The Austin Papers, Vol. 2

450

AMERICAN H1ST01ti:CAL ASSOCIAT10N

cerning the excitement which was said to have been manifested against them in Mexico, and until it was said that a large expedition was coming here to destroy them. The injurious effect of such rumors has been entirely removed by the letters of bis Excellency the Vice President and of General Teran and by the observations pub- lished in the Gazette of this day, some numbers of which I send you. The discussion in the Gazette of the 10th of this month has had a decisive effect because it gives a clear explanation of the origin of •all of the evil. Senor Poinsett bas no adherents here. I for my part declare to you that I have had no other rule but that of fidelity and gratit1tde to Mexico: I have passed nine years in the most trying labors in the effort to reclaim this country from the wilderness; I have fulfilled my duty to the extent of my ability; I have worked in good faith; and I can refer with confidence to all the authorities of Texas and of the state to prove my conduct from the time I first entered this wilderness in 1821. I can do no less than feel much interest in the fate 0£ the colonists of Texas. I was the cause of the emigration of most of them and we have borne years of labor together. I could do no less than feel much interest in the advancement and prosperity of Texas, because it has been the object of my efforts and the sole aim of my ambition to contribute 'to the redemption of this country from the unpopulated condition in which I found it in 1821 and make it a useful and pro- ductive part of the great Mexican republic. I protest to your Excel- lency that I came to Texas with sound intentions and I have never had others. .A:ll my interest and all my family are here, and never have I spared labor in the service of this, my adopted country. With great cost and labor I have made a map of all Texas, which I sent to the Political Chief in June of last year to be forwarded to the President, accompanying it with some notes in order to add to the geographical knowledge of the Mexican territory. I.n March of this year I sent to your Excellency a copy of the translations which I made of the colonization laws; accompanying them with an his- torical sketch of my colony. From this your Excellency can form an idea of the labors that have passed. I have entire confidence in the justice and in the talent of the pres- ent administration; I consider it the Savior of :Mexico from anarchy, and can assure your Exceilency that the hope of seeing this country happy, after the convulsions of the last two years had almost suffo- cated it is again revived among these colonists. We have confidence in our old Commandant General, our present Vice President, and in his cabinet; and I beg your Excellency to permit me to commend to the high consideration of the government the worthy inhabitants of Texas, new as well as old. If suffering yea.rs of hardships in the

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