Tuscumbia Franklin County
North Alabama Feb 15th 1825
Dr Sir
I wrote you a long letter several, months ago and have been anxiously
expecting an answer for a considerable time past, but thus far my
wishes have not been gratified. I am inclined to think from your
silence that the letter miscarried and as a good opportunity offers
by a Mr Royal who is about starting for your settlement I embrace
it to make a second communication. It would afford me much
pleasure to receive from you as an old and highly esteemed acquaintance
a long letter filled with information relative to yourself and the
country in which you reside. Much interest is excited about your
settlement and respectable people here are verry anxious to obtain
satisfactory information upon the subject. In order to satisfy this
laudable curiosity and to gratify my own private wishes I venture
to ask you several questions which will be the easiest and best way
of satisfying both, them and myself. I wish to know what the
feelings of the Govt are at this time upon the subject of religion. Will
it wink at liberty of conscience and permit good and worthy
inhabitants to peaceably assemble and worship their God in the way most
agreeable to their feelings without evincing any disposition to make
proselytes or to interfere with the prevailing religion of the country.
This is a subject of vast importance to the people of these U States
and has a most powerful effect in preventing respectable families
from removing from this to your country. To those who think
liberally an exclusive religion presents no formidable difficulties but you
are well apprised of the wonderful influence of education upon a
subject involving the present and future happiness of Mankind,
particularly in a country like this where religious liberty exists in
all its purity. The operation of your system [will be alarming?] to
our Females whose influence we must submit to in every thing
relating to social and domestic happiness. We will not say they renounce
the religion of our Fathers or be deprived of the pleasures derived
from its doctrines and ceremonies for all other earthly enjoyments.
If deprived of these every other object would cease to please and all
around would appear dark and dreary. An elysium under such
circumstances would be more intolerable than Siberian desserts. You
may depend upon it that your exclusive system has a most
discouraging effect upon imigration particularly among the more respectable
classes of the community. If that first and most obnoxious article
could be blotted from your constitution, my word for it, families of
respectability and influence would flock to your country from every
part of the United States.
Our most valuable inhabitants here own negroes. I am therefore
anxious to know what the laws are upon that subject. Can they be
introduced as the labouring servants of emigrants? and, when are
they free ? They are an important species of property here and our
planters are not willing to remove without they can first be assured
of their being secured to them by the laws of your Govt.
Inform me about the general appearance of your country, its
soil, and climate, particularly in that part of it immediately on
or near the sea coast. Is it high and dry or is it low and swampy ?
Do springs abound and is it difficult to produce water by digging
wells? and is the country as well adapted to sugar cane as to cotton?
Are you subject to severe droughts during the summer? What
is the size of the Colorado, will it admit of schooner navigation up
to your town: and is the land immediately on the river high or
low and subject to inundation? How far is your town from the
sea coast and would a store of goods to well in it ? What are your
most common diseases; are bilious fevers frequent and severe and
would a Doctor do well among you? In what way do you dispose
of your lands; do you give long credit to purchasers, and how
much is the extent that each family can posses? Must they settle
it themselves or will you allow them to settle their purchases in the
first instance with good and industrious families? My reason for
asking this question is that many of our first rate men might be
induced to purchase if they were certain that it was not necessary
for them to remove untill after their places were well improved and
comfortably fixed with houses etc etc—Is your country well
timbered, and what is your most common growth ? Please answer these
questions and give as much other information as you conveniently
can, all which will be very pleasing to me and may probably prove
beneficial in its consequences to yourself, as I think, I can be of
service to you in procuring settlers that would do honour to any
country. A letter coming from you would be considered as official
and people would act accordingly. I take the liberty of suggesting
the propriety of your having a mail rout immediately established
between your Town and Natchitoches, it would verry much facilitate
the intercourse and prove advantageous to your settlement. I am
anxious to procure a good tract of land immediately on the sea
coast, if I could do so I would remove to it with a number of
good families. If you know of such a situation where the land is
good and where it will be healthy write me all about it. The only
national news of importance is the Presidential election. The
prominent candidates are General Jackson and Mr. Adams. The tug of
war commenced at Washington city on the 9th of this month and
how it will end is uncertain. The prevailing opinion in this
western country is that Genl Jackson will be elected. This present
congress have voted Genl La Fayette $200000 and given him a
township of land to be selected by the President of the u States.
This is as it should be and has proved to the world that republics
are not ungrateful. It is now engaged in perfecting a law for the
more effectual suppression of piracy. The law as reported provides
for the building of 10 additional sloops of war of 20 guns each
to be employed on the West India station. To permit merchantmen
vessels to arm in their own defence and allows a provision to such
as are wounded whilst defending their vessels, and to make prizes
of piratical vessels if they can. It also allows the officers and crews
of our National Vessels to pursue and if necessary to land in
pursuit of pirates and if the authorities of the Towns in which they
secrete themselves attempt to protect them or refuse to give them
up after a proper demand has been made to blockade such port or
place untill compliance is obtained. This law, I hope, will satisfy
Mr. Vives of Cuba and the rascally governor of Po[r]to Rico that
we will no longer submit to their infamous conduct. The affairs
of Europe are in Statu Quo. Poor degraded Spain is yet
convulsed with intestine broils . and groaning under the iron arm of
her cruel Monster of a King. The French army is about leaving
that unfortunate country and what the consequences will be God
only knows. I sincerely hope the nation will react, and if it does
I hope all those cursed fanatical monks and tyranical villains who
have so long oppressed that people will be quickly made to bite
the dust. As to Greece every thing appears encouraging. Her
army and Navy have done wonders. The classical ground of
Thermopolse has been lately again and again crimsoned by the valor
of her modern heroes with the blood of her infidel oppressors and
her navy has covered itself with glory under the direction of her
Gallant Canaris and other valient Chieftains and has driven, and
is now blockading within the dardanells the few remaining ships
of the great Turkish fleet. Do answer this by the very first
opportunity and give me all the news. As I have nothing more at present
to communicate I close by subscribing myself your sincere Friend
and Obt Servt
Charles Douglas
Hon Stephen F. Austin
The bearer can tell you all about me and what I am doing I
received a letter not long since from Doctor Parrot he is still living
in Mexico and is doing well—