San felipe de Austin March 10. 1826
Dr Sir
Mr. Chastellier has drawn off copy of the Colonization law and
takes it with him—
I very much regret that there should have arisen any discontent
among the settlers on the Trinity in regard to the manner of procuring their lands, every thing of this nature has a tendency to injure
the progress of the new Settlements generally, and I would with due
respect to those settlers, and as their friend and the friend of all the
new Settlements, recommend to them to be extremely cautious not to
do any thing of a violent or disorderly character towards the persons
intrusted by the Government with the superintendence of those new
Settlements—The utmost harmony should be cultivated—the agents
of the Government should be treated with respect, and if causes of
complaint exist against them, representations should be made to the
proper authority in a mild manner and without any thing like passion or abuse. These ideas are respectfully suggested to you in
friendship, they proceed from a sincere desire to see harmony prevail, and not from any disposition or desire on my part to intrude
my advice or censure on any person and I hope you will receive
them in the same spirit of candor and friendship in which they are
offered—I can have no object in wishing harmony, but the prosperity
of the country, for my conduct in regard to receiving settlers will not
be regulated, or in any manner influenced, by what the other Empresarios may do—my guide shall be the law and the orders of the
Government, and the price which the Government may direct me to
exact of the settlers to pay the expences on their lands, is what must
be paid: how much that will be, I cannot tell untill instructions are
recd on the subject—I have applied for them and such instructions
and shall do nothing in regard to the final location of new Settlers
untill they arrive.
My brother who starts to Saltillo in a few days will take on a
report of the history and observations made by me at Galveston preparatory to the opening of the port, and in all pro[ba]bility some
definitive measures will be adopted by the Govt in regard to the
establishment of a port town, either at Galveston, or some other
convenient point on thecoast, during the ensuing summer or fall
I shall at all times be happy to hear from you and of the increasing prosperity of the settlers in your quarter of the country
[Stephen F. Austin]
[To George Orr]