from 1842 to 1844 the texan congress held its meetings at washington on the brazos—the spot where, a few short years before, the declaration of independence had been adopted.
the nation born amid the gloom and uncertainty of that stormy time now stood forth proud in the consciousness of growing strength, free and full of hope for the coming years.
an armistice was signed with mexico (1843) which left the republic at peace. the indians under the wise rule of the “big white chief,” houston, made but few outbreaks. year by year more fields were fenced in, more orchards and gardens were planted, more dooryards were set with vine and rose-tree.
immigrants poured in. many came from “the states”; but others crossed the wide seas to find homes in that fertile texas whose story of struggle and triumph was in everybody’s mouth. henry castro, a french gentleman, who was consul-general for texas at paris, obtained in 1842 large grants of land from the republic, and brought over five hundred families from france. these settled on the medina river west of san antonio. another important colony came from germany under the leadership of the prince de solms, and founded the thrifty town of new braunfels on the guadalupe.
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the roads were white with westward-traveling wagons which stopped to pass the time of day, as it were, with all the little towns along the way. in those hospitable days small barrels of tar stood as a matter of course on the sidewalks. long-handled dippers floated in the tar, so that the passing wagoner might help himself and ease his creaking wheels.
as for the wayside houses, their doors were always open to the wayworn mover and his family. the women and girls peering out from under the wagon cover, the boys trudging sturdily along by the driver’s side, the dog trotting in the shadow of the feed trough,—all these were to the free-handed pioneers as welcome as kinsmen.
old capitol at austin (1839).
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the newcomers were often struck with amazement at the curious contrasts they saw on the frontier. “you are welcomed,” writes one traveler, “by a figure in a blue flannel shirt and pendant beard, quoting the latin poets.... you will see fine pictures on log walls; you will drink coffee from tin cups on dresden china saucers. seated on a barrel, you will hear a beethoven symphony played on a rosewood piano. the bookcase may be half full of books and half full of potatoes.”
but while the western border thus filling up with settlers was quiet and unmolested, there was serious trouble over on the eastern line. a band composed mostly of rough desperadoes from the old neutral ground roamed along the sabine river, shooting and killing innocent citizens under the pretext of punishing theft, negro-stealing, and other offenses. they called themselves the regulators. an opposition band, made up of men as reckless as themselves, undertook in turn to punish them, and to administer justice generally. these were known as the moderators. between the moderators and regulators, shelby, harrison, and the neighboring counties were kept in a state of terror. honest men were afraid to venture out of their own homes; for no one could guess when or upon whom the so-called justice of these bands would fall. bloody “courts” were held in the swamps, one day by the regulators, the next, and perhaps on the same spot, by the moderators, both equally cruel and lawless. wild stories were told of certain leaders in either gang whose victims were always shot in the left eye; of others again whose weapon was not the rifle, but poison.
at one time more than a thousand men were engaged in this feud. in the summer of 1844 the regulators and moderators assembled under arms in fortified camps. an active campaign was carried on for some weeks, during which more than fifty persons were killed or wounded. finally president houston ordered out five hundred militia under general james smith, and the two factions were disbanded. but it was a long time before the feud died out entirely.
in the fall of 1844 anson jones was elected president of the republic. his secretary of state was doctor ashbel smith.
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dr. smith, who was a learned and able man, came to texas from connecticut just after the revolution, and was made surgeon-general of the army. during houston’s administration, he represented the republic at the courts of england and france. at this time all over europe there was keen interest in texan affairs.
notwithstanding the glory of the young republic, its people still wished to be annexed to the united states. they felt themselves too weak to contend against mexico in case of another war, and too poor to keep up the army and navy, and provide for the expense of a separate government. but the united states again refused to receive them. upon this, france and england offered through minister smith to compel mexico to acknowledge the independence of texas, provided texas would agree not to unite with any other country.
this offer caused a sudden change of feeling in the united states. her jealousy of foreign interference was aroused; and in the spring of 1845 the united states congress passed resolutions admitting texas into the union.
president jones then submitted the question to the people. a convention met at austin in july, 1845, to frame a constitution for the state of texas. in october the final vote was taken. it was almost unanimous for annexation.
in february, 1846, president jones gave up his authority to j. pinckney henderson who had been elected governor of the new state. this impressive ceremony took place at austin, where the capital had been finally established. president jones in his farewell address said:
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“the lone star of texas, which ten years since arose amid clouds, over fields of carnage, and obscurely seen for a while, ... has passed on and become fixed in that glorious constellation which all freemen and lovers of freedom must reverence and adore,—the american union. blending its rays with its sister states, long may it continue to shine.... may the union be perpetual; and may it be the means of conferring benefits and blessings upon all the people of the states, is my prayer. the first act in the great drama is performed. the republic of texas is no more.”[32]
many eyes must have grown dim as the closing sentence of this address was pronounced. memories must have crowded thick and fast upon those veterans who listened, hearing at the same time in a dream the call of bugles and the roll of drums, the ring of sabers, and the echo of those daring voices which called into being the republic of texas!
sam houston and thomas j. rusk were elected united states senators. rusk, who was a native of south carolina, was one of the signers of the texan declaration of independence. he was secretary of war under president burnet, and fought gallantly in the ranks at the battle of san jacinto. after general houston’s resignation he was made commander-in-chief of the army. rusk had taken an active part in the war against the cherokee indians. later he had been chief justice of the republic. he had devoted himself for many years with great unselfishness to the interests of the republic. he continued to serve the state with the same fidelity.
he died by his own hand in 1857. grief at the death of his wife was the cause of this fatal act.
