1598
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
JAl\IES DAVIS TO AUSTIN
Nash ville J nnuary the 30 th 1827
Col STEPHEN F AUSTIN DEAR srn I am Just setting off with Capt N Dilliard of your Colony for the land I purchased of him on the Ceder Lake it being the upper half of League No 65 Capt Dilliard has it appears the Grant for the whole League he has give me the whole of his claim and when I was at St Felipe you advised to me to take the same I Intended fully at that time of moving to your Collony But since I have come to this place I have seen a letter from you and some other information stating that your country was about to prohibit the introduction of slavery into it which if it should be the case will be a bar to my removeing to that delightful country and I believe will allso operate verry much against the country selleing with those people who would be able to cultivate it as to my part I have a few slaves and my object altogether was to cultivate this land and I am growing old and cannot think of going to that country mearly for what I could do myself we have heard a great deal about revolutions and tumults in your country but I believe but a small part of the report and should regret verry much to hear any thing that should interrupt the mild and friendly go,·ernment which you fr.e under and to think that the citizens who have been so liberally and generously treated by your government should be ungrateful for the favours they have received will e,er be a source of regret to me should it turn out so I should be verry glad if you would write me and let me know if I can hold my land in that coun- try without mo,eing to it I should be glad to know the political regulations of the goverment I have a strong inclination to live in the country and live on the land I ha,e purchased I have many relations and friends who wish to move with me but the prohibition of slavery into your country will be a bar to most of them if you think worth while to write me please to direct your letters to Sparta 1Vhite county and State of Tennessee I expect to be in your colony next winter and onst more take another view of the delightful coun- try. J .A l\fES D .A TIS N. B I would be glad to know if Capt Dillia.rd could make a selertion for me of land if there is sti.}l an opening for me should the obsticles be removed which now pre·vents me from moveing there J. DAVIS
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