Texas. Dept. of State. Department of State records of legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic, 1835-1836, undated.
Title:
Department of State records of legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic, 1835-1836, undated.
Prior to the regular government established by the Republic of Texas Constitution of 1836, a variety of governmental entities, both legislative and executive, succeeded one another. Their functions and activities are documented by these records. Types of records include correspondence, reports, resolutions, decrees, ordinances, declarations, circulars, proceedings, minutes, delegate rolls, records of votes, rules, presidential addresses, commissions issued, a memorial, list of government officers, a resignation, and vouchers and receipts, all of the various legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic. These governmental bodies include the following: the treasurer of the Ayuntamiento of Austin, citizens meetings and committees of public safety, the Permanent Council, the Consultation, the Provisional Government, the Convention of 1836, and the Ad Interim government, dating 1835-1836 and undated. One series consists of receipts issued to and by John H. Money, Treasurer of the Ayuntamiento of Austin, date January 1-July 20, 1835. Records of citizens meetings and various committees of public safety consist of circulars, proceedings, and correspondence dating August 30, 1835-January 19, 1836. These records are not specifically addressed to any of the governing bodies of the Revolutionary period, and it is uncertain whether they came into their custody during their existence or were later added to their records. Copies of circulars, proceedings, and letters specifically addressed to one of the Councils or the Consultation are filed with other communications received by those bodies in other subseries. The papers of the Committee of Safety of Austin were required to be received by the Secretary of the Consultation by a resolution approved November 3, 1835 and are filed with the records of that body. Records of the Permanent Council consist of correspondence, reports, resolutions, and vouchers and receipts, dated between August 19 and November 2, 1835. There are letters and reports from citizens of Texas and Mobile, Alabama, and government agencies relating to their activities and the state of the country. There are also signed copies of letters, addresses, and commissions sent to the citizens of the United States and Texas, army officers, and government agents, communicating instructions and appeals for aid. Correspondents include Stephen F. Austin, Thomas F. McKinney, and Richard R. Royall. Records of the Consultation consist of minutes, proceedings, resolutions, declarations, reports, correspondence, and delegate rolls, dating between October 11 and November 14, 1835. Also present are the papers of the Committee of Public Safety of Austin, dated September 21 and October 1, 1835. Some of the proceedings are signed by P. B. Dexter, Secretary of the Consultation; R. R. Royall, Chairman; or Samuel Whiting, Secretary Pro Tem. Also prominent in these records are Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Thomas F. McKinney. Correspondence was received from citizens meetings, the Permanent Council, Committees of Vigilance and Safety, and agents of government pertaining to defense, land claims, and other affairs of state. Letters addressed to the Permanent Council that arrived after it had adjourned were handled by the Consultation and are included in these records. Records of the Provisional Government include correspondence, reports, commissions, accounts and receipts, proceedings, ordinances, decrees, resolutions, and legislative addresses, from the Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, and General Council, dating 1835-1836. These records include a letter book containing copies of the Declaration of November 7, 1835, Organic Law, ordinances and resolutions of the General Council, correspondence of the Executive and General Council, and correspondence and reports laid before the council. Dates covered are November 1835-February 1836. Also present are "Papers belonging to the Political Chief of the Department of Brazos, 1835-1836." Records of the Governor consist of correspondence, reports, commissions, and receipts, dating November 1835-March 1836. The correspondence chiefly relates to finances and supplies for the government. Correspondents include the provisional governors Henry Smith and James W. Robinson, and Sam Houston. Records of the Auditor are accounts and receipts submitted for approval, dating October 1835-March 1836. Records of the Treasurer include receipts given to and by the treasurer of the Provisional Government, dating December 1835-January 1836. Records of the General Council consist of proceedings, correspondence, committee reports, ordinances, decrees, resolutions, legislative addresses of the Governor, and accounts and receipts, covering the period September 1835-March 1836. These records concern the actions of the General Council, including the establishment of the Texas Navy, the organization and supplying of the Army, the appointment of Sam Houston and John Forbes to treat with the Cherokee Indians, and the preparation of instructions of the agents to the United States, Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton. It also passed the act calling for the Convention of 1836. Correspondents and other figures involved here include the provisional governors Henry Smith and James W. Robinson, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin. Proceedings of the Permanent Council are included in this series as is a copy of the proceedings of the Consultation. Records of the Convention of 1836 consist of proceedings, a convention roll, rules of the convention, records of votes, committee reports, auditor's reports, correspondence, memorials, and acts of the convention, include the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Dates covered are primarily March 1-17, 1836, with some correspondence dating back to November 1835. Correspondents include S. Rhoads Fisher, George M. Collingsworth, Governor Robinson, the General Council, members of the convention tendering resignations, and individuals offering services to the Republic. Subjects include the organization and supplying of the militia and other military forces, land concerns, and declaration of Texas' independence from Mexico. Records of the Ad Interim government consist of copies of presidential addresses, correspondence, commissions issued, a memorial, list of government officers, a resignation, and a receipt. Also included are some private letters, including ones to James Fannin, R. R. Royall, and Stephen F. Austin, from Santa Anna, Robert Triplett, and Edward Hall, relating to loans, supplies, and other subjects. Dates covered are March-September 1836. Correspondents and others represented here also include David G. Burnet, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Robert Triplett. The majority of the records of the Secretary and the President for this period have been dispersed among several different series of Republic records. [Note: During most of their life in the Texas State Archives, these records have been referred to by "series" numbers (33 thru 79) established when the Special Lists were created at some time in the 20th century. Those series numbers are used in this inventory in lieu of folder numbers (often a series contained multiple folders). The term "series" here does not necessarily mean the same as it would to the archival community.]
ArchivalResource:
2.64 cubic ft.1 microfilm reel
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/696419305 View
View in SNAC
