THE AUSTIN' PA.PERS. 1431 language they could express in favor of the admission in the New Oolonies-they ded,a1•e it to be indispensable to the prosperity of this Department; in fact they have said all they can say-as to the prospect of freeing the slaves of the 300 families they declare it to [be] an unjust abuse of the rights of the Colonists- As to the plan of indemnifying the Settlers for their slaves it is absurd where is the State to obtain 500,000-in cash to pay for the slaves that are already introduced-for it is not expected they will be deprived of them-and lay out of their capital 3 or 4 years-all these things have been considered-and for my part I have a more flattering hope of a favourable slave law-at this time than I have ever had before-your representation has been sent on-they say it is "algo duro "-but they make allowances-Saucedo showed me a letter from the Baron and the Senator Cevallos on this subject the viejo is very warm on the subject-you will receive a copy of it •by mail- The Old Baron has strove hard for us-I know not what would have been our fate if he had not been a member of the Legislature- Our situation would have been a deplorable one in- deed- If a favourable Slave Law is passed it will be attributed in a great measure to the unremitted exertions of the Baron and I wish the Settlers to lrnow it-as many of them are inimical to him-popular opinion has changed very much in his favor within the last year in this plac~I wrote him a lengthy letter last mail to act a "contra,, to the "Triste" one I supposed you had written At all events if it comes to the worst and the slaves of the 300 families are freed we have a right to appeal to Congress-where I am convinced all will go right- I have conversed with Saucedo and Flores relative to yr. contract with Burnett and Fullerton-Saucedo is fully of the opinion that you are at liberty to make any contract of that kind you may think proper-and recommends the plan as the surest and most expeditious to settle the New Colony-he and Flores also observes that no objec- tion can be made as to reserving a certain extent of country for them and having it surveyed against they arrive-even if they should not arrive under a year-as the Law allows six years for the settling of the new Colonies- I think you misunderstand the law relative to the introduction of 100 families before they can receive possession-Saucedo say's that as fast as they arrive they can have the quantity of land designated to them the law allows-and they can go on to it and go to work and when the Commissioner arrives they can be put in possession-Flores will wait untill he hears more from you-or untill the Slave ques- tion is decided but he tells me to inform you that you may expect
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