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William H. Wharton and Stephen F. Austin. Texas. ...
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Description
"An indispensable source for the activities in the States of the Texas Revolution Commissioners" -- Eberstadt
William H. Wharton and Stephen F. Austin.
Texas. Address of the Honorable Wm. H. Wharton,
Delivered in New York, on Tuesday, April 26, 1836. Also, Address of
the Honorable Stephen F. Austin, Delivered in Louisville, Kentucky,
on the 7th March, 1836. Together with Other Documents
Explanatory of the Origin, Principles and Objects of the Contest in
which Texas is at present engaged.New York: Printed by William H. Colyer, 1836.
FIRST EDITION, this issue with the six-line caption on page [5] (Streeter's presumed first issue). 8vo. 56 pages. Modern quarter sprinkled calf and marbled boards.
On November 7, 1835, the Consultation at San Felipe declared that Texans had taken up arms against the Mexican government to preserve the Constitution of 1824, not to seek independence. Immediately after the Consultation issued the declaration, it began a campaign to raise funds for the war and garner support throughout the United States. Branch T. Archer, Stephen F. Austin, and William H. Wharton were named commissioners with the mission of presenting the Texas cause to the American people. This included Wharton's travels to New York and Austin's journey to Louisville, as presented here.
By the spring of 1836, the Texas revolutionaries no longer hid their goal of independence. On March 7, 1836, Austin arrived in Louisville to deliver a fiery speech to a sympathetic audience. His speech reads, in part, "To conclude, I have shown that our cause is just and righteous, that it is the great cause of mankind, and as such merits the approbation and moral support of this magnanimous and free people. That our object is independence, as a new republic, or to become a State of these United States; that our resources are sufficient to sustain the principles we are defending; that the results will be the promotion of the great cause of liberty, philanthropy, and religion, and the protection of a great and important interest to the people of the United States. With these claims to the approbation and moral support of the free of all nations, the people of Texas have taken up arms in self-defense..."
Streeter writes: "It appears ...that Wharton's speech 'of thrilling power'... was received with thunders of applause and that 'he was followed by Dr. Archer and Col. Austin, the other commissioners, who addressed the meeting at considerable length'... Austin's address was first printed in Lexington in 1836.... Among 'Other Documents' is a reprinting of the Declaration of Independence. This is probably the first printing in pamphlet form."
Condition: Very minor toning and spotting to text. Title a little foxed at gutter, marginal chip and short tear on p. [5] with small reinforcement, with short tear continuing through the following four leaves discreetly repaired. Evidently removed from a volume of tracts with cropped early ink notation at head of title-page.
References: Eberstadt, Texas 162:908; Howes W-309; Rader 3625; Raines, p. 218; Streeter 1225n & 1260. See also, Rebecca Smith Lee, "The Publication of Austin's Louisville Address," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 70:3, 1967.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
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