"Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, December 4, 1839

Summary: Printed remarks by William Kennedy in response to Englishman Mr. O'Connall's letters calling for making Texas a black colony. He described the differences between the Mexican people, whom he considered vulgar and backward, with Texians, whom he considered cultured and champions of republicanism. He fervently supported Texian independence and encouraged British men to migrate to Texas so that neither Mexico nor the U.S. would hold sway over it(also predicted that if the U.S annexed Texas, a war would ensue involving the U.S., Mexico, and Britain). Such emigration would further British interests and provide excellent land for British farmers who could work it without slavery.

(From a late London Paper.)

To Joseph Sturges, Esq.

SIR--Permit an Englishman, and a recent traveller in Texas, to submit to you a few dispassionate remarks on the subject of Mr. O'Connell's letter of the 26th of August, which is going the rounds of the English newspapers. A publication more replete with misstatements of fact and erroneous assumptions, has been seldom laid before the public.

Compare the inhabitants of Texas and Mexico; the former of the Anglo-Saxon race, the civilizers of the world--the latter a mixture of Spanish Creoles, Mullattoes, Mestizoes, Aboriginal Indians, Negroes and Zamboes--the offspring of Negroes and Indians. Education, rational religion, commerce, agriculture, and free institutions, have found a congenial soil in Texas; in Mexico they are stifled by the grossest ignorance and superstition Charles Joseph Latrobe, an unexceptionable authority, in his "Rambles in Mexico," thus describes the state of the country: "No one who has ever spent a month in Mexico will pretend to say that its present state is flattering to the advocates of Republicanism. He detects want of system--want of public and private faith--want of legitimate means of carrying on the Government, of enforcing the laws, of maintaining order--total absence of patriotism--general ignorance--indifference to the value of education, linked to overwhelming ignorance and price--an incredible absence of men of either natural or acquired talent of any description--and intolerant support of the darkest bigotry and superstition. The meanest partizanship stands in the place of patriotism. The Government of the moment has not the power of effectually governing, even if it had the desire. No party is trusted, no man in the country can command even the respect, much less the cooperation, of all. Why? Because self-seeking and aggrandizement are the purpose of all. They vapor about patriotism, and know not the signification of the word." To illustrate the condition of the Mexicans as regards religion. Mr. Latrobe mentions that he had heard as a fact, that two English dray-horses imported into Vera Cruz were pelted with stones, and execrated as heretical, by the populace, who would not permit their owner to use them until they had been brought to a certain church, and their baptised by the cura!

The settlers of Texas are of British origin--speaking the English language, and under the influence of English common law. The advances they have already made, show them to be worthy of occupying one of the most beautiful and productive countries on the face of the globe. Towns are rising up as if by magic,steam boats are plying on the waters, newspapers are published wherever readers can be found, corporations are in successful operation--rail roads projected--shipments of cotton made direct to Liverpool--and society rapidly assuming the orderly and enlivening aspect which it wears in ancient and flourishing communities. An Englishman who has formed a commercial establishment at Matagorda, in Texas, informed me that, "in a commercial point of view, it would be for the advantage of Great Britain to acknowledge the independence of this young and thriving Republic without delay, as it would, in a few years, be of more importance to England than to the United States" Not only would it supply our market with cotton of the best quality, and take our manufactures in return, but it would, by abolishing all import duties, and establishing complete freedom of trade--as the leading citizens desire and design to do--effect a revolution in the commercial systems of the neighboring nations. The political advantages that would result from the establishment of an independent power friendly to Great Britain, on the Southern flank of the United States, will not be over-looked by those who are capable of estimating the great and growing resources and restless energy of that Republic.

Whether the British Government recognise the independence of Texas now or hereafter, the interests of our commerce will ere long render it necessary to adopt that step, to delay which is to deprive the act of its grace, and ourselves of much of the advantage that would accrue from it. Texas will in a few years abound in all the elements of power, and were it driven to extremity, while comparatively weak, it might perhaps be added to the United States but under Mexican or European sway it will never fall. If it were added to the States, a war with England would probably be followed by the conquest of Mexico and British North America, and England would repent when too late of a policy which had furnished new arms to that gigantic Democracy whose colossal growth is already contemplated with alarm by the most sagacious cabinets of Europe.

Instead of Mr. O'Connall's black colony, which never can be created, I would recommend that British emigration be directed towards the young Republic. In my opinion, the salubrity of the climate renders slave labor unnecessary to the cultivation of the land, and the superior cheapness of free labor, where there is an adequate supply, would induce a preference, apart from all other considerations. In Texas--a small country compared to the United States--the lands will speedily be in the hands of individual proprietors; consequently, the farmer and planter will be enabled to retain their laborers who, induced by high wages, abundance of food and the cheapness of imported articles, will remain there, instead of purchasing lands for themselves in the adjacent countries.

WILLIAM KENNEDY.

September 2, 1839.

Source Copy Consulted: "Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, December 4, 1839, p. 1