PAPERS OF MIRABEAU Buo 'AP.\R,TE LAMAR. 217 tend that the holding of it should ever interfere with the improve- ment and advancement of the country,-I never did intend to inter• fere with the settling of this section of the country by locating it here, and did not therefore make any reservations in the colony that I am authorised to settle, · The lands that I have purchased, or the ri,,.ht to land which [ have purcha cd require that they be ettled in 6 years and no one can hold in right of property more than eleven leagues, and the em- presario is bound to introduce at least one family for every eleven leagues, and a failure in this make a forfeiture of all not o settled. In the political affairs of the State I felt no more than a common interest I believe with the majority of its inhabitants Agustin Viesca wa elected Governor by a· constitutional majority of votes, twice obtained, fir t in September of the last year and again in February of the present year. The Department of Saltillo refused to respect the electien and refused obedience to the Government of the State, because they di approved of the election made in Governor Vie ca, and I felt a desire to see .the refractory made to respect the will of the majority and that majority o large and respectable, and in which Texa tood so very prominent, having in February repeated her election made in September, for of 22 votes gjyen in all Texas. Gov- ernor Viesca obtained 16 votes. Drawing my opinions from that manifestation made in so declared a manner, I could not otherwi e then believe that in my anxiety to see the constituted authorities of the State triumph over what wa esteemed a factious and refractory department, my feelings were in unison with the feelings of the majority of my fellow Citizen . I have alway respected the authority of the g-eneral Government, and with my obedience to the laws have and till feel very grateful · for the many favors which in common with my fellow citizens I have partaken from the munificence of the Government. I am not nor have I ever desired to see Texa in a State of revolution, and my anxiety to see the constituted authorities of the State in the exerci,e of their lei"al power , bad no mixture of revolution in it.-I thought Texas would be bettered b~ having the State Government within its territory, and was of opinion that once in Texas, the seat of Gov- ernment of the S.tate would be permanently fixed in i.t, for the rea on of the great rivalry, jealousy and hatred exi tinQ' between the Department of Saltillo and those of Monclova and Parras woulrl cause all to wish uch a change. · I am not con cious that any act of mine ha been in the lightest degree of a character to offend the dignity of the General Govern- ment or that even could be construed into a want of respect or obedience to it, for at the time that I made the contract with the State Government for the lands spoken of, I could not be aware of their objecting to the ale for the reason that they had not done o the year before, consequently it cannot be con idered a a de il-e on my part to bring Texas in o difficulty with the Government, because 1 could not be aware that the Government would object, nor had I a desire to interfere in any manner with the pro perity of Texas, be- c,ause I did not believe that in my hands the land would or couhl po sibly be more injuribu than in the hand of another; and jf [
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