THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 299 sum under 100 Doll. where is the Law Sir giving them jurisdiction in all sum:s over 20 Dolls. the advocates of this Bill perhaps have discovered Law on this point which has escaped my knowledge and I hope they will point it out for I am under the impression that this Legislature have not the right to say that the Superior Judges shall have Jurisdiction under 200 Dolls. and therefore that the act if it passd giveing them that Jurusdiction would not be constitutional Another objection to the Bill Sir is changeing the system so often the people scarcely become acquainted with a system of Judicial pro- ceedings before -it is changed and new modified etc if we changed it now it cannot remain permanent long for in a few years we may calculate to go into a State Govet-when everything will be ne'Y modified etc etc-
MosES AusTIN TO JAMES BRYAN
MY DEAR SoN I have enclosed to you a proxy for the Election of Directors to the Bank of [St Louis] which you will be good a[nough to] have prop- erly Executed and returned by Bill- I had a letter from Stephen F Austin who said that in Consequence of some difficulty with the Other Bank no Discounts will take place untill the .paper arrives from New York and that he wishes you to try and arrange with Henry Elliott-our Dear little Boy is not as well as I could Wish I hope Emily may return this Week from what Stephen says your Note has not been discounted
MosEs AusTIN [Rubric]
Durham Hall J any-l7 th -1817
I expect Emily has given hir Proxy to Stephn in St Louis [Addressed :] Mr Jam.es Bryan Hazel Cottage
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN TO JAMES BRYAN
Durham Hall Feby 11, 1817
DR BROTHER Inclosed I send you the obligation on Hammond- I am Sur- prised at what you say about Gibsons not having procured a New Madrid claim. Y owr Note was discounted in Bank before I left St Louis and Col Hammond purchaced a claim of 200 arpents at 2 Doll. pr arpent and gave the title papers to Gibson when he was in St Louis- the balance of the Money procured on your Note I wus obliged to use
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