4,66
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
consent of the Government. When I was at Saltillo, the seat of govern- ment of the State, I procured the sanction of the Government to said transfer, by a decree dated the 15 th of October 1827, and H. H. League was made the Empresario or State Agent, he was also recognized as the agent.of the Nashville Company, and subject to their instructions. Thus all doubts and embarrassments were removed, and the matter was placed on the most favorable footing for the company for they were permitted to go on with the contract with foreigners living out of the country. On that occasion I did all I could to serve the Nashville Company, and saved the contract of Leftwich from being forfeited by his transfer of it to the company. It is a fact well known that in six years nothing was done by this com- pany to settle the Colony, except to send an agent to explore it, and make locations for persons who were .not in the country. The plan was adopted of selling land scrip in the U. S. a measure that was pernicious to the best interests of Texas. It is a fact well known to me, and to all others who understand this sub- ject, that the sale of Texas lands by means of scrip in the U. S. and the imprudent advertisements and publications made in that country by the agents of companies and Empresarios, caused the first great alarm in Mexico as to Texas, and produced the prohibition of emigration from the U. S, by the 11th Article of the Law of 6 th of April 1830, and laid a foun- dation for al.I the restrictive measures against this country. Some time in November 1830, only about five months before the expira• tion of the said Leftwich's contract, Maj. Sterling C. Robinson [Robert- son] and Mr. Alexander Thompson arrived with a few families in my colony. They were involved in a difficulty on passing Nacogdoches with Col. Piedras the military commandant, in consequence of which, orders were issued by General Teran, and by the Governor of the State, to all military and civil authorities in Texas to expel them from the country by force. I received one of these orders; it was however evaded until I had time to procure a counter-order from Teran, and permission to receive them as colonists under my contracts (see copies of Piedras' and Teran's letters marked A. B.). This affair cost me more difficulty, and perplexity, than can well be conceived or explained at this time, and I risked involving .myself and colony with the Government by my interference in favor of Robins.on [Robertson] and his companions I, however, succeeded fairly, and such of said families or persons who came with him, at that time, and who applied for it, received a grant of land in my Colony. In this matter therefore I served Robinson [Robertson] and his companions all in my power, and at much hazard to the interests of my own Colony. After this difficulty was all arranged and quieted I went to Saltillo to attend the Legislature of which I was a member. Immediately on my ar-
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