Nacogdoches Sept 5. 1826
His Excellency Don Jose Anto Sausido.
Most excellent sir I have this Year omitted writing as I am
unable to write Spanish and had every confidence business would
eventually close to the general good of the Government Yet I have seen
all the Year the machines of disappointed impure services
disappointed speculators disappointed Rouges disappointed Office hunters
opponents and striving in opposition and each one striving to carry
his point but all unanimously opposing the law and authority
They began on the 19th March by declaring the documents from
your excellency was forged and the Authority here was arbitrary
this part was without effect yet they continued in imprinting of this
on the minds of the people untill a certain Col. Pettis [Pettus] from
Austin's Colony arrived here at the Irish Bayou he declared at
Chandlers Store in the presince of Chandler Elbert Hinds Esqr and
many others that there was no law nor authority in this country that
all they had was from Your excellency and that you yourself had no
authority and that Austin commanded to the Sabine this
immediately took effect with all who could not be received in the country
and all who opposed the Law and authority Burrill Thompson
immediately commenced to raise a Company among them declaring they
would not suffer in future any man to be turned out of the country
and that they would put down the Authority and establish one of
their own they all declared by the powers to desist Burrill
Thompson declared to me there was no law nor authority there and that He
would persist in regulating His Company and had this meeting and
agreed to send John A. Williams to Stephen F. Austin to sanction
agreable to what Pettis had told them It appears Austin became
anamoured with this plan and sent a large document to Benjamin
Edwards who remains here as the agent of Haden Edwardsthe
Empresario and disclosing many secrets on Slavery among them the said
Edwards went immediately to the Irish Bayou and set in on the
Company Him and John A Williams and Burrill Thompson and has
eventually succeeded to effect a confusion among them as no
dependence can be placed among them and the said B. Edwards has this
morning sent Chaplin among them with a large Packet against the
authority of this place what this may end in God only knows the
House of Dill and Dust [Durst] has worked on the mind of their
Friends as they keep a Boarding House for the Empresario It has
touched the minds of some of the old Citizens in a word much
confusion remains here and all has originated from the Empresario.
I received a Letter this morning from Austin's Colony this day and
am informed that they are worse there than here and I presume the
confusion came first from them or the cause.
Austin has requested the Alcalda of this place to check me as He
said I was in the habit of informing the Government continually the
dangers of a rebellion All I have to say on this subject is Had he
fought for the Freedom of this Country and spent all he had He
would be a man particular in defending it But Your Excellency will
see no Empresario can comply with their obligation to this
Government agreeable to Laws and eventually if the calculations fail all
interest for the Government will fail and the result will be confusion
which I do not consider is at hand I dont say that a rebellion is in
hand Judge yourself what I do say from your own opinion I want
your Excellency to send Troops to enforce the Laws and every where
establish order every where I am ready to aid you at all times I shall
use evry exertion in my power untill the return mail and if times cant
be altered I must leave my Family and then Contend Myself in
person for the Laws and Authority untill I Die
God and Liberty
I remain your Excellencies most obt very Humble Servant
(Signed) James Gaines.
Satillo Oct. the 7. 1826
Dear Sir
I send you a Copy of a Letter wrote by Mr. James Gaines to this
Government stating what you will see in said letter You have that
poisinous serpent who underhanded is writing against you all you
ought to take care of Him for if He dont injure you it is not for the
want of trying you will see by His letter that I drew off word for
word.
I wish you to let all the Ayish Bayou know it and see what He and
his Brother in Law wishes to do if it was in their power Norris has
written to the same effect this is wrote by a Friend who dont sign his
name for good reasons but you will know who he is in a short time.
Ponga mi Rubrica no mas
To Mr. Joseph Dust [Durst]
A true copy taken from the original in the secretary's office
Saltillo Oct. 6th 1826
Jas E. B. Austin [Rubric]
P. S. In some places I have corrected the spelling and in others have
left it as it is in the original, which is so badly written that it was
with much difficulty the meaning could be ascertained.—[Austin]