200
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Josi ANTONIO NAVARRO 'l'O AusTIN
Bexar, April 2, 1829.
See Calendar.
ERASMO SEGUIN TO AUSTIN
Bexar, April 2, 1829.
See Calendar.
AUSTIN TO J. H. BELL
April 4 1829
Mr J. H. BELL Dn Sm, I have heard with regret and surprise of the numorous reports and rumors that are in circulation, and fomenting the public mind- When I first heard of them I paid but little attention to them, for they were so absurd and unfounded that I thought they would correct themselves- I also felt confident that the good sence of the people would point out to them the necessity of harmony and union, and the justice of at least enquiring into the truth of rumors before they were received as facts- It is reported, as I am told, that "the colony is to be loaded with Taxes to build a splendid court ho·use for the lawyers to strut in"- All the answer that is necessary to this rumor is, that it is false. The law requires certain duties of the Ayumtamiento and the members can be severely punished if they are not strictly attended to, and they cannot be discharged without some funds- The Ayto of last year did not comply with their duty in any one particular- they did nothing that the people ever heard of, and they were there- fore popular, but it cost me and Williams a great deal of labor and it required all I could do to keep them from being fined severely- they contracted a debt of upwards of four hundred dollars which was turned over to this Ayto to be paid It is necessary to have a secretary who understands both languages and a Salary of 1000 Dollars was offered to Williams- The other necessary expenses will be two hundred dollars more at least, for Blank Books, ·Stationary, fire wood, house rent, Indian expences; post office account etc these items make $1600- It is by law the duty of the Ayto to provide a safe and secure place to keep the public records in and it is also a duty due to the people of the jurisdiction- The records are now kept in a log cabin, in danger of being distroyed by fire, and are dayly becoming defaced by wet and exposure and it was intended to try and build a fire proof room of brick merely large enough for the object, and to put up a frame house similar to
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