to you
kindred blood and great heart, beating in
unison with the Union, and surrendered the
ensign of the 'Lone STAR" hallowed by so
many thrilling memories, and took her
place in the common sisterhood of States.
| I come, Mr.. President, representative
from one of younger generation of States.
And what has struck me most in my coming
has been the fact, that the moment crossed
the mighty stream which drains the grandest
valley in the world, seemed to step from
some tabled Atlantis, still girdled with
primeval forests and extended plains, into
one which denotes a finished empire.
Its populous cities, its splendid highways
and bright waters, were thronged with
millions of freemen and the various and
wonderful produc ions of their industry of
more than an hundred years. From the
Mississippi to the eastern slope of the Rocky
Mountains, the march of progress is grand
ly moving onward to the front. New towns,
new cities, new states are rising there like
Delos from the sea. Fertile lands, rich
mines-mocklng the wealth of the Indies
underlaid by measureless fields of coal and
IRON, unnumbered herds of cattle scattered
over countless plains, genial cline open
ing to the hand of man the facile culture
of all the products of other lands. Cotton,
| wheat, corn, rye, OATS rice. barley and
sugar 0roso side BIZ side on the same fertile
fields. Ere another centennial this splendid
transit Mississippi empire will rival, in
Astounding populations, abundance of pro-
ducts, and contributions to the happiness
of man, all the older commonwealth of the
republic.
OF this s'new west,n the State have the
honor to represent here to day holds the
far left, its proper and 01aty ocean outlet,
and keeps steady step to the march of this
imperial progress and power,
OUR AREA OF TERRITORY.
Texas is the largest OF the American
States, greater in extent than New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland,
Delaware, and the six New England States
all combined. Within her borders are more
than one hundred and seventy five millions
of acres of land-274 $3.50 square miles of
| territory. Bounded ON the north and west
by the Indian Territory, New Mexico and
| Mexico; on the south and east by the Gulf
of Mexico and Louisiana. This great area
lies between the twenty-sixth and thirty
sixth degrees of north latitude, and its
| northwestern "Pan Handle' extends even
| to the border line of Kansas.
In topography, Texas is naturally divided
into three parts .sr
First-1he sesboard, extending from the
Sabine TO the Rio Grande, nearly thou
sand miles in length, and running inland
from seventy-6ve to one hundred miles.
Second-The uplands, or Middle Texas.
| This great belt constitutes the largest area
Of the State. By actual survey of engineers,
| it 10 from 800 to 800 feet above the level Of
the SEA. IL CONTAINS every variety of soil,
diversified with hills and valleys. slternat-
ing forests and prairie, and Watered by IN
failing streams.
Third-Tbe great plains, including the
'Ilano Estacado,D and the table lands,
stretching far to the west and northwest.
These plains are now and then broken by
lofty mountain Fanges-on the headwaters
of the Red, the Peeos, aHa the Brazos
Rivers. do 'ri
The first and second of these topegfaph-
ical classifcations are unsurpassed for
richness and fertility Of soil and saiubrity
of climate
The third and last division is yet the
home of the savage, now fast disappearing
before the march of civilization; and, still
turtner 10 tue VestERro, the 1eeulng GROUND
of the buffalo. 10 tins territory there Is
embraced wider area of fertile iand, with
less that is unproduetive, than any other
portion of the haoitable globe.
Extending from the semi-tropical line Of
the Gulf to the Temperate Zone-from the
region of the lemon, the citron, and the
orange, on which frosts never fall, through
rice and sugar and cotton fields, up to
the Euvnt of FreYas (her oFes1 Nnrthwestl
where the cereals yield ID unsurpassed
profusion-sueh country, with such a
climate. bounded by perpetual spring on
ths soRth, and by almost eternal winter 10
lis farthest border line. must be adapted to
all the wants Of all the kindreds and
tongues on the face Of the earth,
HEALTH AND IT'S EVIDENCES.
There are not less than 90, 900 people
who actually live and camp nightly on
the prAiries of Texas.
When We number the stock-nen engaged