Nacogdoches. Nov. 27th. 1830.
Col Stephen F Austin
San philippe
dear sir I receved this morning by Mr. Novara your Letter and
document appointing me your agent to give ceriificat to such
deserving persons as should wish to Emigrate to your Colony I felt
dedisposed to Accept of the apointment for three Reason Ier to oblige
a man who has done the most for the Interest and promotion of
this province 2er to satisfy the desire that I have if I had the power
to promogate the growth and importance of this province 3er to
the Request of Mr. Mc.Kinney a man that I have the highest Estime
and Consideration for.
But not wishing to Expose myself being a Stranger in the Contry
I thought proper (aliso in accordance with your Instruction) to
call on Col Piedras to give his approbation on the Subject after
due Consideration he said that he did not think he Could give
his assent being Contrary to his Superior order that he had order
to stop any one who Should not have a passport from a Mexican
Agent that you had a wright youself to give pasport or Certificat
to such Number or persons as by your Contract with
Government you were to settle in your Colony and no more, that
having the wright youself (to give Certificat) it was surpassing
your faculty to Extend that wright to other and in short that the
power and Instruction you give me were (if Complyed with) in
direct violation of his order and to the 9th: article of the Law of
the Sixth of aprill Last for he said by those Instruction you are
impowered to give Certificat to any men (if good men) who Should
say that he is Emigrating to Austin Colony not specifying the
Number while your Contract with Government Specify a Limited
Number and that no one ells ought to be admited in the province
besides: it is an affair of too much Responsability for him to
permit it he said if you would furnish him with a List of the names
of those persons you have Contracted with which are to settle in
your Colony or them to have a Certificat of your own Signature he
has no objection to Let him pass, but upon no other term—Saying
it would be transgressing his order to do the Contrary.—he
Requested me to Let him take a Copi of your Instruction to me and
that he would Write to the Govment to know whether they would
allow you to appoint an agent for this business not finding it
objectionable I Let him have the paper and he took a Copie of it I
am no Lawyer therfore I do not know whether Col. Piedras is
wright or wrong in this affair nor do I wish to have any Contantion
with him on the Subject therfore I wrote you the Subtance of what
he said it is for you to Juge or to do as you plaese about it
Notwithstanding my Willingness to be of Service to you-—you see
it is imposible for the present But in this or other Case here after
if I Can be of any help or service to you I prey you to Request it
of me and I will if in my power do it with greatest pleasure
With Respect and Consideration I am your Obed. Sert,
Michel B. Menard [Rubric]
To. Col. Stephen F Austin
Ville de Austin
Addressed: Col. Stephen F. Austin. Villa de Austin Texas
Per Mr. Foster
PS. the Comisionner Novara Receved order to day from the
Governor of the State not to proceed any farther in his business unless
he is sure that Col. Milam Colonist are not North American
Emigrant that Col. Milams Contract with Govt, his to settle European
Emigrant the Gentlemen is very much dissapointed I am sorry
for it.
M. B. Menard