The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
Texas Veterans.

Texas Veterans.
Editors Democratic Statesman a
recent issue of the STATESMAN 1t was
asserted that lat the last count there
were only 143 of the San Jacinto vete-
rams still living; there were originally
7S7 of them" The last count was
made at regular meeting of the Texas
Veteran Association, April 81, 1876
At the present time the number is re-
duced TO $50. Outside of this 100,
many of whom assisted in :he storming
of BeXar in 1885, there are about TWEEN
~ survivors of the latter gallant affair,
among them their chivalrous leader,
Frank W. johnson. Thus it viii be
seen that hut $50 of the gallant men
who really separated Texas from Mex
leo are now alive.
In the same issue of your paper you
state that Governor Hubbard, in his
Grafton at Houston, like the STATES
MANS editorial of the twenty-first in
slant, urged the necessity of the con-
structiOn of proper monument, even
here, in honor of those who fought the
battle of San Jacinto." Neither the
STATESMAN nor Governor Hubbard
have ever failed, when opportunity Of
fered, to do these brave men Justice.
and have reminded the people of Texas
of their gallant deeds and the brilliant
results of their valor; bat, unfortunate
ly for the character of this great State,
her lawmakers have been tardy in rem
dering "honor to whom honor is due"
and if we are to judge of the future by
the past, it will be some time after the
last survivor is gathered to his fathers
ere that monument will be built.
As an old Texan, beg the indul-
gence of a short space in the valuable
columns of the STATESMAN in behalf
of the survivors of Bexar and San ia
cInto. That the armies of Bexar and
San Jacinto assured the independence of
Texas is history that cannot be refuted,
for after the battle of San Jaclnto no
demonstration worthy of notice was
made by Mexico against the Republic
of Texas. That some 5000 volunteers
arrived in Texas between the twenty
first of April, 1896, and the November
following is also history, and there is
no doubt had Mexico invaded Texas
during that time, the more recent vol
unteers would have proved a defense
perhaps equal to the heroes of San ia
cInto. The Twelfth Legislature, in
accordance with a provision of the
Constitution of 1869, passed an act
granting an annual pension of $3.50 to
the survivors of those who separated
Texas from Mexico. The then Comp
troller properly construed this to en-
brace thCse only who had served pre-
vious to the twenty-second of April,
1886, the battle of San Jacinto having
been fought on the twenty-frst, recog-
niaing that as the date when Texas
was separated from Mexico. The ap-
preparation, however, was too meagre
to enable the Comptroller and Treas
urer to do much for the pensioners,
and up to 1874 no further appropria-
ton was made, when the Fourteenth
Legislature appropriated bonds to pay
the back pension, and provided for
future pension; but in doing so they
extended the list to include all who
were in the service of Texas previous
to the fourteenth of October, 1886,
thus adding about four or five times the
number OF those embraced in the first
pension act. This proved to be such a
drain on the finances of the State that
Governor Coke recommended the re-
peal of the pension law, and the Leg
islature, with great promptness, re-
pcaled it. In the discussion of this
pension matter, Mr.. McLeary, of
Bexar, and other distinguished legis-
lators, favored pensioning for the time
being only those who had "smelt
powder" in defense of Texas, and
postpone the later volunteers until the
fighting men had passed away, or until
the State was better able to extend the
pension law to those who came in af-
ter the battle of San Jacinto. But
their arguments did not prevail, and
over 1000 men had applied for bonds
before the repeal of the pension
law. In the repeal of that law
common patriotism demanded that
the surviving soldiers OF B:xar and
San Jacinto should be retained on the
pension list, as the first pension law in
tended.
Now comes the Rutabaga Constltu-
CiOu- WOTSe anu worse, anu more OF
it"-limilng the Legislature in such
manner as to give but $3.50 per annum,
and that only to the INDECENT, but in.
creasing the number entitled to include
those who were in service up to Janu-
airy, 1887. Thus the real defenders of
the Lone Star Republic, the men whose |
powers saved to Texas enough to build |
her Capitol, and induce the building
of all the railroads in the State, are vir- |
tually cut off from all pecuniary benefit |
on account of service rendered. 1t is |
to be hoped that when next the present |
excuse for an organic law is tinkered |
or abolished, the claims of these old |
heroes who survive may not be ignored.
At all events, the old soldiers feel that |
they have friends IN Governor Hubbard |
and the STATESMAN. IT the magnifi-
cent State of Texas cannot support |
comfortably $50 men, most of whom are
verging on their "three score years and |
ten," and who in the flower of their
manhood suffered untold privations
and risked their all in her defense, it
is useless to talk of rearing a monu-
mAnt t0 their mam0ru w