Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-26
ISEMI-CENTENNlAL A ~.
"A Large and Representative Convention at
Dallas, Yesterday.
Presided Over by an Honored Representative OF the
Past History of Texas, Ex-Governor
Frank R. Lubbock.
ONE THOUSAND DELEGATES ARE PRESENT,
Dallas Gives Royal Welcome to Her Guests-A Ban
quet at the Packing House.
Large Number Delegates Part of the State Are Present
and Pledge Themselves and Constituencies 10 Hearty
Support of the Great Semi-Centennal to
BE Held in Dallas Texts
ONE THOUSAND DELEGATES ARE PRESENT.
Dallas Gives Royal Welcome to Her Guests-A Ban
quet al the Packing House.

attention Of the crowd and was frequ-
, ENTITY applauded. He said:
From 1851 when Texas first applied
for annexation TO the United States,
and was refused by President Van
Buren, to 1915. when she was let In by
the back door. 50 TO speak, her admis-
sion into the Union was the burning
and vital question Of the day In Amer
lean politics, and upon that issue many
political banks We're damaged and
wrecked,
MIR Van Buren opposed It's annexa-
ton; but when he had become a caudi-
date FOR denomination 10y the Demo-
cratic party he lost his place on thut
account, although he attempted to
qualify Or withdraw his former uppO-
stiun.
Mr. CLAY opposed annexation in his
famous Raleigh letter. but lost the
state Of New York and the presidency.
| by writing his su-called Alabama let
| ter explaining and partly receding
| IRON his position taken in the former
| letter
Daniel Webster and Thomas H. Ben
| ton lost both prcstlg. and influence in
| their attempt to cyadc this issue.
| John G. calhoun suffered greatly in
| his fair fame on account Of his alleged
| duplititou course as secretary OF state
| IN striving for her annexation; and
John Tyler was denounced as a traitor
TO his party and consigned to political
| limbo because of his change Of front
ON this, then, vital question.
Her pleadlngs Tor admission into the
Union met with the stcrnost oppos-
tieh from n large body of the people
Of the United states.
John Quincy Adams, speaking for
New England In the halls Of congress.
declared that any attempt to act
OF congress. or by treaty. to annex the
republic OF Texas, would be an usurpa-
tlon OF power which 1t would be the
right and duty of the free people OF
the United states to resist and annul.
Thomas Corwin Of Ohio, declared
curing the debate on the Mexican war,
mat the annexation OF Texas by the
United states was an outrage On hui
m0nity and civilization, and that he
hoped the American soldiers lighting
ON that behalf, might be welcomed BY
the Mexican people with bloody hands,
unto hospitable graves
And when It's admission became an
accomplished fact; when the American
army, under the leadership OF the gal.
liant Scott and Taylor, had taken tho
capital city Of Mexico. had bivuuackcd
in the halls OF the Montezumas and
had dictated the treaty Of Guadalupe
Hldalgo. by which Mexico renowned
all claim to Texas, and ceded Callror-
MA. New MeNi o and all that vast con-
tguous territory which is now held by
the United States even after Texas
had at length taken her place among
the sisterhoOd Of states, she was look
ed at nskanCc and disfaVor by n large
number Of the good people OF the North
ms well as of the South and East, who
claimed that the domain acquired bv
the treaty with Mexico was dearly
bought territory and would prove n
strength to our government; that IT
was Possessed OF torrld and un-
healthy climate, an unfrutful soil, was
only III for the abode OF murderous
savages. and was in fact, but a place
OF rendezvous and resort for criminals.
desperadoes and rufiians.
Ana to our sorrow, be Il said tina,
this character fixed upon that terri
tory, and especially upon Texas. In her
early days by her enemies, still OBJ
talns among large portion of the in
hHptahtS OF the Older states, and 10
many even Of the better class of those
people Texas Is. and unless our peonle
take action Will remain terra Incog- |
rs I understand 1t we are met hero
today In preliminary convention ror |
me purpose Of taking measures to dis
Slpate these erroneous Impressions con-
corning our state; for the purpose of
ueNlhihg ways and means Of demon-
stralhE 10 the people OF the United
etHtSs ana the whole world that whom
Il halt century ago our government no,
CURED this territory II made no r,is-
take; that the blood OF it's heroes WINS
not shed in vain, and that they build
ca better than they knew; that tbe
stone which was almost rejected nv
me builders Is now become the chief
corner stone OF the superstructure.
we propose by courteous insistance
20 compel them to become wltnesses in
uut pehhlt 70 the fact that we have
nor wasted the rich Inheritance when
was given 10 the people of the I;ni;ed
stateS by the heroes of Bueua Vista
OF monterey, OF Cerro Gordo and Chn'
pultepec, hut that her part Of No.
territory Sun remains unimpaircd nor
only 10 us but for them also; and maj
We are willing to share with them The
,,'n'.r neluest, and cordially invite
'hem to take their portion.
we propose to show to them that In
ms short time OF iitty years Texns
i accomplished more, in the way az
industrial progress and development
man other people have attained nv
ceh5uries OK endeavor; that she now
: Vu"ees IN bread stuffs and meats NOT
pniy enough for her. own popl,lntion
put sufficient 10 feed the whole -,
that she can furnish co,,e
and wool sufficient TO clothe ail ~
siNllized people on the earth: thai bar
oounaless forests contain lumber ma.
terlai enough 10 build house TO- esnh
AMY = mn on thls continent: that not oniv
lue,ive s1 III " me interior the most pro-
reached out and reclaimed Nv re ms
= lFrlgntion that vast territory hare,n
Ny considered desert waste and ,he,
s tne great Llano Estacado or S.aLa1
II America. N'e garden spot
:, we we, WI exhibit to them the proa,o,.
'iee our rI,S a our mills. our faetoa
rooms our foundries and our