[May?—, 1825.]
Regulations to be observed by persons who wish to settle in the
Colony which the Govt have authorised Stephen F Austin to
establish in Texas by Contract dated April [27] 1825 being the second
Colony of said Austin
Art 1st Every person wishing to become a settler must immediately
after his arrival present himself to me and signify his desire to that
effect and leave with me recommendations from the Authorities of
the place where he moved from Accrediting his Cristianity morality
and good habits which will be laid before the Commr as the Law
requires—he will also deliver in writing a statement of his name,
whether married or single, his family specifying their number and
sexes, the place of his nativity, his age, where from last, and his
occupation as prescribed in the 3d article of the Colonisation Law,
and he will at the same time take the oath prescribed by the 3d
article of the instructions to the Commissioner to support the federal
and state Constitution and the General and State Laws of his
adopted Country, his name will then be entered in the register book
of the Colony and from that time and not before he will be considered
an applicant, and as such entitled by Law to the priviledges granted
to the Colonists—the oath must be taken before the Commissioner or
in his Absence before the Alcalde.
Art 2d after Complying with the foregoing Article and receiving
a permission in Writing from the Empresario to select Land as one
of the Colonists he will proceed to make his selection on
unappropriated Lands and give notice at the office of the Empresario of his
selection Within 30 days after the date of his permission in order
that an entry may be made of the same and instructions issued to the
surveyors to survey it as the Law and their instructions require the
applicant will also at this time present his petition to the
Commissioner on stamp paper in due form and in Spanish.
Art 3d On the presentation of the petition as stated in the
foregoing article satisfactory arrangements must be made to the
Commissioner for the payment of fifteen Dollars to him, and five dollars into
the office to Mr Samuel M Williams and on receipt of the title five
dollars more being for his services in extending and copying the
title, this is exclusive of stamp paper
Art 4th The Empresario as the general Agent of the Colonists has
procured at his own expense and Labor, the priviledge of ennabling
them to obtain Complete titles to land without the delay and expense
and perplexities of personal applications at the seat of Govt by each
individual—he has all the Labor of the translations—the
examination of the surveyors returns and translating them, the receiving,
registering and locating of Colonists, also heavy responsibilities and
much Labor of a Complicated and perplexing Nature—and as his
Whole time must necessarily be devoted to the service of the
Colonists, and under heavy expences, he in justice and equity has a right
to expect a proper remuneration from them and the 9th article of
the Colonisation Law gives him a legal right to exact it. his object
is to receive from the settlers a small recompence in Comparison with
the benefits he procures and the Labor he undergoes for them.
Every settler therefore who applies for admission into my Colony
will be bound to pay me Sixty dollars, if he is entitled to a League
and thirty if only to a quarter of a League— Ten Dollars of which
sum must be paid at the time of obtaining the permission spoken
of in the Second article, Twenty Dollars in Six months after the
date of said permission, and the balance Thirty Dollars in 18 months
from the date of sd permission.— the payment of which must be
secured by Note and lien on the Land granted.
5th In future No respect or preference will be given to any
settlement improvement or selection whatever made by any person Who
shall not have Previously Complied with the foregoing regulations,
(excepting however those who have at this time actually made
improvements who are allowed until the first of October to make
application as required in the foregoing articles.
The payments on a quarter of a League must be made as follows
Ten Dollars on the receipt of the permission as aforementioned and
the balance in 6 months thereafter.
6th Should I be absent from this place Mr Samuel M Williams
is authorised to receive applications and grant permissions as
prescribed in the first and second articles of these regulations
[Recapitulation]
on making application to the Empr__________________________ $10.
on presentation of petition which must be within 30 days after
application to the comr___________________________________ 15.
to be paid into the office at the same time____________________ 5.
on receipt of title to be pd. into the office______________________ 5.
Stamp paper for original and copy__________________________ 2.
Six months application to the Empro_______________________ 20.
one year after ditto to do__________________________________ 20.
18 months after do to do________________________________________ 25.
4 years after date of title to the Ayto__________________________ 10.
5 years after do to do_______________________________________ 10.
6 years after do to do________________________________________ 10.
132.
The above is exclusive of surveying fees which will be paid to the
surveyors at the rate of 4 Dollars pr. mile.