Houston’s second Republic of Texas Presidency at Washington on the Brazos

To all the “Grains from the Sandbar” readers, Happy New Year! It’s so good to be back writing early Grimes County and surrounding area histories after a two-month absence.

While away it gave me the opportunity to finally read the “Life and Letters” of Dr. John Washington Lockhart’s book, “Sixty Years on the Brazos.” It quickly became obvious that Lockhart considered Sam Houston, possibly above any of those who came later, as the greatest of any Texan to have ever lived.

When Mirabeau Lamar became the second Republic of Texas President in 1838, he moved the Republic’s capital to a hunting village called Waterloo that was renamed Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin. It was on the western edge of civilization and often threatened by Indians.

When Sam Houston was inaugurated to his second term as the Republic’s third President Dec. 12, 1841, he refused Austin as the Republic’s capital. He wanted to remain in Houston. However, since Lamar had run the Republic’s debt from 1838 to the end of 1841 from $1,877,525 to $7,300,000 there was no money to establish office space in Houston. Houstonites refused to divvy up. Reaching out to Washington on the Brazos, the citizens gladly pitched in and voluntarily prepared and offered space.

Thus, the Republic’s government beginning in 1842 was run from Washington on the Brazos. Author John Lockhart was a 16-year-old at that time and seemingly became entranced watching Houston over the next few years. The Houston’s lived with the Lockhart family at Washington on the Brazos. The only thing that disturbed John Lockhart’s mother was Houston sitting on the porch spitting tobacco on the porch floor.

As to the government’s housing, it was scattered about Washington. The government’s lower branch occupied the old Declaration of Independence Hall where six years earlier the Republic of Texas Declaration of Independence was signed March 2, 1836.         

Richard Scurry was elected speaker of the house and James H. Raymond became chief clerk.

The Senate was assigned the upstairs over the barroom of Major B. M. Hatfield. General Ed Burleson presided over the Senate with Stephen Z. Hoys as secretary.

Washington-on-the Brazos was established officially as the Republic’s capital by Houston’s executive order in September 1942 to remain so until annexation. This divided the Republic of Texas into two political factions, west” and east, making Houston many enemies, particularly in the western section. It created two political parties known as the “Houston party” and the “anti-Houston” party. Discussions could become so heated in Congress that an adjournment would be declared with differences abating after a few drinks at Hatfield’s bar.

The 1842 to 1844 period of the Republic of Texas was that of austerity following Lamar’s previous two-year term at Austin creating the Republic’s unfathomable debt growth. There were times the Republic faced bankruptcy. Houston fought through by cutting back the Navy as well as the military.

Houston had named Anson Jones as Secretary of State coddling with England and France to the point of urging the U. S.to defensibly annex the Republic of Texas. Jones’ succeeding presidency of the Republic brought annexation in 1846.

(Written by Betty Dunn, Two Rivers Heritage Foundation). Visit www.tworiversheritagefoundation.org for more information or to become a member)