Matamoras 30th May 1833
The public was very much agitated in this place by false reports
and rumors from Texas—but they have been removed by the
statement of facts which I have laid before his Excellency the
Commandant General Don Vicente Fillisola who assures me of the
paternal intentions of the Govt towards the People of Texas.
There never has been any cause for doubt that such are its
intentions—all the vague rumours that have been circulated as to the
marching of a large Army to Tejas with hostile views are utterly
false. The Genl has ordered the reestablishment of the Custom
Houses and the military Garrisons, and will do so for the purpose
of protecting the public Revenue and stopping the scandalous
contraband that has been carried on in Tobacco from the Ports of
Tejas. I have assured him that he will receive the support of the
Colonist in sustaining the Revenue laws and that they would do
their duty faithfully as Mexican Citizens.
I have pledged my honor for the Truth of this declaration and
have full confidence that the People of Texas will not forfeit the
pledge I have made but will by their acts prove its correctness and
that the revenue laws can be enforced without the aid of large
military Garrisons.
Mr. George Fisher will leave here shortly to enter upon his duties
of Collector of Galveston Bay with only sufficient number of Troops
for necessary Guards etc.
Whatever Ideas and opinions may have heretofore existed as to
Mr Fisher they should now be consigned to oblivion and forgotten.
He returns as an officer of the Govt and as such it is the duty of the
People to respect and sustain him. I will also observe that I have
investigated very minutely all the past transactions in which he was
concerned and have formed the opinion that the excitements which
unfortunately grew out of them were produced by misconception
and suspicion too hastily entertained and not from intention to do
wrong or injure any one. I believe there were misconceptions on
both sides and probably as much on one part as on the other—Mr.
Fisher will make a usefull collector his knowledge of the English
language will give more facilities in his intercourse with the people
than could exist with a collector who was unacquainted with that
language. I therefore particularly recommend the utmost harmony
and that he be sustained in the discharge of his duties by all,
regardless of the clamour of a few Transient Traders who would involve
the honest farmers in difficulty with the authorities if they could
increase their own profits thereby.
The political events of the past year necessarily produced a
temporary and partial disorganization in the regular administration of
the Govt all over the nation which as a matter of course extended to
Texas everything is now settled down again upon the constitutional
basis and the regular operation of the laws and of all the legal
authorities has been restored. The temporary and provisional
measures which the peculiar exigencies of the times may have
rendered necessary to pursue the public tranquility and protect persons
and property are consequently ceased all over the nation and I have
assured the Comt. General that they will also cease as a matter of
course in Tejas. I therefore particularly recommend that what
ever temporary deviation of the Militia or in any other matter
should be corrected without delay and everything restored again to
the legal basis as has been done all over the nation. The Genl
Congress adjourned on the 20th of this month and as there will not be
another regular session untill January next—my Journey to Mexico
was rendered measurably useless. I have also been very much
debilitated by Dysentary or Cholorina which prevails here. These
considerations determined me to postpone my trip to the Capital for the
present and I forwarded the memorial of the convention through the
Comt General. Since then my health has improved and an
opportunity haveing very unexpectedly offered of a passage to Vera Cruz
by sea I have concluded to embrace it and shall depart in a few hours.
I will close by assuring you that I have the most unlimited
confidence in the patrotism liberality and Justice of the Govt and I
rely with full confidence upon the people of Tejas to sustain firmly all
the authorities both federal and State and to obey the laws strictly.
By so doing they will procure a State Govt and keep away large and
unnecessary military Garrisons and obtain everything that a
reasonable people ought to expect or a just and liberal Govt ought to
grant.
I recommend that the people of Tejas should be mild calm and
firm in favour of making a state of Tejas by legal and constitutional
means and by no other.
To the Aymt of Nacogdoches.
S. F. Austin
A true copy of the original. Nacogdoches 10 July 1833
Adolfo Stern [Rubric]