339
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
· No. 941 1838 Dec. 20, C. C. SEBRING, [SOUTH CAROLINA],. TO l\f. B. LA1\1AR, [HOUSTON] .
Charleston, December 20. 1838.·
Genl Mirabea.u B. Lamar, · :Dear Sir,
I .herewith. transmit a couple of newspapers, containing an article on City Interments. This .may, be a subject worthy of the consideration of.th~ Legislators of Texas.--:-Situated in a more south- ern latitude; the objections alleged against this practise, if. well founded, have. an increased force in the range of her extensive limits; If we judge from the rage prevalent for founding cities in. •our country, as well as her natural advantages, she will) at no distant day, be very poulous; and an early attention to the subject treated of in this essay, may prevent .a deal of calam.ity to future generations. Would it not be well, in granting charters of incorporation to.new cities, to introduce a clause providing for interments beyond the city limits? 'l'his · is a subject that may appear of little importance to short-sighted persons, when viewed in connexion with the , present sparce population of our country. But Texas is in her incipient state, and I see no reason why her Legislators, in making laws for .the Government of the community at large, should not provide for the welfare of posterity, as well as the present generation, especially when it can be done without expense or inconvenience to the latter. Rome of our young and thriving cities contain already in their very centre, places set apart for sepulture, and in that of our gallant friend the King of Richmond, an interment has been made within eyeshot ~•f its citizens. Houston presents another example. Though the cemetery is .somewhat removed from the present population, yet I was particu- larly struck, when last in that place, at the crowded and unsightly · manner in which interments are there made. We have a better opportu- 1ity, perhaps, than any other state ever enjoyed, of availing ourselves of the united advantages of the experience of past ages and the improve- ments of modern times, in almost every relation of society, and I trust we shall not be slow in profiting by them. If you should coincide with the views of the writer of the above-mentioned article, would it not be well to hand it to the editor of the Telegraph for publication? It might serve as well as another to fill some of its columns, after the adjournment of Congress. I am happy to perceive that the excitement which recently pre~ vailed in the neighbourhood of Nacogdoches, respecting the intentions of the Indians and the handful of Mexicans in that vicinity, is rapidly subsiding. So long as we give currency to alarms and dan- gers, from whatever cause arising, we retard the progress of Texas. ·we by these means may obtain the sympathy and ~ity of our nei!!h- bours, which is nearly allied to contempt; but we will never establish con'fidence in our institutions. Adventurers of a class who find their best interests served in a state of turmoil and confusion, may be in- duced to come among us, as the scent of carrion is said to draw the tulture; but we can very well dispense with the services of this elass. Texas stands in need of capital, talent and industry; and we cannot
Powered by FlippingBook