646
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
be a very comfortable thing to exclude foreigners from retailing . here so as to employ his capital to proper and honest advantage. I could have obtained anything and all I would have asked by joining in this retail law-but better nothing, than everything on such terms. Push the titles as fast as possible. Remember me very particularly to Father Muldoon-I have no objection to his seeing all my letters to Johnson, particularly that of 31 March, and of this date, also what I said to Williamson rela- tive to the evident necessity of never separating from Mexico. I have confidence in Father Muldoon and in Teran, tho time will shew all things. He ought to be consulted as to the policy of forming a territory of Texas, and in doing so my letter on that subject might be shewn to him by Johnson, with a request that he could give his opinion, in as much as it was a subject of great importance and could involve the gen 1 interests of the country etc. Tho do as cfrcumstances may seem to indicate as the best. I have become responsable for all the fees on all the pe[ti]tions sent on from Bejar, La Bahia and Nacogdoches, and shall have to borrow money, and you must have some ready to send in U.S. Bills. Remember [me] to all and particularly to Eliza and Elizabeth and Arciniega, tell the latter that I have attended to all his requests read to him my letter to Johnson in full. S. F. AusTIN [Rubric] I shall send two seals for the J usgado and Ayto by Powel and Hickoke who start in a few days My colleague [Manuel] Musquis is in fav~r of excluding those who are merely foreigners in transit. 1 I would·not have opposed that, if the legislature had power to legislate on the subject, but I think that the 50 Article of the national constitution gives that power exclu- sively to the national congress. Musquis is a man of sound principles and unshaken integrity, he has made a host of bitter enemies here by his vote on the 1 Article 2 and I fear will have an unpleasant time in the permanent deputation. • I think nothing ought to be said in the paper at present relative t.o this law-or if anything is said, don't fail to compliment Musquis on his vote against the 1 A.rticle-on reflection I see no harm that can arise from publishing the dictamen of the committee, and the names of those who voted for and agains~tho do as may be thought best. It would be a very good opportunity to make some energetic but re- spec~ful remarks on the danger of violating the constitution, and on the sacredness of that instrument etc-mention the thing to "\Vil-
1 That Js from retnUlng In ConhuUa nnd Texas. • Ga1DD1el, Lawe ot Teua, I, 295.
Powered by FlippingBook