Sir Enclosed I send you a translation of the Constitutional Decree
of the Sovereign Congress of the Mexican nation establishing the
form of Government also I send you a proclamation of the Political
Chief of this Province to the inhabitants of this Colony, and an
address of my own to the Settlers—
The Political Chief of the Province by his official letter dated the
18 March last has ordered that all the inhabitants of this Colony
should swear to the Constitutional Act, and to the Federal
Republican System of Government and considering the extent of this
district and the inconvenience which the inhabitants of the lower part
of it would experience if they wrere compelled to come to this place,
I have thought proper to convene them at the house of J. B. Baily
on Saturday the first day of May next, as you will perceive by the
enclosed notices which you will put up without delay
Should the Alcalde of this district not attend you are hereby
appointed to act on the 1st. of May in his place, and you will
accordinly first read to the people this letter—then the Constitutional act—
then the Proclamation of the Political Chief of the Province, and
then my address to the settlers—you will then state to them the oath
which is in these words—" you swear to observe and obey the
Constitutional Act of federation of the Mexican Nation " to which they
will all answer " yes we swear " and then let them give three cheers,
fire a salute of small arms, or any other demonstration of joy and
rejoicing that may be deemed proper by the people— The oath need
not be given to them seperately but to all at once collectively, this is
the custom in this nation on such occasions
I have also ordered an election at the same time for a Lieutenant
of militia for the lower division of this District, who will be
governed by the instructions given to you— This I do that the
inhabitants of that settlement may not even have a shadow of pretext to
complain of their officers, for altho the superior Government have
ordered me to oppoint all the militia officers, yet I have no wish to
do so, as some captious persons in the Colony seem to think—
The returns must be sent to me as soon as possible, and you will
resign the command to the person elected—
You will as soon as possible send me an account of your
proceedings under this order that I may make up my report to the
Government
God and Liberty, Union and happiness
St Felipe de Austin April 20 1824
Stephen F. Austin [Rubric]
To Josiah H. Bell Pol. Chief
You will have the enclosed power for the Baron signed without
delay and send it back by Captain Gaines, as they are wating for
it at St Antonio—there is not time to call the people together and
have an election and we could not do better than to appoint the Baron
Austin [Rubric]
request Gaines as he comes back to get the people at the Fort to
sign it—