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AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Spanish grants in general and especially those to Empresarios; his expressed sentiments were correct-- As respects D. A. Smith's con- duct in selling Exeter's grant, "Wilson distinctly stated to me it was a very improper thing, and unsanctioned by him, and that so soon as he saw Smiths advertisement he .hastened to prevent any sales being effected- All this however was subsequent to a public com- munication cautioning the public against purchasing Texas lands-- I have understood he was at Saltillo, but supposed it was for the purpose of business, not vengeance, and I am not much inclined t-0 give credit to common reports, but if you really think the man intended any improper course look behind, and not before: I pre- sume you lmow he has a commercial house at ~Iatamoras, he made me liberal offers to go there- I believe T. P. Newton of N. orleans is interested with him- you speak of my trimming 1ny pen; and of a free population not negroes combining these sentences I am induced to suppose a piece signed "Alabama" on the subject of Sl:l.very has appeared in the Texas Gazette, I wrote it for that paper while at sea, and sent it to Mr. Cotton, but lmow not if it was published- like yourself I detest Slavery, but conceive the general views I have there taken are correct, and am firmly persuaded that the free admission of Slaves into the State of Texas, authorised by act of our legislature, would tend more to the rapid introduction of respectable emigrants than any other course which could be pursued- Our rice and sugar lands require that kind of labour; and let the preamble to the bill set forth the advantages which would accrue to the state from a . temporary introduction of Slaves, and therefore limit the period of admission to 5 years, or to any other number that you may· deem expedient. As regards a foreign emigration, I shall say something Mate,rial on that subject when I see you. as respects my being em- presario, I do not conceive the advantages to be commensurate with the difficulties, anxiety and responsibility attached to it- few men Colonel Austin could have been as successful as yourself, whether your general forbearance and self possession, have been the result of a natural temperament, and therefore attended with little cost of feeling, or the consequence of a judicious course of policy it is not for me to say; I know I could not be as successful as you have been. or would be unwilling to make that sacrifice of feeling which I con- ceive you have made- Well may you s11y your efforts have cost you years of" toil and trouble," but you have succeeded, and under dis- advantages which would have required the prudence, sagacity and perseverance of Penn to conquer- how fnr you may have been the means of laying the basis of a new republic time will show- I think it not chimerical that Texas may yet have a sensible influence on the
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