828
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
to the very heavy expences of removing such a distance and settling in An entire wilderness and suffering all t.he miseries of Hunger, ex- posed to the attack of Hostile Indians will complete their total ruin- Also ·these Inhabitants respectfully represent that some o-f their friends and Relations visited this Country last spring and winter and selected their Lands as a part of the Above nnmed 300 families After building Cabins they returned to move out their families this summer and fall and are now on the Road bringing their Slaves with them relying on the faith of the Colonization Law under which Austin's establishment is formed- Article [30] 1 of which Law Authorises the introduction of Slaves by the Colonists those emigrants therefore who are on the Road and are detained by the excessive bent and destructive drouth that now prevacles this whole Country will be tota.lly and forever ruined if on their arrival her.e after so much fatigue labor and expense in removing they are t<floose their Slaves and besides that be liable to heavy punishment for bringing them-. • • These Inhabitants therefore respectfully pray that your sover- eignty may take their Case into Consideration and declare that the slaves and their .descendents of the 300 families who emigrate to the Establishment formed by the Emprasario Stephen F Austin in this·province shall be slaves for Life and that the emancipation Law which we have been informed has lately passed shall not apply to the slaves of the said 300 families except so far as prohibits all trade or trafic of them and should this solicitation be incompatible with the intentions of your sovereignty these Inhabitants pray that the necessary time may be allowed them to remove their slaves back to the United States San Felipe de Austin June 10, 1824 Signed ESTEVAN F AusTIN }. JARED E GnoCE C t om ee. SANTIAGO CUMMINS JUAN P. COLES [To Federal Congress or Executive.]
ANTHONY R. CLARKE TO AUSTIN
Atoack 12 th June 1824
DEAR Srn your fa.vour of the 25 uJtmo was duly received. I am very sorry for the arangments which has taken place that will prove a private injury to you, but I flatter myself that it may yet turn out better 1 .Article 30 of the Imperial Colonization law: ".After the publication of this law, there can be no sale or purch11se o! slaves which mny be introduced into . the Empire. The children ot slaves born 1n the Empire, shall be free at fourteen years ot age.
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