CHAPTER 32

An Act amendatory of an act entitled an act to incorporate the European and American Colonization Society in Texas.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the third section of the above entitled act be so amended that the same shall hereafter read as follows: That the Shareholders or Corporators of the Company shall be liable for all debts and obligations of said Company, to the extent of the Capital Stock subscribed or owned by each.

Section 2. That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, January 6th, 1858.

Special Laws of Seventh Legislature of the State of Texas (Austin, 1858), 26, _ibid._, p. 1204.

D. LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION

New York City November 10, 1854

His Excelly Gov. Pease

My Dear Sir:

Permit me to introduce to you my friend Mr. F. Cantagrel of France--He is a gentleman of _high standing_ and _acquirements_ and goes to Texas to see the country and may perhaps establish himself there for life--Being a stranger, he will be thankful for any advice, aid or consel you may extend to him, will be regarded a personal favor by me and duly reciprocated by us both.[1]

Very respectfully, (Signed) H. W. Merrill Bt Major USA

To/His Excelly Gov. M. Pease

Legation of the United States Brussels, January 14, 1855

Dear Sir:

Although not acquainted with your Excellency, yet as the diplomatic representative of our country I take the liberty of addressing you this note for the purpose of introducing to your acquaintance and attention the distinguished Republican, Mons. Victor Considerant of France; who is about leaving Europe with a number of his Countrymen to settle and establish a Colony in your state. Mons. Considerant is an ardent republican and has not escaped the persecution usually attendant upon the advocates of these opinions in Europe. Our Countrymen, I trust, will receive him the more cordially. He is a gentleman of means education and intelligence, and will be a most valuable acquisition to your state. Under these circumstances it is not necessary to commend him both good office and kind consideration of the governor of the free and chivalrous state of Texas.

I have the honor to be, Sir, with very great respect your Countryman & old Servant.[2]

(Signed) J. J. Seibel

To/His Excellency the Governor of Texas

The State of Texas County of Travis

Know all men by these present that I James Knight of Fort Bend County. State aforesaid for a good & Valuable Consideration. The receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have by these presents doth hereby grant bargain and convey unto Victor Prosper Considerant, his heirs and assignees all the right title and interest that I have or may hereafter acquire of in the certificate no [3169/3270] for one league and labor of Land issued by the Commission--is of the General Land office on the 19th day of January A D 1854 which said certificate was issued to me as assigned of James McLaughlin

Witness my hand and scrawl for seal this 7th Jany A D 1855.[3]

E. R. Peck John C. Higginson James Knight (Seal)

[1]Texas Archives, Governor's Letters--Pease.

[2]From Archives of Texas, Governor Pease's Letters.

[3]From Texas Land Office--Dallas Co.--James McLaughlin, File 853.

REFERENCES

Introduction

[1]For a brief study of socialism see Thomas Kirkup, _A History of Socialism_ (New York, 1909); John Spargo, _A Summary and Interpretation of Socialistic Principles_ (New York, 1906); Harry W. Laidler, _A History of Socialist Thought_ (New York, 1927). For a more extended study, Donald Drew Egbert and Stow Persons, editors, _Socialism and American Life_ (Princeton, New Jersey, 1952), 2 Vols.

[2]A. C. Pigou, _Socialism Versus Capitalism_ (London: Macmillan and Company, 1938), p. 2; Egbert, _op. cit._, I, iii.

[3]_Ibid._, 1.

[4]Egbert, _Socialism and American Life_, I, Introduction.

[5]See also Max Beer, _A History of British Socialism_, London, 1929, I, 160-180; Egbert, _op. cit._, I, 156-172.

[6]H. W. Laidler, _Social-Economic Movements_ (Thomas Y. Cromwell, New York, 1946), 98.

[7]_Socialism, Utopian and Scientific_ (Chicago: 1914), 74; Egbert, _op. cit._, I, iii.

[8]Engels, _op. cit._, 91.

[9]This conclusion does not coincide with the discussion in _Socialism and American Life_, I, 215-522 by Daniel Bell. It appears that Bell used an indefensibly wide interpretation of Marxianism to demand so many pages to relate the actions of the followers of Marx. An example, from the viewpoint of this author, may be noted on page 250. The discussion in these two hundred and fifty pages is a splendid story of American Socialism but hardly of Marxian Socialism in America.