So what do we know about the activities at Galveston Island in the years 1817 to 1821? Well, a lot more then we once did. Whether any of this actually applies to the Beale narration can never be satisfactorily concluded until the explanation in C1 is know and made public, however, the case at Galveston Island certainly stands as a strong possibility as to the actual source behind the narration. So let's take a dedicated and detailed look at just exactly what was taking place at Isle of St. Louis, or, Island of the Serpent, or, Island of the Snake, or, Snake Island, as is was often referenced.
As we all know this island became home to privateers and smugglers, first by D'Aury and then reorganized on April 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 1817, when the form of island government was amended by the St. Louis Company, this company actually having been created sometime before in New Orleans.
The goal of this company was a risky one that pivoted on two ideals, the first being to gain capital by the ransacking of Spanish commerce in the Gulf and then to put those gains into the St. Louis Company's coffers to fund the second ideal, this being to establish a major city and major port of entry into the west once the United States gained Texas. Little did they image that the United States would end up sacrificing Texas with the culmination of the Adams Onis Treaty, the dagger that eventually brought their enterprise to an unimaginable end. But it is the years in between that are of most interest to us, those years when the capital funding and company assets were being acquired in the Gulf.
Like any well run business the St. Louis Company had it's board of directors and stock holders, everything else stemming from this in the form of employees and third party interest, or business associates, if you will. According to article three of the new amendments, established on April 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 1817; “Only those who had been part of the original company before April 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 1817, would enjoy the benefits of that prior arrangement/contract.” So in essence, even before this April 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 1817 date the company and it's business had already existed and it continued to gain assets and funding at least until 1821 when the Adams Onis Treaty was finally ratified. This is where we need to focus, on all of that capital that was being generated through this company's vast privateering and smuggling network.
So let's take a look at this vast smuggling network.
Merchandise, regardless what it was it had to be sold in order to turn that merchandise into capital. Now without going into great length everyone who has ever researched this subject knows that Galveston Island was the central hub of the Laffite's vast smuggling network and that hundreds if not thousands of captured slaves were sold through this network, as well as other forms of merchandise. It is a historical fact that these slaves and merchandise, including some of the captured ships, were sold at various auctions and that these auctions were held at a variety of locations in the south, many of these auctions even being held in secret. Now consider what all was involved in bringing these auctions to fruition. So now let's look at this subject.
The one thing a seller of merchandise needs more anything else is buyers, buyers with enough free capital and need to attend these auctions. So basically we're talking about folks with money to burn, those influential types who can afford the traveling expenses and purchases. And this, I truly believe, is where businessmen like Thomas Beale and Morriss enter the picture. You see, in order to secure these desired buyers then certain aspects of that business have to be in place, such as lodging for your buyers and their agents, many of whom have traveled some distance to attend your auctions with advanced notice, these folks demanding your utmost attention, patronage and care. Without buyers you have nothing, just a bunch of merchandise you can't unload above giveaway prices, if that. So above everything else, in order for these auctions to work you had to have buyers, happy and comfortable buyers who were willing to bid satisfactory dollars on that merchandise. Both Morriss and Beale were associated with top of the line hotels where all of the comforts existed.
This brings us to the Uptown Plantation, the Merchant and Planters Hotel, and the establishment outlined in the narration allegedly operated by Morriss. As previously noted in past post/threads, Lynchburg, “Richmond”, and New Orleans all held active slave auctions during the period. Now this, by itself, certainly establishes nothing, nor does the fact that Thomas Beale was a slave owner. However, things begin to start materializing when it is discovered that the Uptown was also the site of New Orleans slave auctions. And as for the “Merchants and Planters” Hotel that Jr. eventually established after his father had conveyed his Upton Plantation to him, well, things start to get pretty darn suspect and interesting, indeed. I mean, who were the typical purchasers of slaves? Planters and Merchants, perhaps? Now if what I'm outlining is true/accurate, which I believe it is, then this would put these Beales in the slave trafficking business, the same business that was pouring out of Galveston Island.
Now then, Thomas Beale Sr. passes away in 1820 and Jr. in 1823, just one year past the conclusion of the alleged Beale events in the narration and just two years past the last date of deposit and the ratification of the Adams Onis Treaty, which effectively ended those smuggling activities from that location. And we know that a large sum of money in the form of a trust had been secured away for a term of “no longer then” ten-years. If this money was the result of the activities stemming from Galveston Island then why was it placed in trust for a period of ten-years? Two reasons quickly come forth that could easily explain this ten-year term.
First, even though the activities at Galveston Island came to an end with the signing of said treaty there was still no guarantee that the treaty would remain in force. In fact, it was even anticipated that future difficulties over those same borders would be met again once Mexico gained it's liberty from Spanish rule, this event being anticipated to happen in immediate years. So by maintaining the company's asset in trust this same enterprise could be easily established again at Galveston Island should the opportunity and/or need present itself. Even the administration was anticipating the very real possibility that this same battle over those borders was likely to take place all over again, and, they also still had their eye set on all of Texas. This is one very acceptable reason.
The second reason is because Galveston Island wasn't he only hub of activity as the St. Louis Corporation held warehouses and unfinished business affairs in New Orleans and all up and down the east coast, etc., the merchandise/assets in these warehouses and the unfinished business affairs having to be concluded before the company's closing net worth could be determined and applied fairly to each of the original shareholders. So if Thomas Beale and his named heir, Jr., had comprised one of those original share holders what happens to their shares if they are both dead before the close of business and those final drafts on their shares of the company's closing net worth?
From what I have been able to ascertain from record Thomas Beale conveyed his estate to Jr., this leading up to that costly and extended court battle over that estate. And as for Jr., well, who was named in his will?
Now before you jump all over me let me tell you that there is far less blind speculation in this then you might think, as those who wish to “follow up” on all of this might well discover. Something else worth noting; many accounts from the period, and those describing the period, often define the services of these “hotels” as being places “where businessmen often gathered to conduct their business affairs.”
Like I said, if you want to introduce new avenues of topic/subject that are not consistent with the present thread then simply start a new thread. This is what most folks do and as is the intended designs of these forums when a different topic/subject of discussion is desiring to be pursued. 
