The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas. Page: 2
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PREFACE.
In issuing this fourth number of the TEXAs ALMANAC, we will simply make a remark or two
with a view to a correct understaoding between ourselves and the public. The leading ob-
ject of this publication is to make it the repository of the largest possible amount of useful
information, embractng not only official annual statistics from all the Departments of State,
but al o fzo all tL coauntic of tLhe State, showing our progress in population, wealth, and
all the elements of prosperity. But, beyond this, our aim has been to obtain for our readers
all the scientific information to be had from gentlemen of acknowledged scientific attain-
ments, in relation to the Geological structure, Mineral resources, Soil and Climate of our
State; while, under the head of Biography, our purpose has been to give the lives of the most
eminent men who have figured prominently in our past history. But another important
object intended to be accomplished by this annual publication, has been to place on record
such facts and incidents in our past history as may be furnished us from time to time by liv-
ing witnesses, or as may be found in public and private documents, or in original correspon-
dence of former days that lie scattered in various parts of the country. The large addition
we have already made to the historical records of our State, must, we think, satisfy all that
our Almanac is gradually rescuing from oblivion some of the most valuable materials for a
future history of Texas. But, during the late political contest in our State, we have been
charged with making the Texas Almanac the instrument for propagating our own personal
and political biases, and especially so in relation to Gen. Houston. In reply to such charges,
we would state that whatever we have published of a historical character, has been furnished
us by Others in compliance with our general request for contributions on all subjects. It was
our determination, at the outset, to receive all well written articles from responsible authors
respecting our past history, as well as on other topics, without paying the least regard
to any prejudices or prepossessions of our own, touching the merits or demerits of the men
who have borne a prominent part in the public affairs of our country. We have adhered
scrupulously to that determination. We have, in no instance, rejected an article because Ith
did nat coincide with our own opinion, and, on the other hand, we have believed it equally
incompatible with our duty as the impartial compiler of historical records, to reject articles
simply because they might offend against the prejudices or opinions of others. It is our bus-
iness to record the facts of our history with the evidences of those facts, not the opinions of
this cr that man in relation to them. The historical narratives ind compends of our pre-
vious issues, as well as the present, have been furnished entirely by others; but if the facts
stated are untrue, or if the proofs adduced can be contradicted by other testimony of equal
or higher authority, all we can say is, that such contradictory testimony will always be most
cheerfully received by us, and placed before our readers, who will thus be enabled tojudgie
for themselves on which side the weight of authority preponderates. It appeared to us at
the outset, that this was the only proper course for us to pursue, and we have accordingly
pursued it steadily up .to this time. The account given by Gen. Houston, of the campaign of
1836, in his last speech in the United States Senate, differs in some important particulars from
some other accounts of the same events. We have accordingly published that speech in our
present Almanac, because, coming from the man who held the chief command in that cam-
paign, it is certainly entitled to rank among the authoritative historical documents of the
country. With the personal attacks of the author upon individuals, we have nothing to do,
except to allow the principal party assailed a brief space for his own defence. It is proper
that we should also remark that the present continuation of our historical compend is writ-
ten by the same gentleman who has prepared the compends of our previous issues. It will
be seen that he does not agree with Gen. Houston in regard to several of his statements, but
as the reasons and proofs are given, our readers can form their own opinions. We should
also remark that the author of this compend has occupied as high a position in the eventful
history of our country, as Gen. Houston has done, and is, we believe, every way equally well
qualified. from his own observation and his intimate connection with our public affairs, to
form correct opinions upon the subject. His name, though not here given, can readily.be
had by any who may question the correctness or truth of his statements. But while we have
believed it our duty to give our readers the discrepant accounts of these two prominentmen,
it is not our province to decide between them. This we leave to our readers. The author of
the historical sketch, equally with ourselves, will doubtless be gratified to be informed of any
error he may have committed.
To OUR CONTRIBUTORS to this work, we beg leave to return our sincere acknowledgments;
and to the Heads and Clerks of Departments in Austin, are. we especially indebted for the
trouble many of them have taken in affording facilities to Mr. Samuel T. Scott, our Agent,
to enable him to compile our most valuable statistical tables, and to make up abstracts of
official reports, etc., for the financial year just ended. Through their kindness our Almanac
gives, months in advance of the usual publications, all the valuable Statistics of the several
Bureaus and Departments of the State.. Several among the most -valuable contributions,
have come to hand too late to appear in the present Almanac, but those that we have thus
been compelled to postpone, will be found equally interesting another year, and will be care-
fully preserved for that purpose. Among such articles is the biography of Gen. J. Pinckney
Henderson, written by one of the most prominent and able men in the State, and which is
still somewhere delayed by the mail
We omit the table of our District Courts because they remain the same as in our Almanac
for 1859, with the exception that some of the District Attornies have been changed, as noticed
on page 221. We may remark in conclusion, that the articles we have been compelled to
postpone to another year, are among the most valuable of any we have received, an'dwe
hope those who have so kindly furnished them, will appreciate the necessity which has com-
pelled us to postpone them.
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The Galveston News. The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas., book, 1860~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123766/m1/4/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.