The Hearne Democrat from Hearne, Texas • Page 8

High Lights he Renub By W. N. BEARD 715 Jones Street. Fort Worth, Texu. (Copyright, 193B, by the Home Color Print Co.) most eventful part of Texas history is that period between 1836 and the signing of Texas declaration of independence March 2, 1836, to annexation to the United States, February 16,1846.

In this article I shall try to review only the high lights of Texas history during the ten-year period, which marked the beginning and the end of the Republic of Texas. But much of Texas history which would make good reading is necessarily omitted in a summary so brief. While delegates to a convention were in session at Washington-on-the-Brazos, March 2, 1836, writing the Texas declaration of independence, Travis was sending out appeals for help from the Alamo. Even before the declaration was adopted and signed the Alamo had fallen. Then followed the Goliad massacre.

At the Washington-on-the-Bra convention delegate Sam Houston was elected commander-in-chief of the Texas Army of Independence, although there was no army. It had been wiped out by Mexican troops at the Alamo, at Goliad and at Refugio. Texas Cause Seemed Hopeless Sam Houston was no had faced death before on the battlefield feared no man. The Texas cause 'seemed hopeless, yet Houston mounted his horse while the convention was still in session and rode west toward La Grange to assume command of a small remnant of volunteers who had gathered there, all too late, to help Travis defend the Alamo. This small remnant of less than no match for Santa Anna's army of 6,000 men.

Therefore Houston ordered a retreat, and it is well he did so, for Santa Anna, flushed with victory at the Alamo, was on his way to LaGrange to complete the job of exterminating the last little band of Texas patriots. But he arrived Houston had out-generaled him, and was marching rapidly east with his volunteers. Houston crossed the Colorado river just as the pursuing Mexicans appeared on the opposite bank. Here the pursuit ended river was swollen from recent rains and Houston had commandered the only available boat. There were three detachments of the Mexican army in pursuit of Houston and his men.

Santa Anna in person headed one detachment, and the other two were in command, respectively, of Sesma and Filisola. The detachment under Santa Anna detoured by way of Harrisburg in order to capture President (ad interim) Burnet and his cabinet, which had established headquarters there. Houston Halts Retreat Many additional volunteers had joined General Houston during his retreat from LaGrange, and he now had about 800 armed men, ready and anxious to fight. When scouts brought Houston information that Santa Anna was in the vicinity of Harrisburg he turned from his line of retreat and took the road leading directly to the latter place. The morning of April 21st, 1836, the two armies, one under Houston and one Santa Anna, faced each other on the field of San Jacinto, a few miles below Harrisburg, where was fought the Battle of San Jacinto.

This battle lasted less than half an hour, the Texans winning a complete and glorious victory. Santa Anna escaped during the battle, but was captured the following day and taken before General Houston. Disguised as a common soldier, his captors did not know his rank until arriving in the Texas camp, where Mexican soldiers saluted Santa Anna and exclaimed, "El Presidente!" There was much feeling against Santa Anna among the Texas officers and privates. Had not General Houston intervened in his behalf, he would have been tried and executed for the Goliad massacre. Terms of the Two Treaties President (ad interim) Burnet ordered that Santa Anna be removed toVel- asco, at which place it was decided to establish the Republic's seat of government.

Here two treaties were drawn up, signed by Santa Anna as President of Mexico, the terms of which were that hostilities would cease, that all Mexican troops be immediately withdrawn from Texas, that Mexico would recognize the independence of Texas and Santa Anna set free and returned to Mexico, where he further agreed to use his influence with the Mexican government to have it recognize Texas independence. Santa Anna was held a prisoner in Texas several finally sent to Washington, D. to appear before President Andrew Jackson. After a week in Washington, Jackson freed Santa Anna and sent him on to Mexico. The San Jacinto victory brought gen- eral rejoicing throughout Texas.

All hope had been abandoned prior to this victory and thousands of refugees were fleeing eastward toward the American border. This flight, known as the "runaway scrape," had assumed alarming proportions. It is estimated that at least 10,000 women and up the caravan of frightened refugees who were hurrying to escape the Mexican invaders. General Houston sent couriers in the wake of the retreating refugees urging them to return to their homes, since the Mexicans had been defeated and Santa Anna was a prisoner. Practically all the refugees returned.

Houston Chosen President July 23, 1836, President (ad interim) Burnet issued a proclamation calling an election on the first Monday in September for the purpose of choosing a President, a Vice-president and members of the first Texas congress. The proclamation provid that the first congress be composed of fourteen senators and twenty- nine representatives. As a result of this election, General Sam Houston was chosen President and Mirabeau Lamar Vice-President. General Houston's first act as President was to appoint Stephen F. Austin, Secretary of State; Henry Smith, Treasurer, and Thos.

J. Rusk, Secretary of War. Houston's selection of wise and prudent. As founder of Tex-, as, he was the best informed man on all matters pertaining to legal and governmental relations between the Texan Anglo-American colonists and Mexico, Austin's duties as Secretary of State were laborious. He had no help and worked days and far' into nights on State papers, with only a tallow candle for light.

The old State House, at Columbia, was a barn-like structure, crudely built and the room in which Austin worked poorly heated. As a con- Mier prisoners drawing the black and white beans. sequence, he contracted pneumonia, from which he died December 27th, 1836. Thus, fifteen years after founding his first colony in Texas, the soul of Austin, "Father of Texas," passed on to a greater reward. His last words were: "Texas has been admitted; did you see it in the papers?" Only 43 years of age at the time of death, Austin lived to see his beloved Texas a nation among nations.

Republic's Treasury Empty The.treasury of the Republic was empty when Houston became President He reported to the Texas Congress less than $600 in the treasury, with an indebtedness of $1,500,000. It was necessary to maintain an army, navy and other expenses incident to the establishment of a stable government. The white population of Texas was about 40,000 during the period of the new government's organization, and while immigration increased rapidly, it did not increase revenue fast enough to meet government expenses. The entire United States at this time was recovering from a financial panic and very little money could be borrowed. Congress, seeking inflation as an easy way out of its financial difficulties, passed a bill which authorized the issuance of $500,000 in notes, bearing 10 per cent interest, and redeemable 5 years from date of issue.

Thus did the Texas "red- backs," as the notes were called, come into circulation. The notes passed at par for a while, but when the amount in circulation was increased by new issues they began falling in value. In less than three years they declined to about 20c'on the dollar, and during the fourth year they were down to lOc on the dollar. Finally a loan of $400,000 was obtained from the old bank of the xas How Will the Electoral Vote Go in November? By CHARLES R. MICHAEL New York Times) ilS a result of calculations taking into account recent polls, inside party dissensions and other factors, conservative leaders in both Democratic and Republican parties are in general agreement that twenty-seven States, with 282 electoral votes, are at present safely Democratic and that twelve States, with 128 electoral votes, might reasonably be classed as Republican.

That leaves nine States, with 171 votes, as a doubtful or pivotal. To obtain a majority of the 531 electoral votes, or 266, the Democrats, on the basis of present estimates.would need to pick up only thirty-four from the list of doubtful States. The Republicans would require 138. Of the twenty-seven States classed as Democratic in November, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South regularly Democratic in allegiance. Four North Carolina, Tex a a i i i have a Democratic record marked by only one bolt, in 1928.

These ten are regarded as certain to vote for President Roosevelt's re-election this year. Progressive Leaning The other en States were carried by Mr. Roosevelt in 1932 largely because he offered poli- i acceptable to progressives of the West, Midwest and the northern tier of States. The Democrats in these States are as effectively organized as they were then and such opposition as exists thus far has been harmonized. All three Pacific Coast Oregon and admitted by Republicans as lost to them this year.

Seven mountain States of the West, Northwest and Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and believed as surely Democratic as they were four years ago. Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and the two Dakotas, it is believed, will follow recalcitrant Republican leaders who "Reasonably Republican" Among the twelve States classed as reasonably Republican in November are the Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and the Republicans managed to save from the Democratic landslide of 1932. Vermont is the only State that has been consistently Republican since the turn of the century, but the records of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine and Pennsylvania show only one defection to the 1932; and New Hampshire has not gone Democratic in a Presidential year 1916. Pennsylvnia will this year be fighting ground. The invalidation of the Guffey Coal act is expected to strengthen the Democrats there and make the 300,000 miners under the leadership of John L.

Lewis militantly pro- Roosevelt. Still the Republicans expect to hold the State, if by a reduced majority. The other six "reasonably Republi- UKUY oouarm, on PIVOTAL, STarea Figures electoral Outlook for the Presidential election. can" States are Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Colorado, Kansas and Missouri are put in the Republican column on the assumption that Governor Landon of Kansas, the G.

0. P. nominee, will capture his and the two near-by States; and it is believed that Michigan will swing away from the New Deal because of disaffection in its Democratic ranks and a resurgent of Republicanism among its industrial chieftains. Strong opposition to the New Deal exists in New Jersey, with present indications that this State will be carried by the Republicans. As for Rhode Island, much anti-New Deal senti- and Massachusetts and six Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Ohio and West Virginia which in most Presidential years are Republican, but which in 1932 voted for Mr.

Roosevelt. Local conditions, internal party strife and dislike of the New Deal among conservative Democrats are regarded as certain to reduce Democratic prestige in some of these States. In Kentucky, one of the border States, opposition to the New Deal has grown. The State, however, is less doubtful than some of the others on the list. Democrats express confidence also in their ability to carry Maryland and West Virginia, where leaders at times have been at odds with the administration.

In West Virginia the Democratic registration has exceeded that of the Republicans; moreover the miners are inclined to be with the administration because of the Duffey act developments. Massachusetts is reported as opposed to Roosevelt policies along with most of the other New England States. It is now showing an anti-Democratic tendency. In the Middle West In Illinois quarrels among party leaders and farmers' discontent with the modified AAA plan are believed to be strengthening Repu 1 i a chances. Similar developments are marked in Ind i a a.

In Iowa fear of excessive taxation has been added to farm smolderings as a factor favoring the Republicans. In Ohio Republicans are counting heavily upon Democratic defactions from Governor and upon organized opposition to the New Deal by industrial leaders. New York, in the opinion of well-informed observers, must, definitely be placed in the list of doubtful States since the vote-getting Governor Lehman has decided not to head the State ticket next fall. In 1982 Mr. Roosevelt obtained 28,821,857 votes, the greatest total ever cast for a Presidential candidate in this country, 7,060,016 more than his Republican opponent.

In the nine States TI a VT j-aAOAiUf 4IJ.I4W1 Wi-lO BOUti" UWUlJAJttJ will prefer the New Deal to the party ment has made its with re- listed as pivotal his with which they originally cast their cent elections indicating Republican Hoover The list of twenty-seven Democratic States is completed by Oklahoma and Tennessee, territory in which the New Deal tide is reported to be running strong. gains. Doubtful States The nine States classed as doubtful, or pivotal, include Kentucky, Maryland PAGE 2 was .1,942,586, the vote being 9,279,191 7,336,605, Much will de- peiid, next? November, upon whether the Republicans can reclaim about 2,000,000 of the Roosevelt votes cast in these States four years ago. fr- United States, In Philadelphia, which partly relieved the new Republic's financial predicament. Lamar Succeeds Houston A clause in the Texas constitution prevented General Houston from succeeding himself as President, hence, in 1888, Mirabeau Lamar was elected President by unanimous vote.

In his first message to congress Lamar, among other things, recommended the adoption of a more aggressive policy toward the Indians. Houston's Indian policy waa tried to keep the red man at the request of the provisional government had established treaties with some Indian tribes, promising land in return for their neutrality during the war with Mexico for Independence. The Cherokees, who occupied most of East Texas, north of the old San Antonio road, claimed their treaty had been violated, that white settlers were possessing their lands. The senate of the Republic of Texas declined to recognize Houston's treaties with the Indians, and President Lamar used Texas troops to drive the Cherokees out of East Texas into Oklahoma. This drastic action so aroused Indian hostility that for many years thereafter the tomahawk and scalping knife left a bloody trail up and down the white settlements of Texas.

In 1841 General Houston was again elected President of the infant Republic by a large majority, defeating Vice- President Burnet. Immediately after inauguration he began a policy of retrenchment. The Republic was deeper in debt and lacked money to meet current expenses. A good deal of money had been spent in maintaining troops to repel Indian attacks and in outfitting the Santa Fe, N. expedition, which was a needless expense, failed of its purpose and ended in disaster.

Mexico Refused to Ratify Treaties Mexico still refused to ratify the treaties made by Santa Anna and was planning a second invasion of Texas. However, internal troubles prevented a a major move in this direction, but two punitive Mexican expeditions did invade Texas and captured and looted San Antonio. The expedition of 1400 men under General Woll carried away as captives many prominent San Antonio citizens, including all the judges and lawyers of the district court that was then in session. Both of these expeditions hastily retreated below the Rio Grande when several thousand Texas volunteers shouldered arms and marched to San Antonio's relief. Texas citizens, thoroughly aroused by these invasions, demanded retaliatory war.

General Alexander Somerville marched as far as the Rio Grande with about 800 men, but having no supplies or adequate equipment for an offensive campaign against Mexico, disbanded the men and advised them to return to their homes. But 300 daring fellows disregarded Somerville's advice, elected Captain William Fisher as their leader, crossed the Rio Grande and laid siege to the Mexican town of Mier, where they met stubborn resistance by a superior force under General Ampudia. After several days of hard fighting, and sustaining of heavy losses, the Texans were compelled to surrender. Ampudia gave written assurance that the Texans would be treated considerately as prisoners of war. A few days after the surrender, the prisoners, under a strong guard, were marched out of town and informed that their destination would be the City of Mexico.

At a point 100 miles south of Satillo the Texdns overpowered their guards, seized the, Mexican cavalry horses and rode rapidly in the direction of the Texas border. In hope of eluding pursuit, the escaped men left the main road for a route through barren mountains, where they wandered for days, lost, without food or water. When finally overtaken by Mexican troops, they surrendered without resistance. Drawing the 17 Black Beans As punishment for this attempt to escape, Santa Anna decreed that one in ten of the prisoners be executed. The number of prisoners now had been reduced to 170.

Accordingly a jar containing 170 beans, 17 black and 153 white, was placed before the prisoners Each prisoner, blind-folded, was ordered to draw a bean from the jar. The 17 men who drew black beans were immediately placed in front of a firms squad and shot dead. The remaining Mier prisoners were sent on to Mexico City by order of Santa Anna and there confined in the Perote prison dungeons. Many died In prison, others escaped, and eventually those that survived were released. The ninth and last congress of' the Texas Republic met in extraordinary session at Washington-on-the-Brazos June 16, 1845, to consider annexation of Texas to the United States.

Texas applied for annexation in 1837 and again in 1844, but Northern abolitionists and Northern newspapers had bitterly fought annexing of Texas, claiming it was just a scheme to extend slave territory. untjl March 2, 1845, was (Continued on Page 4, column 6) i.