Texas. General Council.

The General Council was the legislative body of the Texas Provisional Government, established by the Consultation and operating from November 15, 1835, until March 1, 1836, during the Texas Revolution. The Provisional Government named Henry Smith as governor and James W. Robinson as lieutenant governor. Smith and Robinson were of the independence or war party, while most of the General Council belonged to the peace party. The Council met first in San Felipe de Austin and then at Washington-on-the-Brazos and were led by the president of the Council, James W. Robinson.

The different political parties of the General Council and of Gov. Smith and Lt. Gov. Robinson led to opposition and fighting within the government. When Gov. Smith ordered the Council to disband, the General Council responded by impeaching Smith and recognizing Robinson as acting governor. However, Smith continued to claim the governorship, and eventually the council members stopped attending meetings. A convention had already been called by the Council for March 1836, and the meeting took place at Washington-on-the-Brazos, essentially ending the General Council and provisional government.

Sources:

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. General Council, http://www.tshaonline.org /handbook/online/articles/GG/mbg1.html (accessed October 6, 2010).

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Provisional government, http://www.tshaonline.org /handbook/online/articles/PP/mzp1.html (accessed October 6, 2010).

From the guide to the General Council Records 1996., 1835, undated, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

The General Council was the legislative body of the Texas Provisional Government, established by the Consultation and operating from November 15, 1835, until March 1, 1836, during the Texas Revolution.

The Provisional Government named Henry Smith as governor and James W. Robinson as lieutenant governor. Smith and Robinson were of the independence or war party, while most of the General Council belonged to the peace party. The Council met first in San Felipe de Austin and then at Washington-on-the-Brazos and were led by the president of the Council, James W. Robinson.

The different political parties of the General Council and of Gov. Smith and Lt. Gov. Robinson led to opposition and fighting within the government.

When Gov. Smith ordered the Council to disband, the General Council responded by impeaching Smith and recognizing Robinson as acting governor. However, Smith continued to claim the governorship, and eventually the council members stopped attending meetings. A convention had already been called by the Council for March 1836, and the meeting took place at Washington-on-the-Brazos, essentially ending the General Council and provisional government.

From the description of General Council Records, 1835, undated (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 707938280