438
AMERICAN HISTOUICAL ASSOCIATION
tion of provisions nnd lumber free of duty into the ports of Galveston and Matagorda are of the highest importance to the prosperity of Texas, and must tend most efficiently to promote its rapid advance- ment. • The encouragement offered for the establishment of manufactories is also important, and there cannot be a doubt that many enter- prising capitalists will turn their atfention to that branch of in- dustry. Perhaps no country combines more real advantages than are presented in Texas for the establishment of cotton and woolen factories. The raw material of the best quality can be raised in the greatest abundance, and cheaper than in :my other part of North America. Our soil yields the most luxuriant growth of cotton of the best quality. Our natural pasturage for sheep, in the undulat- ing and hilly sections in the northern parts of Texas, are surpassed by none in any country; and countless thousands of them may be raised, with no other expense than a few shepherds. Provisions may be easily produced. Good situations for machinery, with water, steam, or ox power are numerous. Our harbors are sufficient for all the purposes of commerce. Our communications with the :Mexican ports are open and unembarrassed. The markets, in those ports, are the best in the world, for the sale of cotton or other woolen goods, such as might be manufactured in Texas. In short, all that nature and a liberal and munificent government can do has been done, and nothing is now wanting but capital, enterprise and jndustry. The 10th. ~rticle of the law clearly secures the rights of the colonists who are already settled. It also guarantees the rights of all the emigrants who are comprehended in the contracts of em- presarios whose colonies are established, and permits the full com- pletion of such contracts, to the full number contracted for. So that emigration to the colony is not stopped as was erroneously rumored. The settlers who are not comprehended in any colony, may also be provided for, as will be seen by reference to the powers granted to the General Government [Commandant] in the 3rd article. The official letter of his Excellency General Teran, the commis- sioner of the General Government, under the 3rd article, is very clear and explicit, as to the interpretation of the law, and as to the just and liberal views of the General Government, under whose instruc- tions he is acting. The name of this distinguished patriot and scientific general is closely connected with some of the most interesting events in Mexican history. A soldier under the banner of freedom from the first epoch of the revolution, he has uniformly been a firm defender of the rights of his countrymen. As a legislator in the first constituent congres.5,
Powered by FlippingBook