[From Williams Papers, Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Tex.]
Leona Vicario May 8. 1831
Dr Sir.
I voluntierd to pay the office fees on all the petitions for land
pending from Bexar, Goliad and Nacogdoches, and to take on the
grants. This has detained me a week longer than I expected as they
could not be completed. I am told that they will all be ready
tomorrow morning, so that I can start in the afternoon.
The mail of yesterday brought me yours of 19th ult and Lesassier's.
I am much gratified to hear that Burnet and wife have arrived he
will be a very valuable acquisition I think, that is, provided he
keeps cool and always has a good stock of calmness and prudent
discretion on board, articles which are dayly becoming more and
more necessary in Texas. The sending of the Cotton seed was just
as it should be. I am truly pleased that you did not forget it,
for you recollect that I was compromised by officio to send a few
boxes to La Baca—much better that it was sent to Tampico—close
attention to such small matters will do great good. I presume the
tonnage duty has been satisfactorily regulated—that is as to the
principle that it cannot be collected from one Mexican port to
another—if it has not, it will be.
The first part of Lukes letter alarmed me, but I laughed before I
finished—who or what is this firebrand he speaks of—Stockton—
he can do no harm unless consequence is given to him by putting him
in irons, or some other notice of that kind-—you know the people
there well enough to know, that a scape gallows, or a dog can be
made a great man among them, merely by being opposed by a few
decent men and especially by any one in office.
"The abuse of a little brief authority " is in the mouth of every
North American and there is not one in 50,000 who are competent to
distinguish between, a proper and necessary exercise of authority
and its abuse—with the most of them an officer is always wrong-
either too undecisive and weak—or too rigid and despotic. Let such
firebrands alone, and the good sense of the sound and reflecting part
of the colony, will put them down much sooner and more effectually
than opposition or irons, by the authorities. If the civil authority
had taken hold of Dayton, he would have become popular, altho he
was a most perfect jack ass and a scoundrel. However if the civil
authority have already intervened, it must sustain itself, firm as a
mountain—either hands off in toto, or go the whole.
The clouds which are hanging over the Trinity and eastern part,
as well as other parts of Texas will pass away, unless others, and
more dense ones are raised by the imprudence and hasty temper of
"firebrands." The Empresarios, whose imprudence, and total
ignorance or neglect of the law and of their duty has brought all this
trouble upon Texas, need not expect much or anything—but the
actual settlers are safe, and in the end will all be secure, unless they,
themselves entangle matters—your fears as to Boss [Teran?] so far
as my colony or Dewitts are totally groundless, notwithstanding
appearances. Some gross errors have been committed by some one,
as to the rights of actual settlers east of my colony—but they are
errors which can be easily corrected, and I have no doubt will be,
when the whole subject is properly understood. Things are in
reality, not half so bad now, as they were a year ago. Texas has
hundreds of friends now who at that time were bitter enemies—all the
difference is, that at that time, myself and a very few more, and as to
some things I might say, myself alone, knew what was on the carpet,
and what the true state of things was—now it is in the mouth of
everyone—a ship cannot be turned upon its keel like a top—neither
can a govt, a people, or deep rooted prejudices. If I could shut up
all the mouths in Texas for one year, I would pledge myself to
deliver every man his title within that time. I am much better pleased
with the govr than I was—he is an honest man and will go right
in the end.
On the 11 of April, dia de celebre memoria, I sent a copy of the
retail law, to the minister of relations, with an oficio stating the
leading unconstitutional features of that project, and the evils it
would give rise to—by yesterdays mail he answers me officially, that
on the 22d. the Vice President transmitted my oficio and the copy of
the said project to the Chamber of Representatives, with a strong
recommendation that some declaratory law should be passed to
prevent the states from attacking the constitutional rights of citizens
or naturalized foreigners, and also as to the right of the states to
regulate commerce
I leave tomorrow for Matamoros—Chambers and the two Yorks
go with me—the prospect for the latter is not very good—tho, not
quite hopeless. I have done all I can, and hope to do something for
them at Matamoros,
A very absolute order has been issued, which finally settles the
point between DeWitt and Deleon. All the families settled by the
former, within the original limits of his colony, are to be included
as of his contract and Navarro is ordered to give them titles
accordingly.
I hope Padre Muldoon is with you before this—remember me to
him affectionately. I have great confidence in him—remember me
to Burnett and Mrs. W and Elisa, hasta la vista en esa,
S. F. A
Suffer no one at all to select any land in the ten League reserve
east of Brazos
Austin