1024
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AUSTIN TO SAMUEL M. w ILLIA:MS [From Wllllnms Papers, Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Tex.]
1\1:onterrey Jany 12 1834
s. :M. w IILIAMS. On my arrival at Saltillo on the 3 inst. I ·was arrested by the Comt General on an order from the Minister of War directing that I ·should be sent back to :Mexico to answer an accusation, made, as I understand, by the Govt. of the State of Coahuila and Texas. I leave .in a few days for :Mexico under an escort as a prisoner. My treatment is very good and I have no cause to complain on that score. I feel under obligations to the Comt Gen' Don Pedro Lemus, and to the Govr of this State :Manual 1\1:aria Llanos, also to Col Ugar- techea who is the Commandant at this place. They have all treated me in the kindest mam1er. Lemus expects to visit Texas, and if be should, and I have one friend left in that country, or if there be one out of the thousands whose fortunes .I have labored to make, who wishes to do me a favor in return; I request that friend, or that one, to be the friend of Gen' Lemus for my sake. . I presume that I am arrested for writing the oficio to the Aytos. of Texas dated 2d of October last. I made some enemies in 1\1:exicofor opposing a territory, but I do not believe they have had any band in my arrest. It has been intimated to me that some enemy, I know not who, had accused me of designs to unite Texas with the U. S. of the north. Such an accusation is false and I disregard it. I have said openly to all persons in l\1exico, and to the Govt. itself, that I was of opinion the local Govt. of Texas ought to be organized, or that country ought to be transfered to the U. S. for situated as it_now is, it is liable to revolutions and anarchy which may do much harm to the frontiers of both nations, and finally loose Texas and ruin the poor and honest settlers who have labored in good faith to redeem it from the wilderness and make it ·a valuable portion of the Mexican republic. The real fact is that at this time Texas does not belong to Mexico, nor to Coahuila, nor to the settlers who have redeem'd it-it belongs to them in justice and in right th?t is to the Mexican republic and to the inhabitants of Te_xas-but lil point of fa:ct, it belongs to demagogues, pettyfoggers, visionary speculators and scheamers, to indians to anarchy and discord and confusion-to comprehend all in one word-it is without Gov- ernment. l hope there will be no excitement about my arrest. All I c:in be accused of is, that I have labored arduously, faithfully, and per- haps at particular moments, pationately, and with more impatience and irritation than I ought to have shewn, to have Texas ma~e ~ State of th~ Mexica:p. Confe<leration sevarate fro~ Coabuil~. This
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