Letter from Austin, Texas
Aug. 16, 1859
GENTLEMEN – As the election is over and the weather so very warm that we can do but little more than read the papers and write short letters, I will do up one for you with the latest news.
Sam Houston is elected governor of the state by between 8,000 and 10,000 majority. A.J. Hamilton to Congress, western district, by some 1,600 majority, beating the regular democratic nominee. White, Democrat, elected Commissioner of General Land Office.
John H. Reagan, Democrat, elected in the eastern district to Congress over Ocheltree, by a very large majority. The fact of our State Convention disregarding the choice and will of the people in their selections is in, a great measure, the cause of our losses, that, with Houston’s popularity.
The opposition or National Democrats as they are pleased to call themselves since the election, are getting up a State Convention, for the purpose of naming electors and sending delegates to the Charleston Convention, and will of course support its nominee.
The Democratic Party hold their Convention in January, I believe, and will select an electoral ticket, also send delegates of course to Charleston.
From which the prospect is very fair at present that each wing will have their electoral ticket, and each ticket pledged to vote for the same candidate for president and vice president. An anomaly that we perhaps have no precedent for. If both sets of delegates are received at Charleston and no compromise can be made, I see no means of escaping such a result.
The news comes up from all parts of the state of good crops. Corn in many places worth only 20 and 25 cents per bushel. You that have an eye to Texas, come on. You will find here a fine climate, a good wheat, corn, cotton and sugar country, and the finest stock country in America.
A newly married pair may bring here five mares, five cows and five ewes and live on their increase after the second year, and be well off in eight years, rich in 12 and a millionaire in 30.
We have had very warm weather, the thermometer stood at 101 yesterday at 5 p.m. in the shade, a light shower cooled the air late in the evening.
I take much pleasure in noticing the progress of the Agricultural Society in your county. Its patrons deserve the greatest praise. If I could visit old Washington County at a time when her citizens were convened I would say, let it be when her Agricultural Society has her annual meeting.
Very Truly,
N.
The Arkansian 