THE

RISE, PROGRESS, AND PROSPECTS

OF THE

REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.

IN TWO VOLUMES. ·

BY

WILLIAM KENNEDY, Esq.

"Texas is one of the finest countries in the world; and yet the Europeans, eager as they
have been to make conquests in America, have seemed, almost to the present day, ignorant of
its existence."

History of Louisiana, by M. de Marbois, Peer of France, First President of the
Court of Accounts, under Napoleon and Louis XVIII.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

R. HASTINGS, 13, CAREY STREET,

LINCOLN'S INN.

1841.

938

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER VI.

Spanish and Mexican estimate of the Value of Waste Lands

-Increasing Value of Texas from Anglo-American Colo-

nization-Military rule in Texas-Violation of Consti-

tutional Rights and Rising of the Colonists-Defeat of

Ugartechea and Piedras, and flight of Colonel Bradburn-

Plan of Vera Cruz-Expulsion of the Garrisons and

defensive statements of the Colonists-Convention at San

Felipe-Petition for separating Texas from Coahuila—

Grievances of the Texans-Stephen Austin's Mission-

Commotions in Mexico-Reception of Austin by the

General Government-His Advice to the Colonists, and

its Consequences

CHAPTER VII.

Settlements of Beales' and Grant's Concession on the Rio

Grande in 1833-4-Departure of the Amos Wright schooner

from New York and arrival in Aransas Bay-Unpropitious

season-Mexican Coast Guard and Collector of Customs-

Difficulty of Winter Travelling-Refugio and Goliad-

Mexican Rancho Bexar-Journey to the Rio Grande-

Founding a Town-Departure of the Empresario-Fate

of the Settlement-Superiority of Anglo-American Coloni-

zation.

CHAPTER VIII.

PAGE

3

30

Continued Imprisonment and Representations of Stephen

Austin-Violent Dissolution of the Federal Congress by

Santa Anna-Effect of Military Usurpation on the Mexi-

can States-Dissensions in Coahuila and Texas-Disso-

lution of the State Government-Measures of the Citizens

-Differences among the Colonists-Unionists and Sepa-

ratists-Restoration of the State Government-Statistical

Report of Texas, by the Federal Commissioner Almonte . 58

CHAPTER IX.

Innovations of the Mexican Centralists-Unprincipled Sale

of Texan Lands-Constitutional Exposition of the Legis-

lature of Coahuila and Texas-Fall of Zacatecas-Dis-

persion of the Legislature of Coahuila and Texas, and

Arrest of the Governor-Agitation in Texas-Lorenzo de

Zavala Return of Stephen Austin-His Speech at Bra-

zoria-Military preparations against Texas and organi-

zation of the People-Defeat of the Mexicans near Gon-

zalez-Subversion of the Federal Constitution of 1824 and

establishment of a Central Government in Mexico.

CHAPTER X.

Texan preparations for Defence-Advice of Zavala-Ap-

pointment of a General Council-Offensive operations of

the Colonists-Capture of Goliad-Milam-Advance of

the main Army under Stephen Austin to Bexar-Battle of

the Conception-American rencounter with Texan Indians

-The Bowie Knife-Meeting of the General Consultation

of Texas-Election of a Provisional Government-The

Grass Fight-Affair at Lepantitlan-Stephen Austin's

retirement from the Army, and Report to the Provisional

Government-Call of a new Convention

CHAPTER XI.

Siege of Bexar-Impatience of the Colonists-Mexican De-

serter-Resolution of Milam and others-Entrance of a

Storming Party into Bexar-Death of Milam, and Surrender

of General Cos-Landing of Mexia at Tampico-Resolu-

tion of the Provisional Government for assembling a Con-

vention-Measures of Defence-Proclamation by General

Houston-Indian Mission-Operation of the Militia System

in the United States-Indian Encroachments-Volunteers

-Opinions respecting a Declaration of Independence

CHAPTER XII.

Texan prospects at the opening of the year 1836-Removal

of the Provisional Governor-Message of his Successor-

Projected attack on Matamoros-Mexican Expedition

against Texas-Military outrages-March of Santa Anna

to Bexar-Attack on the Alamo-Capture of the Fort and

Slaughter of the Garrison-Colonel Crockett-Convention

at Washington-Declaration of Independence-President

PAGE

82

114

143

Burnet's Address-Fate of King and his party-Battle of

the Coleto Surrender of Fannin-Massacre of Texan

prisoners-Advance of Santa Anna-Battle of San Jacinto

-Evacuation of Texas by the invading Army

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

PAOF

. 171

Arrival of Volunteers at Galveston-Orders of the United

States Government for the Protection of the Frontier-

Protest of Gorostiza-Embarkation and ultimate Detention

of Santa Anna-Mirabeau Lamar-Protest of Santa Anna

and President Burnet's Reply-Election of President and

Meeting of Texan Congress-Threatened Mexican In-

vasion-Legislative Proceedings-Death and Character of

Stephen Austin

CHAPTER II.

. 241

Relations of Mexico and the United States-Peremptory

Instructions to the American Minister-Withdrawal of

Gorostiza-Conferences between President Jackson and

Santa Anna-Arrival of Santa Anna at Vera Cruz-

Message of the Governor of South Carolina-General

Hamilton's Report to the Senate-Acknowledgment of

Texan Independence by the United States-Application of

Texas to be annexed to the Federal Union-Diplomatic

Correspondence-Renewal of diplomatic Relations be-

tween the United States and Mexico-Message of Pre-

sident Houston-Opposition of the Northern and Middle

States to Texan Annexation-Mr. Preston's Resolution

-Withdrawal of the Proposition to annex Texas to the

Union.
. 273

CHAPTER III.

Cherokee Indians-Presidential Election-Policy of Presi-

dent Lamar's Administration-Education-Laws-Tariff

-Banking-Grants to Settlers-Indian Irruptions and

Designs-Expulsion of the Cherokees-Trade with the

Mexicans Mission to Mexico-French diplomatic agent

in Texas-Arrival of Admiral Baudin at Galveston-

Appointment of General Hamilton and Mr. Burnley to