1380
A?.rnRICAN HIS'l'ORICAL ASSOCIATION.
These are only reports, I know not as to the truth of it. but it has its effect in acling to the general confusion. and exciting the suspicions of credulous man. . The people are willing and ancious to obey the law properly admin- istered. But it is mortifying to the feeling of an American to stoop to arbetary sway. I atribute none of our present difficulties to any person but James Gaines and bis understrapers. I hope sir that you will have the goodness to inquire into our con- dition. minutely; and make such statements to the proper authority or take such other measures as you may deem most expedient to re- store tranquilety, and afford us that protection of person, property, and civil rights, which the Mexican Nation bas promised to the strangers who come and settle in her teritories. JNo A \VILLTA1\IS [Rubric]
Nacogdoches July 2Pt 1826
Colo STEPHEN F. Ausrrn •Sm, After an absence of several months from this province to the United States, where I was detained much longer than I had anticipated in consequence of continued and serious indisposition, 1 returned to this place about the 1 st of April last; and, much to my astonishment and mortification, found everything in disorder and confusion in this section of the Province. I had it at first in con- templation to return back to the United States, and to abandon this country forever; believing it my individual interest to do so; but in consideration of the motives that induced me here, ~hich was the happiness and prosperity of hundreds, more than myself, and the consequent effect that my abandonment of the Country, and my re- turn to Mississippi would have produced upon my numerous friends not only there but elsewhere I determined to remain, for a time at Jeast, an idle spectator of passing events, that I might be the better able to determine upon a course for myself, which was to be de- cisive of the fate of so many of my relatives and friends, whose confidence in me, in this enterprise, imposes a responsibility, truly awful indeed-I have now been here three months and upwards, hoping that order and confidence would be restored to this distracted community; believing that the Government would bestow that at- tention to it, which its present condition so promptly and so im- periously demands.-but alas !-every mail brings, as it is said (for we have no publication of government documents here) additional cause of confusion amongst the people, and consequent distrust 0£
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