Cairrefon, a city and port of entry, and the capital of Galveston county, is situated near the east end of Galveston, about 200 miles S.E. from Austin : population, 4177. The harbour of Galveston is the beet in Texas, and six-sevenths of the shipping of the state belong to this port. The trade of Galveston is very considerable, and steadily increasing. A regular line of communication by steam ships is maintainer] with New Orleans. There are a few good public buildings in the city, and numerous warehouses, hotels, &c. Galveston Island, on which the city stands, is 32 miles long and about 2 miles wide. It was once a favourite lurking-place for pirates, but is now thoroughly cultivated, and the residence of several wealthy farmers. During summer it is much resorted to by invalids.
Houston stands at the head of steam-navigation on Buffalo bayou, 160 milea E.S.E. from Austin City : population, 2396. Next to Galveston, Houston is the chief business town in the state, being the centre of a rich cotton district. There are several public buildings, churches, and schools. A wharf 500 feet long, with a cotton press at each end, extends along the front of the city.
San near the source of the river of the same name, 75 miles S.E. by S. from Austin City, population 3488, is the oldest town in Texas, and one of the oldest in North America. It contains several ecclesiastical edifices erected during the Spanish occupation, a large ruinous fortress, and other vestiges of its former possessors; also a United States arsenal and some modern structures.
History, Government, etc.—Until 1836 Texas formed a part of Mexico. For some years prior to that date the American colonists, an active, numerous, and united body, had been making every possible effort to prepare the way for a revolt against the Mexican authority. In 1S35 hostilities commenced in earnest, The Mexican government was unable to suppress the rising; and eventually the Mexican army, under General Santa Anna, the president of Mexico, was defeated et Jacinto by the Texans, under the American general Houston. Santa
Anna was made prisoner, and, as a condition of his release, agreed to sign a treaty acknowledging the independence of Texas. The Mexican senate disavowed the authority of Santa Anna to make such a treaty, but no steps were taken towards effecting a re-conquest of Texas; and in 1845 the United States of North America formally admitted Texas into the Union as a sovereign state. This led at once to war between Mexico and the United States; but the former country was in too disorganised a coudition to hope for success in such a contest, and, after suffering a series of humiliating defeats, was constrained to accept peace on terms of acknowledging the independence of Texas, and ceding to the United States a large portion of territory, including the whole of the northern proviuces. [Mexico.) The constitution was adopted in August, and ratified in October, 1845. By it the right of voting is vested in every free white male citizen who shall have resided in the state for one year. The legis lature consists of a Senate of not less than 19 nor more than 33 (at present 21) members, who are elected for four years ; and a House of Representatives, of not less than 45 nor more than 90 (at present 66) members, who are elected for two years. The governor is elected for two years. The admitted public debt was returned by the state auditor in November 1851 as—Ostensible debt, 0,647,253 dollars ; par value, 4,807,764 dollars. But the real condition of the state finances is difficult to understand from the involved and incomplete accounts published. The state militia is composed of about 18,500 men and 1248 commissioned officers. In 1850 there were in the state two colleges, having 7 teachers and 165 students; and 349 public schools, having 360 teachers and 7946 scholars.
(Ga:etteers of the United States Official Reports relating to Texas, etc. ; Seventh Census of the United States ; American Almanac, 1855; Marcos, Humboldt, &c.)