THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 817 had been reared in opposition to the public will-New difficulties now presented thernselves which I doubted rnicrht possibly at some period involve the Interests of the Settlers forbwhom I h~d been so long labouring-It was an Avowed principle with the new revolu- tionists who ha.d raised the Republican flag in opposition to the Imperial that the Emperor was an Usurper, that the Legislative. Body created by him and called the Junta Nacional Instituyente who passed the Colonization Law was illegally Constituted And that all the Acts of the Imperial Government were void not even except- ing those which were Sanctioned by Congress before its dispersion for it was Contended that, that body acted from Coercion and not with the liberty of a deliberative Assembly of the peoples represent- atives-How far this principle would be recognized by the new Government that was to succeed the Imperial was problematical And as I had Spent so much time and money I determined to await the issue of the then pending revolution And if necessary apply to the new Govt. for a Confirmation of the Grant which I had received from the Emperor-Accordingly I waited untill the dethronement of the Emperor the last of :March and the final reestablishment of the Congress, And then to remove All doubts which might Arise as fo the Competency o:f the Authority that gave me the Grant I pre- sented a petition to Congress praying them to Confirm the said Grant which was acted on the 10 of April and passed to the Supreme Executive power who were Authorized to confirm it if they thought proper, And on the 14 of April they did by their Decree Confirm it, As will Appear by translations of the Said Decrees of Congress and of the Executive power which also Accompanies this Statement Marked B and C.- 1t'Iy Business was now finished by the highest Authority known to this or any other Nation that is governed by the representatiYe System to wit the Sovereign Congress of the people in the free and legal exercise of their functions. And I left :Mexico on the 18 of April wanting only 10 days to be One year from my .Arrival in it on this :Mission-I took the precaution to have Copies of the docu- ments relative to this Colony passed through the hands of the Com- mandant General of the Eastern Internal provinces at :Monterrey And Also to have them sent direct to the Government of this Province that records of them might remain in the Archives of each As well as in the Secretary of States Office in Mexico to multiply the chances of their preservation in case .Accident should ever destroy the records.of either of Hwse Offices. I now hurried townrds Texas to meet the settlers and inform them of their safety aud the happy result of my Mission, relieved from the Oppressive burthen which had Come upon my mind £or
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