Comisarios Department of Austin— By an official letter dated
the 15th of the present month, from Citizen John Austin I am
informed of his appointment, as comisario or Port officer of that place
for the purpose of exacting and collecting the tonnage duty of
seventeen bitts per ton, on every foreign Vessel arriving in that port
in Conformity with the Arancel of 1827 in its 4th article, and
inasmuch as the said Comisario has reported to me the objection made
by the Captain of the Sloop Majesty to pay the tonnage duties on
his vessel. I am compelled as an officer of the federation, and one
with whom the said Comisario has been instructed to consult and
report to, to call on you as the Alcalde of this jurisdiction to issue
an order to the subaltern civil officers, in that precinct and also
the Militia officers to furnish all the aid and assistance in their
power, to the before mentioned Comisario, and which may be
necessary to cause the maritime laws to be respected and enable the
said officer to discharge the duties of the office to which he has been
appointed— Convinced that, for the preservation of good order and
in obedience to the laws, you will see the urgent necessity of a
prompt dispatch of the before mentioned order, I take this
opportunity of presenting to you my high consideration and respect
God and Liberty. Town of Austin 20 March 1831 S.M. W.
C. F. W. Johnson Constitutional Alcalde