September 1st, 1837
Houston, Texas
The small town was beginning to thrive and bustle. The people went through their day, a multitude of languages being spoken. Usually, you hear English or Spanish, but recently many immigrants arriving on sails began to land at the harbor, you can hear the occasional German, Italian, and French. But this didn't matter for the man which the town was named after. He hurried over to the Congressional building, not wishing to be late.
The Congressional Building of the Republic of Texas. Small, but a start.
Arriving at the Congress, he was glad to have arrived just in time. The debate was about to begin again, after having stalled for a year. The debate over the Solemn Declaration.
During the Texan Revolution, Houston met up with the Cherokee and many other tribes within Texas, and on February 23rd he was able to create a treaty with them called the Solemn Declaration. It stipulated that the Smith and Cherokee counties, as well as parts of other counties nearby, could not be sold or leased to any is not a member of the tribe, which includes Texan citizens. One of Houston's first acts as President was to propose this treaty and get it ratified, but it has been stalled for a year by this point. Members of the Democratic Party and some moderates within the Whig Party have shown support, but members of the Whig Party and the Texan Nationalist Party have opposed it.
Today is the final day, and the Congress has declared that a vote will be held. He anxiously sat, awaiting for the Speaker to announce the results...
"In total, with combination of the House and of the Senate... the vote is completed. In the bill for the ratification of the Solemn Declaration... we have 9 votes for Yes and 36 votes for No. As a result, the bill shall not be ratified and is declared null and void." Houston felt a shock, there were more support for him before. What had happened to such support? He turned, not required to be there any longer, and left the room.
Apparently, his exit was not unnoticed. Behind him, Lamar followed him out. "Houston?" Houston stopped, and slowly turned around. "Yes... Lamar?"
"I can tell you are not taking this lightly..." Lamar noted. Houston responded, "I cannot feel good about being betrayed by my friends..." A minute passed, before Lamar continued "Well... I hope and promise for your conciliation. It would be for the better..."
He was interrupted. "You didn't want the bill to be pushed... didn't you?"
Lamar was silent for a moment, then opened up. "Yes... yes I did. Same with Burnet, who held a claim of land in the area which was going to be given to the Indians had the bill been ratified. I know of your relationship with the Indians, and I did not want to confront you about it..." Houston grunted and turned. He began to walk, but not before uttering: "... I am aware that in presenting myself as the advocate of the Indians and their rights, I shall stand very much alone."
Houston continued down the hall, heading for his office. The door behind Lamar opened, and Rusk came into the hall. "What happened? Is he alright?"
Lamar turned to Rusk. "I do not understand him... I don't get what he sees in those Indians. Hell, he was shot by one in the chest back when he was under Jackson... speaking of which, has the envoy to the United States returned yet?"
In Houston's office, he sat quietly, sorting through his papers, when the door knocked and was opened. Entering the room was his diplomatic envoy.
"Ah... yes... how was the diplomatic mission? Did they accept?" He quickly asked. Seeing a lowered face on the envoy, he sat back in his chair.
"Well," the envoy responded. "We have secured great relations with the United States... however, they have refused our request of Annexation. The Congress believed that it would be too harmful, as we are a large territory that has slavery. Despite their refusal, they have shown interest in conducting trade with us."
Houston sighed, and looked down on his desk. Twice today, his efforts in the Government have been shot down.
"I will... be willing to accept negotiations for trade and support with the United States..."
He slowly nodded, and requested to be left alone for now.
September 20th, 1837
San Luis Potosí, Mexico
In his home, a man quietly read through his book. Itching his head, anxiously waiting. Soon, a knock was heard on the door. As he got up and opened it, he saw another man on the outside.
"Juan Álvarez, a pleasure to see you." The man noted, welcoming Juan in his home. "As to you, Mariano Arista..." Juan entered the home, and sat down in his chair.
Prominent Federalistas Juan Álvarez (left) and Mariano Arista (right)
"Do you know when they will be here?" Arista asked, but Juan seemed to not know. They sat and discussed with one another for some time, until another knock on the door was heard. Arista answered the door, looking over at the two men. "Urrea, Filisola... you may enter..." Arista slowly opened, allowing both of the men to come inside. He led them to the living room, where Juan was sitting at.
"So." Urrea noted "We must discuss... compromise."
"Yes... so do tell us..." Juan perked up, "What is this plan of yours?"
Filisola stepped forward, "So. Although we may have differences when it comes to political structure... I do believe we hold some similar causes. The rebellion of Tejas, our hatred of Santa Anna, and the stability of Mexico to name a few... it is therefore a priority that we deal with these. Santa Anna is now posing a threat to us, as he is now seeking to regain his power."
He pulled open a map, showing off the territory of Mexico, and he pointed towards Veracruz. "This is where he will be. We will need to meet with him there, and arrest him."
Arista looked over the map, and stated: "I do not believe it will be easy enough. By the time we reach there, he would have moved on, or have started raising himself an army."
Urrea stepped in. "That is the case... in order to deal with this, we will have to do something drastic... I propose that we temporarily suspend the planned restoration of the 1824 Constitution."
They all turned, including Filisola, who apparently had not known about this. "Hear me out," he continued, "I do intend for Mexico to have a constitution, but what is required right now is the quick and decisive thinking. We need to have a central head, and that can be between us. We will be able to quickly and efficiently fight against Santa Anna, and once we are done with him, we can move in to retake Tejas."
Juan, slightly horrified by the idea, speaks up. "And how are we to know that you won't just take power in the end and centralize control under you?" Filosola turned to him, and responded "Well, in any case, I believe that your trust in not only me, but in us, will suffice."
"We trusted Santa Anna to fulfill the duties of the federal government..."
"...And now he is on the run, disgraced, and on the verge of capture."
Arista joined in. "And once we deal with Santa Anna, how are we to be sure that our attempt to retake Tejas will not just be a repeat of the previous conflict?" to which Filisola responded again, "We are four, Santa Anna was one. At least one of us can stay behind, and even at the very slightest possibility of all three commanders sent to Tejas being captured, then there will still be one at the head to lead the war effort from Mexico City."
The federalistas looked at each other, and slowly nodded. Juan then turned to Filisola and Urrea, and stated:
"Fine. We will do it your way. The Constitution will stay rescinded until we retake Tejas."
November 26th, 1838
Houston, Texas
The various representatives scurried into the Congress, congregating to a hearing. They had been called on by Vice President Lamar for something important. Standing next to the speaker, Lamar soon toke the stand, and moved to the podium.
"Gentlemen of the Congress... I have come with a proposition. When I was out hunting buffalo, I found a spot filled with magnificence. It had lush beauty and plains, coming along the riverside. it holds many resources and is bountiful in beauty... Which is why I proposed that the government of Texas scout out the area, and move offices, establishing a new Capital city. We have been struggling to find a proper capitol for the past years, like in Columbia and here in Houston, but now I propose that we build the capital from the ground up, and propose to name this new capital city 'Austin'."
Attention was brought, as with the name of the city. Austin. Named after Stephen F. Austin that had sadly and suddenly passed away. A rouse of support followed this announcement, especially by the Whig Party and the Texan Nationalist Party. However, members in the Democratic Party were not in approval. Including that of Sam Houston. As Lamar sat down, finishing his speech, Houston held up his hand in a request to speak. After which, he stood upon the podium.
"Friends... I do hold respect for Vice President Lamar's proposal... and I especially hold respect for the late Stephen F. Austin... however, I do not believe that the government should be obliged or in any case do move the capital... We have been moving capitals multiple times in the past few years, and while Houston is not the greatest city in the Americas it is certainly the best choice we have for our government... not only for that, but of the Texan Archives and of the protection of the government. We still have not eased relations with Mexico, and at any point of war between us, this new site would be closer and more vulnerable than that of Houston... so I implore of the Congress to refute this proposal..."
Some boiling tension began. The Congress became divided again, as the Democratic Party supported Houston and the Whig and Nationalist Parties supported Lamar's plan.
Soon enough, two podiums were set up, with the right having Lamar and the left having Houston. They began a debate over the issue of moving the capital. While at first it was civil, soon enough it became more and more degraded.
"While my companion has purported that the Republic would be more at threat from Mexico should the capital move to Austin. However, he of all people should recognize the potential of the Texan military, and its capabilities to protect the people of Texas. If he were to let his ego down for a moment, and allow for the man that founded Texas to take the name of the capital, then we would become greater because of this."
"I do not degrade the name of Austin or of the Texan military... but it is to be stressed that we must ensure that should any attempt on Texas be placed upon us by the encroachment of Mexico, it would be vastly better for our archives to be at threat. At many means... it would be better for us to stay and officially recognize Houston as the capital of the Republic..."
After hours of speeches and debates, the Congress had finally announced the vote. Sitting anxiously as the votes are counted, the Speaker slowly approached the podium, and spoke out. "The... votes have come in... within total count of the Congress... there are 15 votes for Houston, and 27 votes for Austin, and 1 abstained... the vote swings in favor of Austin."
Houston slowly held is head low, as Lamar's side of the Congress congratulated themselves. He turned and looked at Lamar. He began to notice a divide between them, ever since they became President and Vice President... perhaps they would be better friends should they not have won the election... perhaps, he may very well have not been fit to be President...
January 11th, 1840
Austin, Texas
The new renovations were in place, as what was once a plain soon began to grow into a town. While far from done, it has made progress. Nonetheless, Houston found himself demoralized.
He felt like his Presidency was not great. He had begun to lose his friendship with Lamar, his bills for the protection of the Natives have died, and the capital was moved. It may very well have been Lamar who controlled the government. He did not want to continue his presidency.
He called a small assembly of men, knowing that the Election Campaign is about to begin, he must make it known that he will not participate. Standing on a platform, he announced to the group: "Friends... as you may know, the Election of 1840 is approaching... and I would like to let it go announced that I, President Sam Houston... will not be seeking reelection... I have chosen to give my support to Robert Wilson, the Texan senator from Harrisburg of the Democratic Party... I bid well to the candidates and hope for the stable continuation of our Democracy..."
He knew that Lamar would take this oppertunity, and gain the support of the Whig Party to try and become President. Houston may need to provide more political leverage to support his candidate, but overall, he just wants to be done with politics.
As he stepped down from the podium, he saw Rusk run up to him.
"President! I have some urgent news that requires your attention! It's about Mexico... they are experiencing an uprising on our borders!"