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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
affectionate lad, and soon became a favorite with all classes at Bolivar Point. His attachment to the General was extraordinary. and ro• mantic. He could hardly be forced from his presence. With a view of testing th~ sincerity of the lad's affection, one of the soldiers, in pretended anger, seized an empty musket and snapped it at the General. The little Karankaway; in the agony of his heart, broke out into the loudest cries of terror and lamentation, and attempted to throw himself between the muzzle of the gun and his father as h.e called the General. The soldier then presented the gun at the ,lad, and said he would kill him. The little hero, as fearles\'l as he was affectionate, bared his bosom to receive the shot. Unfortunately the musket which was supposed to be empty, proved to be heavily charged, and on being snapped a second time, made fire and lodged its contents .in the heart of the young Karankaway. There was not a dry eye in the whole garrison. The Supreme Council now resumed its labors. It was convened by -the President on the 30th August, and proceeded to the adoption of various interesting and important regulations. Galveston was de- clared a port of entry; a tariff of fifteen per cent ad valorem was -established; and a Court of Admiralty organized. The Port was named Las Ca-ssas; James Egan, Collector of revenues; and l\Iajor Hewit and C. S. Mitchell were Judges of the Marine Court. The President and Mr. Martin were appointed to draft a code of Military laws adopted to the peculiar condition of the country; while Walker and Johnson reported a Bill fixing the compensation of officers civil and military, and for the regulation of Bounty lands of Soldiers and Head-rights of actual settlers. About the same time the General in his military capacity, issued two interesting Orders, one prohibiting profane swearing, and the other abolishing corporal punishment in. the Army. In the first, he says that nothing is more calculated to shock the moral sentiment and keep good men from settling in the country, than the odious habit of profane swearing; and in the second, although strongly insisting upon perfect subordina- tion, he uses the following language-to wit'-" mild and humane treatment is the only proper mode to make good soldiers, and in- spire them with a love for, and confidence in their Officers." These are but fragmentary specimens of the proceedings. generally of the new government; yet in the wisdom, justice and moderation which they evince, the reader may find the true cause of that revolution in public sentiment which now began to manifest itself in the United States in favor of our hero and his enterprise.- Perhaps no individual in history ever struggled with more heroic endurance and fortitude against seemingly insurmountable diffic'ulties than did General Long at Bolivar Point.-Nor con it be denied that his painful toils were attended with all the success which it was possible to attain under the circumstances. At the head of a small military force, composed of materials the most heterogenous and refractory, half clad, half fed and nothing paid; yet was he never- theless able in defiance of all these obstacles, not only to hold them ·1ogether, but to keep them in perfect order, subordination arid dis-
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