Image Courtesy, Wade Dillon Illustrations
Lots of Noise, No Substance
After a decade in political limbo, Texas was annexed to the United States in December of 1845. Back in March, just days before the end of his Presidency, John Tyler pushed annexation by Joint Resolution. The Senate vote was a squeaker 27-25, Congress voted 132-76. On July 4th, the Texas Annexation Convention delegates voted to accept the United States offer, 55-1. In October, Texas voters, eager to join their cultural cousins to the east, voted overwhelmingly for annexation: 7,664 to 430. It was a long time coming.
The fledgling republic had been a political pariah plagued by a host of problems: crushing debt, slavery and all its implications, security issues, lack of infrastructure, and a reputation for grinding poverty and lawlessness that kept even the heartiest Americans from making Texas their home.
Desperate for people, the Republic looked toward Europe for settlers. French, Czech, Polish, Irish, and Germans emigrated in significant numbers, bringing needed economic and social stability.
The letter highlighted this month was written by an unhappy Irishman of that era. Politicians, thieving mail carriers, perceived anti-foreign rhetoric, all conspired to push his pen across the paper. The hope for our grumpy author was annexation. Through it he sees a brighter, more prosperous future for his adopted home.
I abridged the letter to shorten the length and omit unnecessary personal references. I chose not to omit a word offensive to modern ears. I mean no disrespect. The author simply reveals the racial and institutional prejudice of the time. Within a generation, Texas would leave the country it worked so hard to join to keep that institution intact.
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Transcript
Matagorda, [Texas] 20th March, 1845
George Cupple, Esq.
My Dear Sir,
It is some time since I received your welcome favor from Washington [on-the-Brazos, The Republic of Texas capital from 1842 – 1845] … I never received the letter you say you wrote – the one from Washington was the first.
I hope you were much edified by your visit to the place, where the Collected wisdom !! of Texas was assembled. Amused you could not fail to be by such a quantity of ignorance, pomposity, and foolishness as was congregated there.
I observed there was some difficulty in obtaining the relief [help] required by Mr. Castro [foreign-born colonizer and founder of the town of Castroville located just west of San Antonio]. Just the way with our wise legislators. They will, “strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.” They feel it is a duty !! to the constituents to show that they have done something, vox et preteria nihil (Latin for, lots of noise, no substance), and fire away like, “good native Americans” at all foreigners, right or wrong.
Poor Paddy [Ireland] (alas, my country) they did not spare him, however, at last, they did find out that the green sprigs of the Emerald Isle… had taken part in the bloody struggle against the Mexicans, and that they were really not niggers.
I did not receive the Register [newspaper] you sent me; it has been taken by some of the postmasters on the route, not an unusual occurrence. It gives much pleasure in learning the success of the enterprise.
I fear the situation at Castroville may be exposed to Indian attacks. The annexation of Texas to the United States, which measure has just been passed by both houses of Congress in the U.S., throws the protection of the frontier on the general [federal] government.
This change must have an immediate and beneficial effect on affairs in Texas. Immigration will increase and we only require a population of the right kind to make this country respectable for its wealth by developing its internal resources.
I am glad that you and your family are pleased with the localities of your position. It is indeed a great sacrifice for ladies to leave civilized society to come to a wild country like this…
Before the annexation is fully consummated, my desire is to get all the land titles in which I am concerned, perfected [legally completed].
Besides other matters, I have on hand {Lorenzo de] Zavala’s, Ensayo Historica de las Revoluciones de Mexico, de 1808 – 1830 [Essay on the History of Mexican Revolutions, 1808 – 1830] which has never yet been translated. I hope to have it ready for the press by the end of May…
Depend on seeing me next summer unless something very important prevents me. I anticipate much pleasure from my trip.
With best wishes for your and your family’s happiness —
Believe me,
Yours very sincerely,
William L. Delap
Delap, William. Letter from William L. Delap to George Cupples, March 20, 1845, letter, (abridged), University of North Texas Libraries, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
Why Historify?
I discovered the power of story as a history teacher, and the singular privilege of working at a Texas state archive filled with letters penned by common people whose thoughts, attitudes, and experiences reflect the times in which they lived.
Their stories are the heartbeat of history that give life to memory, and these letters are everywhere, in private collections, libraries, archives, and museums across the country, waiting to be discovered by an interested public.
This simple website was created as a free, uncomplicated, and time-saving introduction to the richness and value of historical sources, and as impetus for readers to explore history on their own.
Please join me as we study the past through the words of those who lived it, one life at a time, and thank you for being here.
Buck
Why Historify?
I discovered the power of story as a history teacher, and the singular privilege of working at a Texas state archive filled with letters penned by common people whose thoughts, attitudes, and experiences reflect the times in which they lived.
Their stories are the heartbeat of history that give life to memory, and these letters are everywhere, in private collections, libraries, archives, and museums across the country, waiting to be discovered by an interested public.
This simple website was created as a free, uncomplicated, and time-saving introduction to the richness and value of historical sources, and as impetus for readers to explore history on their own.
Please join me as we study the past through the words of those who lived it, one life at a time, and thank you for being here.
Buck