THE AUSTIN PAPER$. 811 them on to the Deputy in the Legislature of this State with instruc- tions to forward on the One Addressed to the Congress, supported by the Legislature of the state if it is approved of by them AnJ to use his best endeavours to support the other in the State Legis- lature. 4 th 1Y• Resolved that Colonel Stephen F Austin Colonel Col 0 James Cummins and Col 0 • J E Groce do compose the said Committee to Act under the foregoing Resolutions- The foregoing is a correct Minute of the Proceedings at thP. aforesd· :Meeting- LAucE RrcHn. KENNY Olke [Endorsed by Austin:] Resolutions at Gen 1 • meeting June 5- 1824-
ADDRESS BY AUSTIN TO COLONISTS
As the late regulation relative to the expences to be paid On Lands in this Colony has as I am informed caused some Animadversions in a few persons I deem it a duty due to myself as well as to my friends to enter into a full exposition of this subject and to give an explanation of the Steps which I have taken since the first Com- mencement of this Settlement- To do this I must necessarily give a short history of this establisht from its Origin up to the present time-this will probably be satisfactory to all as it will more clearly shew the efforts that I have made to secure to the settlers the Titles to their lands, and that I have spared neither labor or expence to complete those Titles in a way which will render them safe for ever unless forfeited by a noncompliance on the part of the settlers with the conditions required as to the Occupancy and improvement of the land- I ask your candid attention to th.is Statement-Look at the difficulties I have had to surmount, The risks of property, of Life, of all, which I have exposed myself to-Consider the advantages which you will receive from my labours, And then let your unbiassed Judgment decide upon my Motives, And say whether I have been right or wrong in the measures which I ha.ve adopted- It is well known to you all that this Settlement was commenced under a per- mission granted to my Father Moses Austin by the Competent Au- thorities of the Spanish Government Anterior to the l\.fexican Revo- ·lution- This permission emanated from the Deputation of the -~astern Internal Provinces at Monterrey And on the 17lh of January 1821 was duly approved by Joaquin Aredondo t.he then Commandant General of said provinces, ,vho Ordered the Governor of this Prov- ince Colonel Don Antonio Martinez to send a Commissioner to Nachitoches to meet my :Fut.her and conduct him and the families
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