WRITINGS o'F SAM HOUSTON, 1859
245
dealt out through Judge Watrous's-court. In a resolution adopted by the Senate of Texas in 1856, just referred to, his connection with the judge is pointedly alluded to, and it is stated: "That it is believed by many good citizens that said Watrous, in connection with Thomas M. League and other compeers, are directly or indirectly interested in most of the important suits brought in his court." It will be well to keep an eye on this Mr. League, and to note his association with the enterprise of the fraudulent certificates, for there will hereafter be shown his connection with other and later schemes of judicial fraud carried out through the machinery of Judge Watrous's court. It would appear, from the evidence taken before the com- mittee of the House, in the investigation into Judge Watrous's conduct, an attempt is made to have it appear that League's connection with him dated from the inception of the Lapsley frauds, in 1850; but here we have the fact to note of his pre- vious connection with the judge's land speculations; and find him in 1847 at the head and front of the nefarious land cer- tificate conspiracy. His connection with the common design whenever and wherever opportunity offered. The object of this suit instituted by League, was to compel the surveyor to survey the land called for in the certificate. Thus we have the case brought into the State court, backed by the authority of a precedent decision declaring this fraudulent certificate valid. The manner of thus bringing it may be ex- plained by that passage in the letter of Reynolds in which he says: "Nor do I think it was the best policy to have pressed the courts of Texas. They may be easily made to follow the law; while they have not the nerve to pronounce it." The case was decided in Galveston, the court sustaining the surveyor in his refusal to survey under such certificate; where- upon an appeal was taken to the supreme court of the State, at Austin. Now to exhibit more fully the connection of Judge Watrous with these suits, and with the general affairs of the land com- pany, I will here read a letter which appears to have been addressed by William G. Hale, on the subject of this case, on the 14th of March, 1847, to Judge Watrous, who was then at New Orleans, being the same time when the Phalen suit was pending there. •
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