THE AUSTIN PAPERS 731 the reverse of this, unfortunately be the case, a speedy and total separation will naturally follow as a matter of course, and an inde- pendent government will probably be the result. The permanent and substantial interests of both Mexico and the U. S. of the North, would be promoted in very many respects by the establishment of an independent republic in the middle ground. Such a new nation would remove the line of immediate contact which now exist be- tween the two great republics, and do away with those innumerable small incidents and vexatious causes of complaint and excitement which always will arise on the border limits of large nations remote from the seat of Govt. Too feeble to be feared by either of its neighbors, it would opperate as a kind of sacred and necessary barrier against the encroachments of either. Texas would form a compact nation, and under the patronage and protection of both the U. S. and of M. could sustain a respectable standing unless it should enfeeble itself by the system of negro slavery. By the existing con- stitution and laws this worst of evils is totally prohibited. Should this wise policy be abandoned and Texas become what Louisiana is the receptacle of the redundant and Jail delwered Slaves of other countries, it must from necessity have a prop to lean upon and become dependent. as a slave state it probably could not stand al,one. The annexation of such an extencive country to the U. S. would be a measure of such doubtful policy, that it would no doubt be opposed by reflecting men from all the states and especially by the eastern and Atlantic ones on the ground that it would endanger the union by too great an extension of Territory to the Southwest.
AUSTIN TO JOHN DAVIS BRADBURN 1
Brazoria De~r 30 th 1831.
MY DEAR Sm I embrace the opportunity by Mr. Treat to drop you a line, I am very anxious to see you but that is impracticable at present. The state of things in Texas is I fear rather critical, and such as to re- quire very great prudence on the part of the public Officers and especially in the military and revenue departments. The revenue regulations made by Fisher, as to their views are utterly impracti- cable and their execution is impossible. The Officer at the mouth of the River has done his duty, so far as it was possible, I found that a Flame was Kindling which if not checked would very soon have removed the guard from this River and it would then have spread and soon reached Anahuac and Mr. Fisher. The conse-
1 From Wagner collection, Yale Unlveralty.
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