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Chapter 17 Texas 1837
Chapter 17 Texas 1837
"You would've been so proud of what your dream became, father."- Secretary of State Stephen F. Austin 1841
"It's times like these where i wonder if this is how proud Washington felt like when running the United States."- President Sam Houston 1837
The following is a series of events that take place within the Republic of Texas in 1837 A.D
January 24th, 1837: Senator William H. Wharton from the district of Victoria, introduces the design of the Lone Star flag to the congressional floor. Based on the flag of the United States of America, the colors in the Lone Star flag have; blue which represents loyalty, red for bravery, and white for liberty. The lone star represents Texas and the nations unity and strength before God and country. Meanwhile, the lone red and white stripe is based on the flag of the rebels during the Fredonian Rebellion. The flag is unanimously approved by the Texas Congress and is signed into law as the national flag on January 27th. The Burnet flag meanwhile is used as the nation's war flag until after the Mexican War.
View attachment 287352
March 2nd, 1837: On the one year anniversary of Texas's independence, Congress convenes to establish a new capitol for the nation. There is much debate over where the capitol will be located as the Tejanos and westerners push for San Antonio, Gulf representatives for Galveston, Houston's faction for the new city of Houston, and a few proposals for establishment at Santa Fe to act as a midway point. Vice-President Lamar suggests a compromise and calls for construction of a capitol at a location near the Waterloo area around the Colorado river. Lamar cites his reason for the location as being directly in the center of Texas, an established midway for trade between Galveston and Santa Fe, as well as the areas large hills for defense and fertile landscape. In the two months afterwords congress would be decided until the Treaty of Gudadulupe Hidalgo would arrive before the senate. After ratification, congressmen start to move towards Lamar's idea and the proposal gains a majority. President Houston enacts a veto against the proposal but the bill is able to gain a 2/3rd's majority after being sent back to congress. Seeing no other choice, Houston signed the bill into law on June 14th. Official settlement does not start until late in September and Columbia is still the temporary capitol until the next presidential term on December 10th, 1838.
View attachment 287353
Present day Texas Congress in Austin
March 3rd, 1837: On his last day of office, US President Andrew Jackson recognizes the Republic of Texas's independence and sets up relations between America and Texas. A Texan embassy is set up within Washington by the end of the year while the United States constructs a consulate within Galveston and a permanent embassy in Austin in 1839.
May 5th, 1837: The Republic of Texas recognizes both the Republic of Yucatan and Republic of Rio Grande's independence, relations are quickly established between all nations with embassies being set up by the end of the year. Rio Grande is able to keep a consulate within Laredo, tensions rise between both countries however on the Rio Grande border, for now peace and trade remains between both nations. The Texan-Yucatan alliance soon turns into a special relationship that remains well into the 21st century, early ties are affirmed when Attorney General de Zavala, a native of the Yucatan, makes a trip in 1838 supporting Texas's friendship with the Yucatan. Texas will also be of immense support in both the Guatemala War and the Mayan rebellions in the 1840's, while Yucatan will play a pivotal role in the Mexican War.
May 29th, 1837: Debate begins within congress over the status of California within Texas. Some argue that California should be sold to the United States in order to receive a large amount of money to boost the economy. Others advocate for California to remain within Texas and be invested in as the nations pacific port. There is much debate within the nationalists on in the situation a Texan California occurs if the nation should remain centralized or become a United States of Texas. The House and Senate finally compromise on a solution and enact the constitution on the decentralization of California in a new Commonwealth system. In it the Commonwealths are set up similarly to states but with several exceptions; Senators are determined by districts as within Texas. The Commonwealth is given a greater amount of autonomy compared to the states, with the national government controlling state militias in wartime, controlling all foreign trade and national commerce, and national infrastructure. All forms of government that are not specified by the Constitution or laws by the national government may be interpreted and enacted by the commonwealth government. The Commonwealth would also have its own regional legislature with a format similar to the national structure. California would be given control over both Alta and Baja California but the national government has the right to divide it into 5 separate commonwealths. Monterrey is kept within as the capitol while Juan Bautista Alvarado is recognized as its Governor. While many Californians are still angry at what was essentially a forced annexation of their territory, most see the benefits of living in Texas with extra autonomy that was not given to them in Mexico. Therefore, no major rebellions occur within California during its time in Texas.
June, 1837: Settlers, primarily form the states of Arkansas and Missouri, start to settle near the Trinity river, close to the borders of Indian territory and Arkansas. American pioneer, John Neely Bryan, builds a permanent settlement after attempting to establish a trade outpost with local Native American tribes. This settlement is founded in 1842 and is named Lamar, Texas, after then President Mirabeau B. Lamar. The area is reinforced by the Texan army in 1846 with the construction of nearby Fort Travis. Over the years the Lamar-Fort Travis area becomes a major transportation hub with Lamar acting as a terminus to the Texas rail line from the United States, with Fort Travis being a center of the cattle industry as well as a gateway to the west for Texan immigrants from East. The metropolitan area today is Texas's second largest and a rival to the Houston-Galveston area. (OTL Dallas-Fort Worth)
View attachment 287354
Lamar, Texas
June 5th, 1837: The city of Houston is officially incorporated into the Republic of Texas, it is confirmed as the seat of Harris county and senatorial seat of the Harris district.
June 13th, 1837: The first Congress of the Republic ends according to terms set by last years election. A new session is enacted on August 13th with many senators and congressmen keeping their seats after being reelected 2 months prior. One notable exception is Juan Seguin who is elected as Senator of San Antonio.
July 4th, 1837: The Redback is introduced as the primary currency of the Republic of Texas
View attachment 287355
September 4th, 1837: The Santa Fe expedition is launched. The idea which originated from Vice-President Lamar and later approved by Houston, was created with the intentions of incorporating the New Mexico territory into Texas as well as supporting the creation of a stable trade route with Santa Fe, that could eventually lead to California. The expedition is headed by Jose Antonio Navarro as well as Attorney General Lorenzo de Zavala. The expedition carries merchandise around $150,000, and is accompanies by 250 Texan soldiers as well as 1,000 French troops that are sent to garrison the area. The expedition arrives in mid-December and is an immense success with large amounts of trade being conducted as well as negotiations between former New Mexican governor Manuel Armijo and de Zavala. While New Mexico is incorporated as a part of Texas and is not given the same Commonwealth status as California; they gain numerous economic benefits as well as Santa Fe being the center of the new New Mexico district and Santa Fe county. Manuel Armijo is chosen as the district's first senator.
September 14th, 1837: The Texas Defense and Security act is brought before congress. In it the Texan army is reduced to a single regiment of 1,000 men; with four battalions being stationed at Santa Fe, San Diego, San Antonio, and Houston. The Texas Rangers are formed into a regiment and given extensive funding and extended powers to patrol the frontier and uphold the law within the Republic. Finally 6 ships are proposed to be added to the Texas Navy by 1840. Many within congress are divided on additional expansion to the Navy as it would require massive funding and is not necessary at the time due to peace with Mexico. Support begins to grow when French Admiral Charles Baudin assures the government that France would be more than willing to support Texan Naval expansion and would possibly be willing to sell old French warships. The bill is passed on July 31st with Travis still retaining command of the army, while American sailor Edwin Moore (Father of the Texas Navy), receives command of the Texan Navy as a Commodore. Deaf Smith is assigned as the head of the Texas Rangers and over the years will shape the organization into its current day standard with its introduction into a paramilitary state police force.
RTS Archer Early Texas Rangers (1845)
November 10th, 1837: In order to deal with the oncoming waves of immigrants to the new nation and help them settle in the frontier, the Department of Immigration and Customs is formally established. Jose Antonio Navarro is chosen as the first Secretary of Immigration.
Jose Antonio Navarro
December 11th, 1837: President Houston announces the Indian Citizenship initiative. The program details that any Indian tribe currently living in Texas may seek to live under the Republic as lawful citizens, in return for obeying the nation's laws, the tribes lands are converted to a county and possible senatorial district depending upon the tribe's population and land area. Houston's reasons for this being his past years living among the Cherokee and wanting for them to find a place in Texas after having been forced from the United States. As expected, many congressmen and Vice-President Lamar disapprove of this program and vow to block any sort of admittance of the Indians. Houston instead works around congress and operates the initiative through the State Department as the matter is one of negotiations between Texas and "sovereign" Indian tribes. It is unknown which tribes will come to the negotiations but many look towards the Comanche in anticipation of their response.
"You would've been so proud of what your dream became, father."- Secretary of State Stephen F. Austin 1841
"It's times like these where i wonder if this is how proud Washington felt like when running the United States."- President Sam Houston 1837
The following is a series of events that take place within the Republic of Texas in 1837 A.D
January 24th, 1837: Senator William H. Wharton from the district of Victoria, introduces the design of the Lone Star flag to the congressional floor. Based on the flag of the United States of America, the colors in the Lone Star flag have; blue which represents loyalty, red for bravery, and white for liberty. The lone star represents Texas and the nations unity and strength before God and country. Meanwhile, the lone red and white stripe is based on the flag of the rebels during the Fredonian Rebellion. The flag is unanimously approved by the Texas Congress and is signed into law as the national flag on January 27th. The Burnet flag meanwhile is used as the nation's war flag until after the Mexican War.
View attachment 287352March 2nd, 1837: On the one year anniversary of Texas's independence, Congress convenes to establish a new capitol for the nation. There is much debate over where the capitol will be located as the Tejanos and westerners push for San Antonio, Gulf representatives for Galveston, Houston's faction for the new city of Houston, and a few proposals for establishment at Santa Fe to act as a midway point. Vice-President Lamar suggests a compromise and calls for construction of a capitol at a location near the Waterloo area around the Colorado river. Lamar cites his reason for the location as being directly in the center of Texas, an established midway for trade between Galveston and Santa Fe, as well as the areas large hills for defense and fertile landscape. In the two months afterwords congress would be decided until the Treaty of Gudadulupe Hidalgo would arrive before the senate. After ratification, congressmen start to move towards Lamar's idea and the proposal gains a majority. President Houston enacts a veto against the proposal but the bill is able to gain a 2/3rd's majority after being sent back to congress. Seeing no other choice, Houston signed the bill into law on June 14th. Official settlement does not start until late in September and Columbia is still the temporary capitol until the next presidential term on December 10th, 1838.
View attachment 287353
Present day Texas Congress in Austin
March 3rd, 1837: On his last day of office, US President Andrew Jackson recognizes the Republic of Texas's independence and sets up relations between America and Texas. A Texan embassy is set up within Washington by the end of the year while the United States constructs a consulate within Galveston and a permanent embassy in Austin in 1839.
May 5th, 1837: The Republic of Texas recognizes both the Republic of Yucatan and Republic of Rio Grande's independence, relations are quickly established between all nations with embassies being set up by the end of the year. Rio Grande is able to keep a consulate within Laredo, tensions rise between both countries however on the Rio Grande border, for now peace and trade remains between both nations. The Texan-Yucatan alliance soon turns into a special relationship that remains well into the 21st century, early ties are affirmed when Attorney General de Zavala, a native of the Yucatan, makes a trip in 1838 supporting Texas's friendship with the Yucatan. Texas will also be of immense support in both the Guatemala War and the Mayan rebellions in the 1840's, while Yucatan will play a pivotal role in the Mexican War.
May 29th, 1837: Debate begins within congress over the status of California within Texas. Some argue that California should be sold to the United States in order to receive a large amount of money to boost the economy. Others advocate for California to remain within Texas and be invested in as the nations pacific port. There is much debate within the nationalists on in the situation a Texan California occurs if the nation should remain centralized or become a United States of Texas. The House and Senate finally compromise on a solution and enact the constitution on the decentralization of California in a new Commonwealth system. In it the Commonwealths are set up similarly to states but with several exceptions; Senators are determined by districts as within Texas. The Commonwealth is given a greater amount of autonomy compared to the states, with the national government controlling state militias in wartime, controlling all foreign trade and national commerce, and national infrastructure. All forms of government that are not specified by the Constitution or laws by the national government may be interpreted and enacted by the commonwealth government. The Commonwealth would also have its own regional legislature with a format similar to the national structure. California would be given control over both Alta and Baja California but the national government has the right to divide it into 5 separate commonwealths. Monterrey is kept within as the capitol while Juan Bautista Alvarado is recognized as its Governor. While many Californians are still angry at what was essentially a forced annexation of their territory, most see the benefits of living in Texas with extra autonomy that was not given to them in Mexico. Therefore, no major rebellions occur within California during its time in Texas.
June, 1837: Settlers, primarily form the states of Arkansas and Missouri, start to settle near the Trinity river, close to the borders of Indian territory and Arkansas. American pioneer, John Neely Bryan, builds a permanent settlement after attempting to establish a trade outpost with local Native American tribes. This settlement is founded in 1842 and is named Lamar, Texas, after then President Mirabeau B. Lamar. The area is reinforced by the Texan army in 1846 with the construction of nearby Fort Travis. Over the years the Lamar-Fort Travis area becomes a major transportation hub with Lamar acting as a terminus to the Texas rail line from the United States, with Fort Travis being a center of the cattle industry as well as a gateway to the west for Texan immigrants from East. The metropolitan area today is Texas's second largest and a rival to the Houston-Galveston area. (OTL Dallas-Fort Worth)
View attachment 287354
Lamar, Texas
June 5th, 1837: The city of Houston is officially incorporated into the Republic of Texas, it is confirmed as the seat of Harris county and senatorial seat of the Harris district.
June 13th, 1837: The first Congress of the Republic ends according to terms set by last years election. A new session is enacted on August 13th with many senators and congressmen keeping their seats after being reelected 2 months prior. One notable exception is Juan Seguin who is elected as Senator of San Antonio.
July 4th, 1837: The Redback is introduced as the primary currency of the Republic of Texas
View attachment 287355
September 4th, 1837: The Santa Fe expedition is launched. The idea which originated from Vice-President Lamar and later approved by Houston, was created with the intentions of incorporating the New Mexico territory into Texas as well as supporting the creation of a stable trade route with Santa Fe, that could eventually lead to California. The expedition is headed by Jose Antonio Navarro as well as Attorney General Lorenzo de Zavala. The expedition carries merchandise around $150,000, and is accompanies by 250 Texan soldiers as well as 1,000 French troops that are sent to garrison the area. The expedition arrives in mid-December and is an immense success with large amounts of trade being conducted as well as negotiations between former New Mexican governor Manuel Armijo and de Zavala. While New Mexico is incorporated as a part of Texas and is not given the same Commonwealth status as California; they gain numerous economic benefits as well as Santa Fe being the center of the new New Mexico district and Santa Fe county. Manuel Armijo is chosen as the district's first senator.
September 14th, 1837: The Texas Defense and Security act is brought before congress. In it the Texan army is reduced to a single regiment of 1,000 men; with four battalions being stationed at Santa Fe, San Diego, San Antonio, and Houston. The Texas Rangers are formed into a regiment and given extensive funding and extended powers to patrol the frontier and uphold the law within the Republic. Finally 6 ships are proposed to be added to the Texas Navy by 1840. Many within congress are divided on additional expansion to the Navy as it would require massive funding and is not necessary at the time due to peace with Mexico. Support begins to grow when French Admiral Charles Baudin assures the government that France would be more than willing to support Texan Naval expansion and would possibly be willing to sell old French warships. The bill is passed on July 31st with Travis still retaining command of the army, while American sailor Edwin Moore (Father of the Texas Navy), receives command of the Texan Navy as a Commodore. Deaf Smith is assigned as the head of the Texas Rangers and over the years will shape the organization into its current day standard with its introduction into a paramilitary state police force.
RTS Archer Early Texas Rangers (1845)
November 10th, 1837: In order to deal with the oncoming waves of immigrants to the new nation and help them settle in the frontier, the Department of Immigration and Customs is formally established. Jose Antonio Navarro is chosen as the first Secretary of Immigration.
Jose Antonio Navarro
December 11th, 1837: President Houston announces the Indian Citizenship initiative. The program details that any Indian tribe currently living in Texas may seek to live under the Republic as lawful citizens, in return for obeying the nation's laws, the tribes lands are converted to a county and possible senatorial district depending upon the tribe's population and land area. Houston's reasons for this being his past years living among the Cherokee and wanting for them to find a place in Texas after having been forced from the United States. As expected, many congressmen and Vice-President Lamar disapprove of this program and vow to block any sort of admittance of the Indians. Houston instead works around congress and operates the initiative through the State Department as the matter is one of negotiations between Texas and "sovereign" Indian tribes. It is unknown which tribes will come to the negotiations but many look towards the Comanche in anticipation of their response.
- Kaiser Chris
- Word Count: 1.8k