New Orleans 7th. July 1836
Genl S. F. Austin
My Dr Sir
By the enclosed extracts of the Newspapers of this City you will perceive,
what the public opinion is in reference to Tejas in consequence of Santa
Anna about being liberated by the Cabinet in complyance of the 10th Art°
of the treaty (if such can be called the agreement which Santa Anna made
while in durance) which was prevented by timely interference of some of
our friends, who knowing Santa Anna better than the Cabinet have
interposed the legal and manly means to see the expectations of the people of
Tejas not to be paralized by precipitated measures of a few men, whose
object I hope was the advancement of the wellfare of the Country, yet it
would have proved to be her total ruin.
Notwithstanding the great excitement caused and is still continuing by
this measure of the Cabinet, as you must be yourself perfectly aware of as
you have seen it before your departure from this place, we are using our
best endeavours to keep up the credit of Tejas in this country,—Volunteers
are arriving almost dayly destined for your Country but it is almost
impossible to get a few dollars fund to despatch them— Many of the best
friends of Texas have become quite cold about contributions, and say that
unless Santa Anna is made an example of the law for the cruel butcheries
of which he is guilty, they would not contribute any thing.
The "Correo Atlantico" whose merits you will sufficiently know how to
appreciate is on the eve of stopping. —The Editor Mr. Santangelo can not
get any subscriptions to defray the expences of printing which is $33 pr.
week, say nothing about paying carriers, packing, postages, and other
sundry small expences attending its publication—independent of this he
does not get any recompense for his Editorial labors as you already know
it by his own statement to you.
Since the comencement of the publication of said paper in this City, (viz
from No. 17 to No. 32. both inclusive) I have paid Mr Santangelo $520.
towards its printing, in this sum are included $200. which I received from
Mr. Saml. M. Williams as a contribution and little better than $100 recd
from our Mexican friends, the Balance is been paid by me at my individual
expence, and as I can not continue any longer to contribute at such rate, I
must stopp my contributions. No. 33. 34. 35. and the next 36. are at the
expence of the old Gentleman, and as his means are short also he is going
to suspend his labors until he can get some assistance, and the only one I
believe will be by the Govnt of Texas, as it is almost impossible to get
subscribers on account of its being devoted to the Cause of Texas, and against
Mexico, —Spaniard, French, and great many Americans here are against it,
those that are friendly do not subscribe on the plea of being in Spanish and
can not understand it —But, my, Dr Sir, you are perfectly aware of its good
result in the interior of Mexico, and it is evident it must if continued, divide
the parties, and precipitate the moral and physical revolution of Mexico,
thus diverting the attention of the Governt at home, and keeping their troops
in stead of sending them into Tejas. —
To morrow two of our friends (Montero and Pinzon) are going pr Caleb
Goodwin to Vera Cruz, —one (coronl. Camara) to Yucatan, and Doct
Portes is already gone to Tampico, those men are called from Mo. for
bringing about the Revolution, and sent from here, by Genl Mexia, —There
is no doubt that the affairs of the interior are drawn to a focus, and before
very long we must hear news, —Genl Ma- sent his family to Cincinnati,
they left here last Sunday with Capt. Offutt and Melinda. —
By the first vessel from Matamoros I expect letters from Dr Franco. V.
Fernandez to whom I have written, and requested him to write me and
explain himself "sin embozo" —y que me informe sobre su planecito a favor
de la separasion de los E. E. Y. Y. del oriente Norte y Occidente — I
promised him support on the part of Texas in that case. —Tell me whether
I have done right or wrong?
George Fisher