1846.]

END OF THE ANTI-RENT TROUBLES.

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and order was not restored until 1846, when Silas Wright, the governor of New York, proclaimed the county of Delaware in a state of insurrection, and, with the help of the

military, succeeded in arresting the chief of the anti-renters. They were brought to trial, and the murderers of the deputy-sheriff were sentenced to death, though the punishment was afterward commuted to imprisonment for life. Conciliatory measures followed, and the trouble died out.

A sad incident took place toward the close of 1842. J. C. Spencer, secretary of war, had a son serving as midshipman on board the Somers, a ten-gun brig, with a crew of about seventy persons, including the officers. While on a cruise Captain Mackenzie learned that a mutinous plot had been formed by young Spencer. He was arrested and on his person were found papers which left no doubt of his guilt. The mutineers had agreed to turn upon the officers and kill every one except the surgeon, and then sail for the vicinity of New York harbor. They intended, on arriving there, to seize the homeward bound packets which they believed contained large amounts of specie. They bound themselves by oath to murder every one on board the packets, so that none could be left to bear witness against them. Young Spencer and two petty officers were hanged at the yard-arm. Captain Mackenzie was afterward tried for his course in the matter, but was acquitted.

On the 28th of February, 1844, Mr. Upshur, secretary of state, Mr. Gilmer, secretary of the navy, and a number of other gentlemen, with several ladies, made an excursion down the Potomac on the steamship Princeton. Commodore Stockton was in charge, and for the entertainment of his distinguished guests, ordered the firing of a new and immense gun called the Peacemaker. While thus engaged the piece exploded, killing Mr. Gilmer, Mr. Upshur, Commander Kennon, Virgil Maxey, late minister to The Hague, and several of the visitors. Seventeen sailors were badly wounded, of whom several died. The vessel was immediately anchored opposite Alexandria, and the guests were quickly transferred to a river steamer and taken to Washington. President Tyler ordered the dead bodies to be carried to the Executive Mansion, where they were laid in state in the east room.

The year 1842 was also memorable by the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument. The foundation was laid on the 17th of June, 1825, when, as you have been told, the corner-stone was put in place by the venerable Lafayette. The oration of the day was delivered by Daniel Webster, then young in years and fame. In the throng that listened to his stirring words were two hundred Revolutionary veterans, of whom forty had taken part in the battle fought on that spot just fifty years before.

The monument is thirty-one feet square at the base and two hundred and twentyone feet high. It was dedicated June 17, 1843. Daniel Webster, in the full glory of his magnificent powers, delivered an oration among the most eloquent that ever fell from human lips. Here and there among the vast throng were a few tottering heroes of the Revolution, and the occasion was one of the most impressive in our history.

Stirring times were approaching. The vast state of Texas, as it stands to-day, was originally a part of Mexico. It was claimed by the United States as belonging to Louisiana, but the claim was abandoned in 1819 in favor of Mexico. Two years later, however, a colony from the United States formed a settlement on both sides of the Colorado, in what was then Mexican Territory. They were encouraged by the local government, and, in 1833, there were ten thousand Americans in Texas. Brave, adventurous and enterprising, they had no patience with the imbecile policy of the Mexicans around them, and they were not long in forming a scheme for wresting Texas from Mexican rule and transferring it to the United States.

1836.]

REVOLT OF TEXAS AGAINST MEXICO.

343

One of the leaders in this daring scheme was General Sam Houston, as unique a character as can be found in American history. He had been a member of Congress, the governor of Tennessee, and had lived among the Indians long enough to become a chief. Hundreds of those that flocked to Texas were desperate outlaws from the states. They carried their bowie-knives, rifles and pistols, and gladly welcomed the prospect of warfare. Among them were the eccentric Davy Crockett, formerly congressman from Tennessee, the brothers James and Rezin Bowie (the latter of whom invented the terrible bowie-knife), Colonel Travis, Albert Sydney Johnston, and others whose courage has never been surpassed.

While President Jackson was obliged officially to discountenance the projects of those who aimed to bring Texas into the American Union, there can be no doubt that he was in favor of the scheme.

Mexico strained every nerve to crush the rising rebellion, but it was impossible to do so. Fighting began in 1835, and was waged with great ferocity by the Mexicans. No men could have fought more bravely than the Texans, but they were often overwhelmed by the "Greasers," as they contemptuously called their enemies, and were slaughtered without mercy.

On the 2d of March, 1836, a convention declared Texas independent. Santa Anna, the president of the Mexican Republic, crossed the Rio Grande with a large force, and reached San Antonio a few days later. There is still standing in that quaint city, a mission-house known as the Alamo. It faces the large plaza or public square, is made of adobes or sun-dried bricks, and is more than a hundred years old. In this building were gathered less than two hundred Texans, who knew of the approach of the Mexican army, twenty times as numerous as themselves. But not one of the defenders thought of fleeing; though, brave as they were, they could not but feel that there was scarcely a shadow of hope that one of them would escape. There were enough Mexicans to crush them, and they were merciless.

In the Alamo were colonels Bowie, Travis, Crockett, and others as daring as they. They were abundantly furnished with weapons and ammunition. When Colonel Travis learned that Santa Anna was close at hand, he sent an appeal to the inhabitants of San Antonio to come to his relief, but not a man responded.

The Mexican army, in brilliant uniforms and with their band playing, surrounded the Alamo, which was summoned to surrender. A defiant reply was returned, and the famous battle opened. The Texan riflemen, from the windows and walls of the building, fired with fatal effect on the Mexicans. When the latter raised ladders against the walls and scrambled up, they were shot or flung back, as fast as they came within reach. Day after day and night after night, while the flag with its lone star floated above the ramparts, the struggle went on until it was apparent that the Mexicans must win by sheer weight of numbers. For more than a week the garrison held out, fighting day and night, until only a dozen were left. These were so exhausted that at last, under a pledge of honorable treatment, they surrendered; but the Mexicans massacred every one.

The defense of the Alamo has never been surpassed in history. You know that at the famous battle at the pass of Thermopyla, some escaped and carried the news