The Patriot Post® · Texas Tough

With the constitution approved and one more battle awaiting before victory could be announced, the delegates quickly abandoned their gathering spot at Washington-on-the-Brazos, now considered the birthplace of Texas. The new government had hastily been elected, and those men — David G. Burnet, president; Lorenzo de Zavala, vice president; Samuel P. Carson, secretary of state; Thomas J. Rusk, secretary of war; and David Thomas, attorney general — headed to the safety of Galveston Island. Once the Battle of San Jacinto had ended with the Texans victorious, the “government” hurriedly made its way to San Jacinto to negotiate surrender terms.

And that’s where we left the Texans last week, having forced the cowering General Santa Anna to sign a surrender and agree to independence for Texas.

But Santa Anna, who had returned to Mexico to secure a permanent treaty recognizing boundaries and more, had no intention of allowing all that territory to simply slip away into the hands of the “Americans.” The plot thickened when Texas Major Isaac W. Burton and his mounted ranger company observed a suspicious vessel in Copano Bay and forced the captain to allow the rangers to board. The cargo included supplies to reinforce the Mexican army. When two other vessels were subsequently captured, the Texans understood that independence might have been proclaimed, but securing it would take further action.

As the provisional government struggled to deal with the Mexican threat, it was also confronted with Comanche and Caddo Indian attacks on the western lands, and the future looked uncertain at best. Most recognized that a more stable government should be created, and a formal acceptance of the constitution by the residents of Texas would add credibility to the government. Four items were proposed on the ballot: 1) approve the constitution; 2) authorize Congress to amend the constitution as needed; 3) elect a president, members of Congress, etc.; and 4) decide if Texas should ask the United States to be admitted as a state.

The role of the president was crucial to securing that stable future. Several candidates emerged, including Henry Smith, a member of the provisional government; Stephen F. Austin of settlement fame; and Sam Houston of San Jacinto glory. Others stepped forward as well. When the votes were counted, Sam Houston had secured more than 5,000 votes, as opposed to his closest opponent, who had less than 800 votes. Stephen Austin’s name was checked on only 587 ballots. Historians speculate that Houston’s previous leadership experience in the U.S. Congress and as governor of Tennessee, coupled with his military prowess, assured the people that he would not give in to the Mexican government’s threats.

The people overwhelmingly approved the constitution and authorized the government to seek annexation by the United States, but, more aware of the U.S. Constitution than one might assume, rejected giving power to Congress to amend the constitution.

Houston was sworn in as president, and his friend, Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, former governor of Alabama and a hero at the Battle of San Jacinto, was elected vice president. The new Congress, comprised of 14 senators and 29 representatives, set about fulfilling the people’s authorized mandates. Houston was sworn in on October 22, 1836, and the new government quickly adopted a flag and a seal — the trappings of government are important and signal permanency. The name “Republic of Texas” was chosen, and the Texas Congress authorized a court system that included a Supreme Court with Chief Justice James Collinsworth and four associate justices. Each county was authorized to have a sheriff, justices of the peace, a coroner, and local constables. Maintaining peace and order was paramount on the frontier.

Establishing boundaries meant opening negotiations with the United States, and Houston sprang into action. Additionally, Congress created a military force of over 3,000 infantry and about 300 mounted riflemen, along with funds for fort construction, to secure the western borders and protect settlers from both Indian and Mexican raids. Because of Houston’s previous close relationship with the Cherokee, he was adamant that negotiations with the native people would guarantee their own lands and avoid military conflict. To make that happen, Houston replaced the previous commander of the army with Albert Sidney Johnston — yes, that Albert Sidney Johnston — and the former commander challenged Johnston to a duel and wounded him.

Life on the Western frontier was definitely interesting and challenging.

Next, we’ll examine why the United States delayed accepting Texas’s petition for admission to the union.