[Translation by Austin.]
The Political Chief of the Province of Texas to the new Settlers on
the Colorado and Brazos Rivers in Said Province
Fallow Citizens,
I have again the Satisfaction of addressing you, which I do with
the more pleasure as I am convinced you will listen to me and do the
justice to believe me when I assure you that a Government, which has
received you into its bosom through the solicitudes that were
commenced by Moses Austin and at great expense and labor continued
and successfully terminated by his Son Stephen F. Austin, will watch
over your interests and protect your rights by just and wise laws
which will enable you to enjoy in peace the fruits of your labors—If
the government of the nation is not yet fully and finally organized,
the causes which have produced the delay are well known, but in the
midst of these delays and convulsions they have given you a chief to
govern you untill you have within yourselves the necessary numbers
and elements for the formation of your municipal bodies—they have
given you a beneficial and liberal Colonization law,—they have given
you a member in the most Excellent Deputation of this province (the
Baron de Bastrop) and you will be entitled to an equal
representation with other citizens in the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Departments of the State, according to the tenor of the
Constitutional Act which you are now called on to Swear to. It is therefore
necessary that you should listen with attention and confidence to
your immediate Chief (Col. Austin) whose authority is from the
Supreme powers of the nation to which you now voluntarily belong,
and that you should disregard and dispise all those idle slanders and
vague stories which are put in circulation by the enemies of good
order for the sole purpose of creating confusion and discontent.
I trust that my words will have the impression on your minds that
I desire, and that convinced of their truth you will repose in
confidence and peace under the authorities that govern you, for by so
doing you may attain that degree of prosperity you wish for and
which is ardently hoped for by your fellow citizen
Jose Antonio Saucedo