Sold – Sam Houston Struggles to Mold the Newly Founded Republic of Texas Stressing Peace and Tolerance

He hopes for the success of his famed Nacogdoches speech denouncing mistreatment of the Indians, and seeks time to oppose the men and measures of opponents, even as he ponders their intentions

In 1836, Houston became the first President of the Republic of Texas, and he took measures designed to set the course for the new nation. However, he was unable to serve another consecutive term and left office in 1838. His Vice President had been Mirabeau Lamar, and the two men disagreed with and disliked each other, so when Lamar succeeded Houston the latter was concerned about the future of Texas. To show his contempt for Lamar, at Lamar’s inauguration Houston lengthened his farewell address to three hours, which it is said so unnerved Lamar that he was unable to read his inaugural speech.

No sooner had Lamar taken office in December 1838 than he reversed Houston’s core policies. Instead of Houston’s live-and-let-live, friendly attitude towards Native Americans, he determined to act against the Indian tribes, with the end of bringing about their “total extinction.” Overruling Houston’s desire for peace with Mexico, he began making conquest plans for the Mexican lands between Texas and the Pacific Ocean. He changed the capital from Houston to Austin, and began disfavoring pro-Houston East Texas in his policy decisions. And on the crucial issue of resolving the differences between the United States and Texas on their joint border, failure of which might have resulted in a disastrous war, Lamar rushed through appointments of hard-liners like George W. Smythe to the Joint Republic of Texas-United States Boundaries Commission. Whether the policies of Houston or Lamar prevailed would determine the character of the Texas Republic on the most elemental level.

Early in 1839 Houston left for a trip to the United States, where he spent the summer with Andrew Jackson. While he was away, Lamar acted. The Indians had originally obtained squatters’ rights to Texas land from Spanish authorities, and on February 23, 1836 a treaty made by Sam Houston and the Texas government gave them title to the lands. That treaty was declared null and void by the Texas Senate on December 16, 1837, despite Houston’s insistence that it be ratified. In May 1839, citing a letter supposedly exposing plans by the Mexican government to enlist the Indians against the Texas settlers, Lamar launched the Cherokee War “to push a rigorous war against them; pursuing them to their hiding places without mitigation or compassion, until they shall be made to feel that flight from our borders without hope of return.” After the Battle of Neches and skirmishes in July 1839 in which the Inidians took serious loses, in an extension to their Trail of Tears virtually coinciding with this, they were forced to flee the lands Houston had promised them. Among those killed was Houston’s friend, Chief Bowl. Young John Reagan was a participant in the battle, and a strong supporter of the anti-Indian policy. He published a pamphlet supporting Lamar’s actions. Lamar also prodeeded on his appointment of Smyth and other anti-Houston measures. Thus there was a confrontation between two Texases – Houston’s seeking coexistence with the U.S., Mexico, and the Native Americans; and Lamar’s promoting more expansionist policies.

When Houston returned to Texas in early August 1839, he immediately set about rallying his forces and trying to make an impact on the views of Texans. At Nacogdoches, he made his famous speech denouncing the expulsion of the Indians, hoping to create a shift of feelings to a policy more friendly to Native Americans. He contacted allies looking for information, and set about encouraging and firming up supporters.

George W. Paschal was a friend and political ally of Houston, and being married to a full-blood Cherokee named Sarah, daughter of Houston friend Chief John Ridge, was in sympathy with the Indians plight. Paschal was a noted attorney, editor, and author, writing “A Digest of the Laws of Texas”  and “The Constitution of the United States Defined and Carefully Annotated.”

Autograph Letter Signed, Independence, Texas, September 23, 1839, to Paschal, expressing his hopes for the success of his Nacogdoches speech, wondering whether Reagan would be affected by it or ride on his popularity, criticizing the appointment of Smythe, and maneuvering to delay Lamar’s appointments so he would have time to organize opposition to them. “I have only time to say “How are you.” I would that I could see you for an hour but rather for a day. You can’t leave home, or I would say, can’t you come to Brenham, and I could hasten there at any time you would say. You could have a record to look at in the clerk’s office. All this could happen well. Think of it! I have a letter to send you but it is at my house and I am writing in town.

“What do you think of Reagan’s course? Do you like well? Has he taken the big head or not? I have not read his letter and only heard it discussed. The East will not be told to take George W. Smythe or some other man, as I think. We will be in no haste in this business. The creation was perfected in six days. I sincerely wish your son to enter West Point as you and he desire it. It rests solely with the representative, and he can do just as he pleases. A senator has no might, but if we live to winter I will do anything in my power or that you wish me to do in the matter. Write to me soon and tell me all the news.

“The mail is closing, I will try and have the letter laid before you, referred to! Has not Reagan got scared at my Nacogdochis speech, or is he only inflated with his majority. I am told he says there must be a prone Democratic Party. If so, he thinks his circular must embody whatever is necessary.” He ends saying, “My youngest child is quite ill. Cadets will be appointed until February and go on in May.” The letter comes with a letter from Paschal sending it to a collector in 1866. It was discovered very recently in the same collection it entered in 1866, and has never before been offered for sale.

Although Houston’s hopes that Texans would side with his policy of treating Native Americans more humanely would not be fulfilled, he did return to power, being elected for his second term as President of Texas in 1841 and serving until 1844. He then represented Texas in the U.S. Senate for 13 years, and finished his career as an outspoken (and much maligned) opponent of secession. His friend Paschal was also a Unionist before and during the Civil War, and was just about run out of the state as a result. As for Reagan, he went on to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving in Washington at the same time as his foe Sam Houston was in the Senate. A supporter of secession, he became the Confederate Postmaster General and then Secretary of the Treasury.