Page 12 - Fulton Mansion

FULTON MANSION
Remembering Henry Smith
Henry Smith served Texas in multiple political positions, most notably:
• Provisional Governor of Texas under Mexican Rule, 1835–1836
• Secretary of the Treasury under Sam Houston, 1836–1839
• Congressional Representative for Brazoria, 1840–1841
Henry Smith ca. 1836
Henry Smith moved to Texas in 1827 and settled around Brazoria, where he was a farmer, schoolteacher, and surveyor. By the mid-
1830s with unrest against Mexico at its peak, Henry Smith had aligned himself politically as a leader in the Independence Party (or War Party), which supported Texas declaring its
independence from Mexico. At the Consultation of 1835, a group of representatives met to discuss the Texian quarrel with Mexico. Though the majority at the Consultation was
aligned with the Peace Party, Henry Smith was elected the governor over the provisional government of Texas.
The Consultation in November 1835 had adjourned without defining a clear division of powers for the governor and the council members. Thus, the governing body was indecisive at best. At its worst, miscommunications and the unilateral actions of each resulted in a political clash—only a few months before the military conflict began with Mexican forces.
During the next weeks, the General Council authorized the creation of a new
regular army commanded by Sam Houston, and sanctioned a military expedition to take Matamoros, Mexico. Henry Smith supported the plan initially and asked Houston to organize it. However, the Council named several men, simultaneously, to organize and
lead the assault. By authorizing the expedition, the Council effectively stripped almost all provisions and the majority of the men from the Alamo; the commander there sent a strong message to Houston asking for reinforcements and more supplies. Houston forwarded the message to Henry Smith with an added note that he believed the Matamoras mission was illegal. Apparently, the Council did not have a quorum when they voted for the expedition. Henry Smith denounced the expedition as idiocy and labeled its supporters either fools or traitors, and he attempted to dissolve the Council. The Council members alleged Smith
did not have the authority to disband them; they returned with an official impeachment of Governor Smith on January 11, 1836.
On January 12, in a conciliatory letter to the Council, Henry admitted he was not very diplomatic in his language, however, he also declared that should the Council admit that their actions regarding the Matamoros Expedition were out of line, he would reinstate them so that they could all work together for the good of the country. This gesture went unrecognized as a new provisional governor was chosen as his replacement.
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