WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1845
4-21
without the editor's scrutiny. Stuart then determined to establish his own paper, and in connection with Dr. Levi Jones, whom he had known in Kentucky, and Robert A. Irion, then Secretary of State for Texas, he began the publication of a weekly which he named The Civilian in mild protest and criticism of the practice, at that time general in Texas, of prefixing the title of general or colonel, major, or captain to the names of all men · prominent in public affairs, whether or not they had ever seen military service. By the fall of 1838, Stuart had fallen prey to "bayou fever" and the paper was suspended. Stuart moved to Galveston where he was joined by his wife, and in 1839 they bought two lots on South Church Street and built their home. Prior to this, however, on September 28, 1838, Stuart had begun the publication of the Civilian and Galveston Gazette, a small four column folio which was put out weekly. From its first issue this paper was a staunch supporter of Sam Houston, and it continued to be so until the editor's enforced retirement in February, 1861. Hamilton conducted this paper ·alone until 1847, when Samuel J. Durnett, publisher of the· Brazos Plante1·, secured an interest and took charge of the mechanical department. Durnett remained in partnership with Stuart until 1850. In 1844, Stuart served one term as mayor of Galveston; in 1849, he was reelected to that office and served through 1852. In January, 1853, he sold an interest in his paper to Dr. D. Ferguson, and in March of the same year, President Pierce appointed him (Stuart) collector of customs at Galveston. President Buchanan reappointed him to the same position in March, 1857, and he continued in the service until March, 1861, at which time Texas was out of the Union and a member of the Southern Confederacy. Before leaving his office, Stuart settled his accounts with the United States Government to the last cent. In 1854 John Henry Brown became interested with Stuart in the Civilian a.nd Galveston Gazette, and was joint editor with him. The firm ,vas then styled Stuart, Durnett and Brown. In 1856-1857, a steam power press was installed, and the publication began a daily edition which was printed only during the busy season-September 1, to April 1-for during the dull season the paper again became a weekly or semi-weekly. In 1858, Brown retired, and in January, 1860, Adolph Menard acquired Dur- nett's interest and became junior editor of the paper. Stuart was always a consistent Democrat, and was strongly opposed to Know-Nothingism which made some headway in Texas during 1856. He was also a union man, opposing secession staunchly, although he had no sympathy for Republicans, or the Abolitionists of the North. Stuart suspended the publication of the Civilian in 1862 when the port of Galveston was blockaded, and retired tempoi-arily to his farm in Chambers County. He returned to Galveston in 1864, and began life anew with absolutely nothing, at the same place where he had started as a young man in 1838. In July, 1865, he revived his paper, and after a few hard years it achieved a fair measure of success; but the burden of financing the publication was too heavy for Stuart alone, so, in 1868, W. H. Pascoe acquired an interest in the plant; and in 1860, Colonel J. S. Thrasher from the Neu, York Herald became one of the owners and editors. At that time Galveston with a population of only 26,000 attempted to support three doilies,
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