San Felipe de Austin 4 March 1829
Copy to W. C. Carr
My dear Sir,
Since my last, which I beleive was in October, I have had a final
settlement of accounts with A. Butler and have paid him upwards
of two thousand dollars, and arranged the balance in three
payments in 1831. 32. and 33.— The interest was all exacted to a cent
and in some instances compounded, which has caused the debt to
accumulate very much. I still owe considerably over four
thousand dollars on it— this has been a cruel affair and has harrassed
me very much, more than any event of my life ever did, I hope
it is done with— Enclosed I send you an order to the clerk of
Jefferson county to enter satisfaction on the judgement against
Bryan and My Father which I wish done, provided it cannot in any
manner be construed as implicating me, by construction, as having
assumed the payment of debts generally due by Bryan and My
Father unless where I am individually bound as was the case in
this debt—
The prospects of this country are brightening very rapidly and
emigrants of the most respectable character are flocking to it.
Perseverance and time have removed the obstacles that impeded
the settlement of Texas when I commenced. It was then a total
wilderness, destitute of resources, infested by hostile Indians and
without an organised Government and the real value of the
Country unknown, or very generally doubted. When I look back at the
substantial impediments, that were calculated to retard or totally
defeat my progress in planting a new settlement in this wilderness,
I find abundant cause of surprise that it should have advanced at
all. I was of the opinion that perseverance and time would
surmount them. The event proves that I was right—A few more years
and the prosperity of Texas will astonish many. I am bold to say,
that as a Country, taken in the general average, it is unequaled by
any portion of North America. You will recollect that I have had
some opportunity of forming an opinion on this matter, for I have
seen this continent from Connecticut to the City of Mexico, and
have generally been a close observer of localities, soil, climate, etc.
Apart from the peculiar value of the Mississippi river and the
harbors, I deem Texas to be of more intrinsic value as a country,
than all the States of Louisiana Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia
and the territories of Florida and Arkansas
Our Govt gets on very well, All things considered the federal
system was an experiment and a very dangerous one for Mexico
because their former habits and ideas as to political subjects, had
not prepaired the people for such a System, there must be some
collisions for a while, but good will grow out of them; for they tend
to elicit discussion and to diffuse knowledge. I may perhaps at some
leisure time write you a long and rather speculative letter on the
formation, progress and probable future advancement of this new
born republic, and notice some variations from their Model the
U. S—
This day belongs, most emphatically, to the history of North
America, I may indeed say to the history of the civilized world—the
4 of March, the inauguration of the President of a republic whose
comercial ramifications have penitrated every inhabitable corner of
the Globe, and whose moral influence has cheered every heart that
loves freedom, and thrown a gloom around the thrones of despotism.
Jackson goes into office with the advantage of an overwhelming
majority, and should his cabinet possess talents and " Management"
to retain their popularity he cannot fail to get through hapily and
prosperously— I am of opinion that his administration will in the
general be very popular, and very advantageous to the nation, for
I think that the experiments which have been made of the Tariff
Systim has clearly demonstrated the course that ought to be adopted,
and I think it will be adopted—Popular opinion will give this
administration all the credit, altho they may be governed by lights elicited
by others—I have taken no great interest in the election, tho I have
no objection to see Jackson President—Your Govt is founded on the
popular will—and agreeably to the principles on which it is based,
whatever the people will, is right
I recd your kind letter of 8 novr yesterday and thank you for the
sentiments it contains— the dificulty I mentioned in a former letter
is all settled whether it will ever occur again I know not—
Please remember me very particularly to your daughters. Ann
Maria I expect will hardly recollect me. I do " long " to see you all
and to see Missouri once more, and I will see you as soon as I can
arrange my affairs to leave this country so as to be absent one year—
when you go to Potosi remember me to them all there.
Brother James has a son a few weeks since, he lives at a new town
we have laid off on the Brasos river 15 miles from its mouth called
Brasoria, a name which I gave it for the single reason that I know
of none like it in the world. I shall remove below myself as soon
as I can get a divorce from colonizing perplexities, and I do assure
you they are many—I am weary of them, a Small farm a moderate
independence and a wife would render my life much happier than
it is or has been lately—but I am too poor as yet (as to active capital)
to think of those matters— Brother has denounced me as an old
bachelor confirmed and hopeless and has undertaken to fit up a
fruit garden for me to growl away old age in. I shall disapoint
him I hope tho am in favor of the fruit and therefore remind you
of your promise to send seeds and roots to Mr. Cox of N. Orleans
Stephen F. Austin
[W. C. Carr, Hazelwood, Missouri.]