Well - Boredom is setting in with no campaigning - guess I will start working on my book I have started writing about 15 years ago on Sam Houstons agonist ration from 1841-1844 Based on 100s of letters to or from my 4th great grandfather Attorney General George Whitfield Terrell, Republic of Texas. Ch. 2, Terrell in Texas: Politics homicide, outage and bloodshed Terrell first arrived into the Republic of Texas. Legal transactions dated as early as 26 March 1839 in Texas with Dr. Washington John Dewitt indicate that Dewitt was to return to Marshall Mississippi and secure nine slaves to bring back to Texas so that both Terrell and Dewitt could pursue a plantation business relationship together. The contract stated that within five years Terrell could buy out Dewitt for an amount specified at that time. An agreement dated 3 September 1839 indicates that the contract was satisfied and settled on the issue of the salves. Research does indicate that Dewitt must have returned to Tennessee as he was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church there in 1852. Another letter dated 6 December 1839 to William Fitzgerald of Paris Tennessee, places Terrell in Bayou Ghoula, Iberville, Louisiana where he must have been visiting with his mother and Uncle in route to Texas, perhaps with his family in tow, as he directed Mr. Fitzgerald to direct all future correspondence to Natchitoches, Louisiana as letters could not cross the line into Texas.[i] Terrell’s headright however, shows that his arrival date of record was 20 December, 1839. On 31 December 1839 he was issued a 3rd Class Headright warrant of 320 acres of land in San Augustine county and settled about five miles northwest of the town of San Augustine.[ii] Among the distinguished men and their families who lived in East Texas besides Terrell included; General Sam Houston (1793–1863) arrived into Texas on December 2, 1832, and began perhaps the most important phase of his career. Houston quickly becaming embroiled in the Anglo-Texans’ politics of rebellion and ultimately became one of the most colorful political figures of Texas. In October 1835, Houston expressed his belief that war between Texas and the central government was inevitable. That month he became commander in chief of troops for the Department of Nacogdoches and called for volunteers to begin the “work of liberty.” On November 12 the Consultation appointed Houston Major General of the Texas army. After joining his army in Gonzales, Houston and his troops retreated eastward as the Mexican army under Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna swept across Texas. Houston and his men defeated Santa Anna’s forces at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto on the afternoon of April 21, 1836. The capture of Santa Anna the next day and the Treaties of Velasco on 14 May 1836 made the victory complete. At San Jacinto, Sam Houston became forever enshrined as a member of the pantheon of Texas heroes and a symbol for the age. Houston became the first regularly elected president of the Republic of Texas, defeating Stephen F. Austin. During his two presidential terms (22 October 1836 – 10 December 1838 and 13 December 1841 – 9 December 1844) he successfully guided the new ship of state through many trials and tribulations that included stepping down as President, only to be persuaded by General Terrell in a passionate plea to remain. Houston was a signer to the Texas Declaration of Independence. [iii] Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857) immigrated to Texas in 1834 becoming a citizen of Mexico 11 February 1835 and applied for a headright in David G. Burnet’s colony. Rusk became involved in the independence movement. He organized volunteers from Nacogdoches and hastened to Gonzales, where his men joined Stephen F. Austin’s army in preventing the Mexicans from seizing their cannon. The provisional government named him inspector general of the army in the Nacogdoches District, a position he filled from December 14, 1835, to February 26, 1836. Rusk was a signer to the Texas Declaration of Independence and chaired the committee to revise the constitution.[iv] Colonel James Reily (1811–1864) arrived sometime after March 2, 1836 to Texas, where he received a headright of 1,280 acres. He settled his family in Nacogdoches and served as a major in the Army of the Republic of Texas and aide-de-camp to Thomas J. Rusk. January 1838 Reily had become Rusk’s law partner. Reily was appointed by Sam Houston as chargé d’affaires for the republic in Washington, D.C., where he arrived on March 8, 1842.[v] General James S. Mayfield (1809–?) moved to Texas in 1837. In January 1839 he was practicing law in Nacogdoches. From February 8, 1841, to September 7, 1841, Mayfield served as secretary of state under Mirabeau B. Lamar, except for the period from April 30 to September 7, when Joseph Waples and Samuel A. Roberts served consecutively in his place. On September 16, 1842, Mayfield assembled a company of volunteers from La Grange, to follow Capt. Nicholas Dawson in an attempt to repel Gen. Adrián Woll’s Mexican army from San Antonio. His group, joined by others under the command of Jesse Billingsley and W. J. Wallace, arrived at the scene of the Dawson massacre on Salado Creek while it was occurring. Mayfield, as the commanding officer, determined that his group was too far outnumbered and remained in the distance until the following day, when he joined the command of Mathew Caldwell. In 1842 Mayfield was a member of the Somervell expedition but did not join the subsequent Mier expedition.[vi] Colonel John S. Roberts (1796–1871) By 1822 he was a resident of Natchitoches, where he became a deputy sheriff in 1826. The same year, he joined the Ayish Bayou forces that took part in the Fredonian Rebellion, led by Haden and Benjamin W. Edwards against the Mexican government of Texas. In 1827 he joined the rebel forces at the battle of Nacogdoches Roberts enlisted in the Nacogdoches Independent Volunteers on October 4, 1835, as a first lieutenant (he was later promoted to captain) under Capt. Thomas J. Rusk and saw distinguished service in the siege of Bexar (November 25-December 5). He was elected a delegate to the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos and signed the Declaration of Independence March 2, 1836.[vii] Charles Stanfield Taylor (1808–1865) participated in the battle of Nacogdoches and represented Nacogdoches in the Convention of 1832. In 1833 he moved to San Augustine, where he was elected alcalde on January 1, 1834. In summer 1834 he returned to Nacogdoches, and on April 25, 1835, he was appointed land commissioner for San Augustine and issued land titles until the Texas Revolution began. Taylor was signer to the Texas Declaration of Independence.[viii] James Pickney Henderson (1808–1858) moved to Canton, Mississippi, in 1835, became interested in news of the Texas Revolution, and began enlistments for the Texas service. He arrived at Velasco, Texas, on June 3, 1836, and was commissioned by David G. Burnet as brigadier general and sent to the United States to recruit for the Texas army. Henderson organized a company in North Carolina and sent it to Texas, reputedly at his own expense. Upon his return to Texas in November 1836, he was appointed attorney general of the republic under Sam Houston and in December 1836 succeeded Stephen F. Austin as secretary of state. Henderson was a member of the Convention of 1845, was elected governor of Texas in November 1845, and took office in February 1846.[ix] Colonel Nicholas Adolphus Sterne (1801–1852) met Sam Houston in Nashville, Tennessee where the two formed a lasting relationship, which they renewed after Sterne established a mercantile house in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 1826. (Houston arrived in Texas six years later.) Because Sterne had visited Nacogdoches in 1824, some have fixed that year as the date of his arrival in Texas. Soon after moving to Nacogdoches, Sterne became involved with the Fredonian Rebellion. Sterne assisted the Texans in the battle of Nacogdoches in 1832 and financed two companies of troops during the Texas Revolution. [x] Others included: Colonel Thomas Jefferson Jennings, Dr. James Harper Starr, Colonel John Forbes, General Haden Edwards, Henry Raguet, Dr. Robert A Irion, Kelsey H. Douglass, Kenneth L Anderson, William B Ochiltree, Oran M. Roberts, Royal T. Wheeler, Henry W. Sublett, William R. Scurry, Benjamin Rush Wallace, Judge John Gilbert Love. This body of Texas founders and patriots formed an East Texas who’s who, notable of deeds and service to the Republic of Texas. Many of these notable patriots have counties, cities and towns named in their honor throughout the Lone Star State.[xi] Not long after his arrival in to Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar appointed Terrell District Judge for the Fifth Precinct (San Augustine District) based on a recommendation from J. Pickney Henderson. Terrell had not solicited the appointment. In April 1840 Henderson wrote to Lamar: My Dear Sir, I wrote you some days since and mentioned that I understood from Judge Branch that he would resign in the course of a few weeks. I also at the same time mentioned to you the name of Gen’l George Whitfield Terrell as a gentleman whom I thought would fill the office with credit to himself and advantage of Texas. Allow me again to speak to you on this subject more fully than I did in my first letter. I have known Gen’l Terrell slightly for four or five years and have long known his character and standing as a lawyer. He is recently from Mississippi where I knew him first but he was formerly a citizen of Tennessee where I knew his character. He is a gentleman of sterling worth a good lawyer and strictly an honest man and I can assure you that he would do credit to the bench of any state. He would not be in Texas but he was unfortunate in Mississippi and has come here with the few negroes he has left to replace his fortune. His friends have endeavored to induce him to make a personal application to you for the appointment but he declines doing so for two reasons the first is because he dislikes to urge his own pretentions [sic] and secondly because Mr. Johnston a friend of his expressed his desire to obtain the appointment but at the urgent solicitation of his friends he has said that he would accept the place provided it would please you to tender it to him. General Terrell is a gentleman who cannot fail to take a high stand in our country whatever station he may occupy in the outset and I am sure you will be pleased with him when you meet him. He has been a citizen of Texas I believe 8 or 9 months and has already made many warm friends.[xii] In September, Terrell wrote Secretary of State Abner Smith Lipscomb acknowledging the commission from his office confirming Terrell’s appointment. Terrell considered the commission high evidence of confidence in a stranger, reposed by the Executive. In just a few short months, November 1840, the residents of San Augustine County drafted and signed a petition recommending him to be re-appointed to the same office. Terrell’s work as District Judge gave such satisfaction to the Congress of Texas that the body unanimously elected him to the same position 3 January 1841. The way the Constitution was written, it provided for a Supreme Court of all District Judges. Thus, the men who served as associate judges consequently served as associate justices of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas; therefore, Terrell was a member of that honorable body. Terrell’s ability as a lawyer are what brought him to the forefront. Men such as Houston, Henderson, Jones and many other men of historical fame are on record testifying to his abilities. [xiii] By mid-1841, Terrell had become increasingly dissatisfied with his position as associate justice. Repeated attacks on his character and charges of “degrading the judiciary” in the newspaper gave him no reason to continue in the position. Terrell looked upon the judiciary as the short anchor of American liberty and more especially in Texas. He viewed the court as the only hope and depository of civil rights. His constant aim and single purpose was to elevate the high tribunal for his successors. In July 1841, Terrell told Houston that at the end of the next session of the Supreme Court he intended to quit his post.[xiv] The Republics bankruptcy loomed large by the end of 1840 plunging President Lamar’s popularity to its lowest point. On 11 December 1840, President Lamar yielded to the orders of his Doctor and resigned the office. Vice President David G. Burnett succeeded Lamar as President for the remainder of 1841, a position he held once before, from 17 March to 22 October 1836. Burnet’s actions during that first interim Presidency had angered Houston, Vice President Lorenzo de Zavala, many Cabinet members, the army and the public. In 1838 he entered the race for Vice President and rode Lamar’s coattails to victory. Now, taking control after Lamar’s departure, Burnett had several cabinet positions that needed to be filled. In early January, Burnett appointed Terrell as the Secretary of State, unbeknownst to Terrell. It is unclear whether Terrell initially accepted the appointment or not as no conformation dates exist in State Archives. Many accounts and writings from various men do exist that blur exactly what happened. Houston was not pleased about the appointment and offered his old friend a stern warning about accepting such a position from Burnet. In January 1841, Houston wrote to his wife Margaret; …my friend Terrell will not accept the appointment of Sec’y of State. He his wise for his standing on the Bench is enviable for a man of his age, and in the east there is no one to fill his place. He also noted to Anthony Butler; I have been assured that Judge Terrell will not accept the Secretaryship of State as it was made without his consent or knowledge. The Minister from France, Jean de Saligny told Prime Minister of France, Francois Guizot that Burnet was having a very difficult time “rounding out his cabinet.” It seems that after meeting with refusal from several supporters of Lamar, Burnet named Terrell, a member of the Supreme Court and a close and personal friend of Houston’s, as Secretary of State. Without waiting for reply, Burnet sent this nomination to the Senate, where it was unanimously confirmed and had been announced officially in the newspapers. However, the following day, Terrell, much surprised and displeased at this “highhanded procedure,” declined the offer of Burnet. Mr. Terrell is a very honorable and upright man, wrote de Saligny stating further to Guizot and I regret still more his refusal since I have learned that the President is now thinking of appointing Mr. [James] Mayfield to the Department of State. Adolphus Sterne noted in his diary on 14 February 1841 that Terrell had not accepted the position and that James Mayfield had been chosen and accepted the appointment.[xv] [i] Terrell to Washington J. Dewitt, 26 March 1839, Selected Letters and Papers of Judge Charles S. Taylor, Stephan F. Austin Univ. Nacogdoches, Texas; Terrell to William Fitzgerald, 6 December 1839, Tennessee Document History 1796 – 1850, Univ. of Tennessee. [ii] Headright, Texas General Land Office, Austin, Texas. [iii] Thomas H. Kreneck, “HOUSTON, SAMUEL,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fho73), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [iv] Priscilla Myers Benham, “RUSK, THOMAS JEFFERSON,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fru16), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [v] Thomas W. Cutrer, “REILY, JAMES,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fre26), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [vi] “MAYFIELD, JAMES S.,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fma92), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [vii] Joe E. Ericson, “ROBERTS, JOHN S.,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fro14), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [viii] Linda Sybert Hudson, “TAYLOR, CHARLES STANFIELD,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fta16), accessed March 03, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [ix] Claude Elliott, “HENDERSON, JAMES PINCKNEY,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fhe14), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [x] Archie P. McDonald, “STERNE, NICHOLAS ADOLPHUS,” Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fst45), accessed March 06, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. [xi] Cleburne, Huston, Towering Texan, A Biography of Thomas J. Rusk, 1971, Waco, Texas, Texian Press, pgs. 121-22 [xii] J. Pickney Henderson to Mirabeau B. Lamar, 20 April 1840, Texas State Archives, Austin, Texas [xiii] Terrell to Abner Lipscomb, 12 September 1841, Texas State Archives; Petition of San Augustine residents, 30 November 1840, private collection of Dr. Nelson James Terrell, Los Almos, New Mexico; Catholic Diocese Archives, Austin, Texas; Southwest Historical Quarterly, Vol. 60 July 1956-April 1957. Texas State Historical Association 1957, 3, 17 [xiv] Terrell to Houston, 25 July, 1841, Catholic Diocese, ibid [xv] Dubois de Saligny to Francois Guizot, 14 December 1840, Nancy Nichols Barker, The French Legation in Texas, 2 Vol. Austin, State Historical Society 1:177-78; Madge Thornall Roberts, The Personal Correspondence of Sam Houston 1841-1844, Denton, Univ. of North Texas Press, 1966, 1:85-6, 90-1 (Sam Houston to Margaret Houston, 31 January 1841); Houston to Anthony Butler, 2 February 1841, Executive Records of Sam Houston 1841-1844, Texas State Archives, ibid; Saligny to Guizot 6 February 1841, ibid; 1:196-99; Adolphus Sterne, Hurrah for Texas, The Diary of Adolphus Sterne 1831-1851, Waco, Texian Press, 1969, pgs 27-8 (14 February 1841)
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 19:00:42 +0000