1498
AMER-TCAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
of that of September the 29 th 1823, and does not declare that it is annulled. It must also be observed that the law o:f September the 29 th 1823, is a special law, concerning a single province, and not a general law; consequently if the object of Congress at the time of passing the law of May the 20 th 1824, had been to annul the prior law, it would certainly have been expressly sta,ted, a.nd be accom- panied by a declaration of the reason for its abrogation. Indeed, a particular and special privilege is as sacred a right as that of prop- erty, which Congress would never withdraw without well grounded motives, nor without stating their reasons for doing so in the pre- amble. The seizure of. the cargo at the mouth of La Vaca Bayou is a mat- ter of great importance. As I understand, a part o-f this cargo was intended for the new settlers, and was necessary for their subsist- ence; and the other belonged to some merchants of the United States of the North, who came to trade with the Mexicans in Texas, in the belief that the law of September the 29 th 1823, was still in force. That seizure withholds from the settlers indispensable provisions; and the citizen of a friendly and allied nation is deprived of his ,roperty. He will, undoubtedly, make his complaint to his govern- 1ent, which will inevitably result in disagreeable demands on the _Jart of that government. The people of Texas, in their present condition, must possess the full and unrestricted enjoyment of all the privileges that the Su- preme Government has been pleased to grant them. The privilege of introducing any goods is ve.ry necessary; therefore, and consider- ing that they hold this right by virtue of the law of September the 29 th 1823, and as I am personally interested in the subject as a resi- dent of Texas, and in my capacity of Empresario of one of the new colonies, I have made use of the freedom of a citizen in the expres- sion of my opinion, hoping that your Honorable Body will be pleased to forward it to the proper authority, in order to remove the doubt that exists in the interpretation of the decree of September the 291.b 1823. God and Liberty. San Felipe de Austin, November 7 th 1826. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN. JOHN R. HA.RIUS TO AUSTIN
Harrisburg, Nov 9 1826
Col. &rEPHEN F AusTIN
DEAR Sm-Permit me to trouble you for the following infor- mation. what is the Law or practice in this Country in regard of a Physician Proveing his accounts, can he prove it by his own Oath
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