• THE AUSTIN PAPERS 1077 tary tribunal to whorn my case had been referred decided that they had no jurisdiction over it, and I was removed to this prison, and my case was deliver 4 over to a civil tribunal or juez de letras in whose hands it slept, untill the 12 th of this month, when he also decided that he had no jurisdiction over it~ and it was then sent to tbe federal district J uclge who soon dispatched it by deciding that he had no jurisdiction over it, as I did not reside in his district. The matter was then sent to the_Supreme Court of the United Mexican States in order for them to decide .what court or tribunal ought to try me, and there the case rests at present. So that after eight months, I do not know as yet what court is to investigate my case. I have long since requested to be delivered to the authorities of the State of Coahuila and Texas, and I presume I shall be finally sent to the district court (federal judge) of that State, but when, is quite uncertain for these things_move very slowly. . The President Santana is friendly to Texas and to me. Of this I hare no doubt. he would have set me at liberty long since, and in fact issued an order to that effect in June, but some statements ar- rived about that time (as I am told for I have seen nothing) from the State government of Coahuila and Texas against me, which I understand have contributed mainly to keep me in prison so long. It is said that the report of the State Govt. on the subject is founded solely on statements of pei·sons who live in Texas-who those persons nre I know not-it is said they are North Americans by birth I have even been told, that if I am not imprisoned for li£e and totally r~ed in property and _reputation, it will not be for the want 0£ exer- tions or industry on the part of some of my countrymen who live in Texas. Whether all this be true or not I do know not, I am unwill- . ' • mg to believe it. I have also been told that no efforts were left • untryd during the last winter and spring to prejudice the members of the legislature and State Govt. against me at Monclova- I cannot believe these things-I wish you to inquire of Oliver Jones 1 -he is an honorable man, I am confident he has had no agency in such ~at- ters, and I shall rely fully on what he says about t}~em. Chambers 2 was at :O,Ionclova-I have long since been told that he was my enemy-he said that he was not. He has taken upon him- self_in his pamphlet of April 1833 a all the credit (if there be any) 0£ havrng been the first to discover and propagate the idea in Texas of separating from Coahuila and the first to call public attention to that point, and to excite p~blic opinio~ i~ favor of that measure and of the Convention etc. . I was told that he was opposed to my appointment, as the public agent' to come to· :Mexico, on the .same l J , 'Tones was a member ot the State Congress trom Texas. 'N homas Jel'terson Chnmbers. • . . 0 copy of this lmportnnt pamphlet is known to exist.
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