WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
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necessary for the company to have this coast-outlet to complete their gigantic scheme. Point Isabel was the only coast-outlet for the great salt lake of Texas, that lay within sixty miles of it, and that constitued an inexhaustible source of wealth. This great principality that commanded the outlet of the Rio Grande country, and that so abounded in all the elements of wealth, was reputed to be owned by some eight Mexican families. The salt lake I have referred to was another grand prize, which the land company was seeking to grasp through the aid of Judge Watrous. I shall presently show how this under-plot, too, was conceived and conducted in the progress of the sweep- ing and overwhelming designs of the vast combination. Returning, however, to Galveston, to watch the progress of these honest gentry, with reference to the Cavazos grant, we find John Treanor and William G. Hale meeting there. It ap- pears they there concocted a suit. This suit is represented by John Treanor, as the agent of all the Mexican families, or parties represented to be owners of the Cavazos grant. It is insinuated by Allen and Hale; and the allegations of the complaint are verified by the affidavit of John Treanor, claiming to be agent as aforesaid. This man Treanor appears to be a notorious per- son in the district of the Rio Grande, to judge from the testi- mony of Brevet Major W. W. Chapman, of the Army, when stationed at Fort Brown, who briefly describes him in a public official letter, as "a man without character or standing in the community." Sufficient indications of his character, however, are given in the part assumed-by him and his confederate, Hale, in this Cavazos case. It appears from the record of this case, that at least five of the Mexican families or parties claimed to be represented, had never given any authority whatever for the institution of the suit; and as to one of the five, Treanor him- self was constrained to admit that his interest was diametrically opposed to the claim, for the establishment of which he had been made a party plaintiff. Here, then, in the very inception of the suit, we see fraud prominently and boldly standing out. In the whole progress of the suit, too, we remark John Treanor and William G. Hale as the managers throughout. Their numer- ous affidavits support the case to the end. In no part of the proceedings do we find the complainants acting or participat- ing. It is Treanor, the man "without character or standing," and William G. Hale, the agent and attorney of the land com- pany, I have been referring to, the intimate friend of Judge Watrous.
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