164
AMERICAN HISTORJCAL ASSOCIATION
THOMAS WHITE TO AUSTIN l
Franklin Louisiana 31 st JanY 1~~9
DEAR Sm . .A,..s I contemplate .bec~ming a resident of Texas, I :feel great solicit.nde about ·the nature·of the population which will inhabit the country I have been informed that you permit no one to settle ,vithin the limits of your colony unless they produce vochers suffi- cient to convince you that they possess a goocl moral character in- deed I beleive such. is the law and I was truly glad to hear that you were disposed to rigidly inforce it- But I am :fearful you may" be imposed on for I do no·of some very bad men who·I have beep. told are going there. There are a number of ·criminals who after serv~ing in the state prisons who it-is said when they are turned out look towards Texas. The planters here have a most desperate oppinion of the population there orriginating t presume from such vilains as has been driven 'from among them and who have taken shelter in that province There are others of my acquaintance whom I got acquainted with before I came to thi_s state who I have under- stood are now on their way there. I beleive they are from Tennassee and Alabama and I can assure you that I know no good of them I do not wish to make specific charges but be strict in your enquiries about character- I do not wish to mention names because I may sec them when I arrive there- A Gentleman expects to leave Attakapas shortly for the p·urpose of exploreing your country If he gives a -favourable report I shall certainly remove there and· endeavour to carry along with me a numerous train .of :friends who I am sure you will find to be honest and industerous citizens and who will bring ·with them considerable property- The Gentleman above al- luded to feels some apprehension of danger of robery by persons liveing on the opposite side of the Sabine river from this and·is waiting to get company to go with him a planter told me not long since that persons who stole his horses fled to the spanish country meaning Texas. I mention these things to you to apprise you of the objections which the most respectable class of citizens have to com~ing to,your country thinking it probable that you would adopt some means to have those lawles fugatives from the laws of their country drive~ ~way fr(?m this P!ovince As it regards your Colony ·r have confidence in what I have heard that your intention is only to admit respectable persons But I am fearful ·tha~ some.per~ons haveing the appearance of gentlemen will impose themselve5--'- I heard the other day of a man from New York who says that he is an -intimate friend of Bur.going to Texas from what expressions which I hea.rd he dropt I .fear you will find him a. restless sperit and 'perhap~-a troublesome fellow- Will you be so good as to write 1 See Austin's reply, Mar. 81, 1820.
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