Saltillo, November 3, 1827
Hon. J. R Poinsett,
Sir—¦ At the request of my friend Mr David G. Burnet of
Ohio I inclose you two letters of recommendation, one from the
Hon. H. Clay and the other from the Hon. E. A. Brown.
Mr. Burnet has obtained from the Gov't of this State authority
to colonise a district of Country lyying west of Nacogdoches and as
it is a small strip he wishes to annex to it a portion of country ex-
tending East from said village to the Sabine river, but as this latter
is embraced within the twenty border leagues reserved by the
Colonization Act, it cannot be colonized without the previous permission
of the President and Mr. Burnet has presented a memorial to that
effect which goes on by this mail to the minister of relations
recommended by this Gov't.
His object in directing his attention to this enterprise is to settle
a number of reputable farmers from the State of Ohio, who find it
inconvenient to provide lands in that country for their large and
increasing families owing to its excessively high price. The
morality, industry and agricultural enterprise which characterize the
inhabitants of Ohio are well known and proverbial, slavery is
unknown amongst them, they are " principled " against it, every man
is a laborer, and in this particular to their other recommend able
qualities, they unite a principle which is in strict accordance with
the broad ideas of liberty and universal emancipation laid down in
the State Constitutions, and so strenuously urged in legislative
deliberations—
The restrictions as to Slavery in this State present very material
obstacles to the settlement of Texas by emigrants from the southern
States, and should it be the wish of the Mexican Gov't, to convert
that fine portion of its territory from a savage wilderness and
useless dead burthen on the nation, to a populous, civilized and
cultivated state capable of contributing a material quota towards
national incomer wealth and prosperity, sound policy, and expediency I
should presume would approve of a decided encouragement of Ohio
and other northern emigration. As regards national policy, I can
see no objection to emigrants from our sister republic, similitude
of political institutions, unity of genl interests, absence of cause for
a difference in local interests and enthusiastic love of liberty, present
natural and mutual guarantees of perpetual harmony and peace
between the two nations. Not so with the nations of Europe, who are, and must ever be the natural enemies of American prosperity; and
besides, the kind of emigrants that may be brought from Europe for
colonizing purposes will not be of the class calculated to advance the
lower orders of Society for the purpose of filling a contract, they
will not in general possess the enterprise, perseverance and morality
so indespensable to settle a wilderness, whereas emigrants from the
north, to these and many other good qualities will add Capital—such
emigrants certainly cannot be compared with the overflowings of
the redundant population of Europe—
Mr. Burnet is in Nacogdoches and in obedience to his wishes, as
well as to comply with my duty as a friend, I have troubled you
with this letter, and solicit such aid with the minister of relations in
favor of the application as may be consistent.
I embrace this opportunity to present my warmest wishes for your
health and happiness and big you to accept the assurance of respect
and esteem with which I have the honor to remain
your very Obt. Servt.
Stephen F. Austin—
P. S. Any communications relative to Mr Burnet's business which
you may think proper to make will reach their destination directed
to me " en la villa de San Felipe de Austin, Texas, (por el Saltillo)"
Estevan F. Austin.
Nov. 5—I enclose copies of Mr. Burnet's petition and the "in-
forms " of the Govt.
A.