Year: 1861

Special Correspondence of the Crescentl


BROWNSVILLE, Feb. 7, 1861.


M. EdHor-The good old steamer Arizona
arrived here quite Unexpectedly on Tuesday, or at
least she arrived at Brazos on Monday evening,
and her mails came to this place on Tuesday. As
matter of course We were duly thankful, and we
are still further gratifed at the information that
there is no likelihood of our being deprived Of
regular steam communication with your city on
account of the prevailing disturbances. The
Southern Steamship Company does not intend to
suspend service on any of the lines. It is to be
hoped that Texas and Louisiana will speedily make
some provision for carrying the mails as of yore,
by a regular contract. The Company ought 10 be
paid, and more than that it ought to be bound by
contract which would satisfy both parties.


This town is at the present time intensely dull
and sluggish. Business appears to be stagnant,
and our men of means are threatening to break up
and move Off Great inducements offered to
spectators to buy out old fogies who see in dis
solution of the Union the decay and destruction of
monetary success. Merchants are slow to buy,
and therefore they say that commercial death is on
them. This is therefore town of lamentations,
or else of jubilant qualification. We divided
into two ultra classes, the submissionists the
secessionists, with sprinkling of abolitionsts, or
rather of men who say that they would serve
under Lincoln or the devil, provided it paid. Poor
fellows. l hope they will become composed to
the great revolution, Or that they will take their
long faces and doubtful sentiments to a land that
suits them better.


The greatest riddle, however, in our town, is the
United States army. The soldiers are here two
hundred and odd strong, with detachments not far
off numbering as many more. These men have en-
listed under the United States, of which concern
Texas was partner The firm of United States Co.
has gone into quidation has been declared bank
rupt and the partners are the only auditors. One
set of members of the old firm have seized and
now hold greater portion of the common assets
deeming that the decree of bankruptcy was null
as to them. Would it not be fair would it not be
| equitable, under these circumstances, that the
| partners who have drawn out, but who have failed
| to obtain satisfactory settlement, should seize
and hold the property in their possession until a
| general balance sheet is agreed to I think SO
| Texas needs an army just about as strong as thai
now in her territory, and I think it would be the
best thing if she just adopted Uncle Sans contracts
| and accepted the forces in this State under Gen
| Twiggs into her service.


The troops at this place and on the river have
not been paid up recently, and they are in sac
state of discomfort, if l am to believe genera
report. Their situation is peculiar, for even i
they continue in their present service, there is ne
| telling when they will be paid; and if they leave
it, they are here without dollar, and they do no


know what penalties might follow them. They
are men capable of reading, of good thinking
faculties, in receipt of the newspapers, and they


would be remarkable class if they could kee1


from forming conclusions to the present crisis


Many of them are Southern men, others are favor


able to the South and but few of them are attache,


to the North. It is impossible to make sucl


men machines for carrying out the follies of oil


Scott.


The garrison here has been expecting to receiv


marching orders by every steamer but, as yet no
thing has been done. l suppose that the Govern
ment does not intend to call the troops away from
here, for this force would be Ineffective esewher
to accomplish any great purpose, and if the Unite
| States Government intends to use force, it woulC
be the more sensible idea to have these troop
here, where coercion will be as necessary as else
where, and proceed at once to call out the miIitiG


Moreover, it is decidedly doubtful if the force 0
this river, at present, can be moved away withor
the men are paid; and if all reports are trut
Uncle Sam has not the necessary amount of spol
dulix to do this with.


1t is very well settled now that if the preser
Federal force is turned over to the State by Gel
| Twiggs, at San Antonio, most of the men will in
medately enlist under the Texas banner and W
shall have the same protection as ever. II no
it has been officially notified to that Texas raj
t gers will be in the field at a moments notice; an


two or three companies of rangers on this frontie
under Ben McCulloch, would soon produce gran
results. @


The river is low-the steamboats, are doing notl


ing-public health good-and we are all waitin
. for the good time coming.