Republic of Texas 2nd President Mirabeau Lamar

In the last ‘Sandbar’ column, Republic of Texas second President Mirabeau Lamar came under criticism for running up the new country’s debt from $1,877,525 to $7,300,000. Let’s make clear that some of that debt had been created during Sam Houston’s first term as President of the new Republic of Texas.

Dr. John Lockhart in his book “Sixty Days on the Brazos,” details Lamar’s presidency and makes it clear that Lamar’s advocation of public schools and colleges was the crowning glory of Lamar’s presidency.

Lockhart wrote, “It might be said that it was under (Lamar’s) administration that the large donations of land were set aside by the state in the interests of (learning) institutions which has given Texas the ascendency of any other state. Fifty leagues of land were set aside for a state university and three leagues for each county out of the public domain.”

Lockhart continued, “This handsome foundation will ever be a source of gratification to the rising generations…who will thank General Lamar. Whereas, this great man might have died without memory or distinction.”

As to the growth of the enormous debt, first should be addressed the costly development of the new capital at Waterloo that became named Austin. But, also, during Houston first presidency, “several naval vessels had been contracted.” Remember that during Houston’s second presidency he downsized the Navy to cut costs that naval ships of his first administration had created.

To begin, the president’s salary was $10,000 annually with $3,500 for the head of each department. With a population of approximately 50,000 in the Republic at that time, those expenses were impossible to cover and would bankrupt any country.

Lamar’s biggest mistake was the Republic’s funding the Santa Fe Expedition hoping to open trade with the Texas claimed portion of New Mexico. The Expedition was raised and equipped at enormous expense yet provided poor leadership as well as inadequate equipment including wagons, oxen, guides, etc. The Expeditioners were captured by the Mexicans with the survivors’ torturous march to Mexico City’s horrendous Perota Prison to be held there for two years.

During Houston’s initial presidency France became interested in setting up a foreign legation. Lamar, hoping to secure a French loan to bail out the Republic’s debt, welcomed a wagon train to the new frontier capital in January 1840. It appeared as a “royal” Caravan to the rough-hewn Austin bystanders who watched Count Alphonse de Saligny, Chargé d’affaires of the King of France, unload carpets, tapestries, paintings, books and fine wines. The Count’s fine horses ate only the finest of corn that led to a local hotel’s couple dozen pigs breaking into the corn crib. This led to the Count’s servant killing the pigs and the owner of the pigs beating the servant. The Count quickly decided that the Republic of Texas frontier was more than he wanted, packed up, left and any Republic loan was off the table.

Overtime, Lamar was physically and mentally overwhelmed with the many Republic’s issues. Lamar asked Congress for a leave of absence. It was granted Dec. 12, 1840. Lamar left the state and Vice President D avid Burnet served out Lamar’s unexpired term.

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