Huntsville gazette., 1890-07-05
THE LONE STAR STATE.
A Condensed Account of the Early His

A Condensed Account of the Early His
tory of Texas.
The first white settlement was made
in 1887 by the Chevalier de LaSalle,
bot all the members of this colony per.
ished. A few years later a Spanish
mission was established on the site of
La Salle's fort, and subsequently other
Spanish settlements were made, in
spite of the protests of the French, who
claimed the country by virtue of La
Sales discovery. For twenty years
the Spaniards held full sway, but in
1875 a French colony from the Red River
was taken into Texas, and this time
the Spaniards protested without effect.
Both the French and the Spanish, how
ever, had much trouble with the In
dians and in 1T5S a brutal massacre OF
all the settlers at San Saba mis-
sion by the red men caused the influx
of colonists to decline. In 1868 France
gave up all her claims on the Louisiana
Territory to Spain, but in 1903 the coun-
try was receded to France, and the same
year was sold to the United States. As.
there had been no well-defned-div
ing line between Louisiana and the old
Spanish possessions west of it, con-
troversy as to the boundaries immedi-
ately arose, Spain claiming that her
territory extended to the east OF the
Sabine, and the United States urging a
right to the country as far west as the
Rio Grande river. This difficulty was
compromised by making the territory
Io+x 1, h
royo Honda neutral territory. This in
tervening ground offered such conven-
lent opportunity for carrying on an illicit
trade between the United States and
Mexico that many adventurers settled
on it, and number of revolutionary eff
forts were made to secure possession of
it. In 1919 the United States agreed to
take the. Sabine river as a boundary
line between the United States and
Mexico, but this treaty caused much dis
satisfaction in the Western and South
western States. The same year another
expedition was raised in Mississippi
and Louisiana to take possession of the
country, but it was defeated, and it's
leader, DR.. James Long, was soon after
murdered. Texas, by means of these
several revolutionary attempts, had be-
come nearly depopulated, but in 1923
Stephen f. Austin, Of Missouri,
whose father had obtained grant
of land in Texas from the Mex
lean Government, took thither
large number of colonists, and laid the
foundation of the permanent growth of
the territory. Texas was then united
in government with the Mexican PROV
ince of Coahuila, and there was much
difficulty between the Mexican officials
and the American settlers. In 1880 the
Mexican Governor undertook to forbid
colonists from the United States enter
ing the Territory, and this precipitated
the revolution which eliminated in
Texan independence. Fighting began
at Gonzales October 2, 1885, and Novem-
Der IL following the provisional govern
ment was formed. Colonel Stephen Aus
tin was sent as envoy to the United
States, and General Sam Hous-
ton was made commander-in-chief
of the army. The Mexican army
was defeated at San Antonio
de Bexar December 10, 1885, and driven
lIOIu tuO COuhOIy. IHc HoAU year OeH-
eral Santa Anna came over the border
with large force, and March 6, 1886,
after a bombardment Of eleven days,
captured the fortress of the Alamo and
put the entire garrison to the sword.
April 21 following was fought the battle
of San Jacinto, in which the Mexicans
were defeated and their leader taken
prisoner. This ended the war. In the
meantime convention had been held, a
constitution adopted, and provis-
ional President chosen. In March,
1887, the. United States recog-
nized the independence of Texas.
For nearly ten years Texas
maintained her existence as republic,
during which time she twice asked to
be annexed to the United States, only
to have her requests refused. AS the
State became more populous and pros
porous, however, the United States be-
came anxious to take her into the Union.
Annexation was finally accomplished
by the vote of Congress December 81,
1S45, and the act was accepted by the
Texan people February 10, 1916. This
led to the war with Mexico, which was
ended in 1S4S. The result of this war
was not only the giving up of Mexico of
all claim upon Texas, but the cession of
a large extent of additional territory
Chicago Inter-Ocean.