543
PAPERS OF Il1IRABE.\.U BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
Esqr. I am induced to ask a favor of you, that .you will permit a title to be made out to you for 1400 acres Land on Coney Creek Texas, which my friend B. E. Bee Esqr., purchased in ovember last from Iessrs. McKinstry & Parrott provided a modification of your laws do not permit a Title to be made immediately to Mr. Wiley, Mr. Boyce & myself. The purchase was made by Mr. Bee from l\fessrs. Wiley, Boyce, and myself in November last and under a misappreh.ension of the individual who had our funds he drew on the wrong house conse- quently the terms have never been complied with. Desirous of effect-· ing it should Messrs. McKinstry & Parrott be willing to comply & of relieving fr. Bee of all unpleasant responsibility we have deter- mined to lodge the amount of the purchase money, Three thousand Dollars in the hands of Messrs: Gasquit, Pari h & Co. the moment we are apprized that they have receivetl the Title in tl).e character of Stakeholders between the respective parties. However little my ac- quaintance with you may authorize thi liberty I must rely for my .apology on ·what I know of your character.- You will have seen the ground which l\Ir. ·webster took in his speech recently in the city of ew-York on the subject of the annexation of Texas,-, that his own objections to this measure, were founded on a belief, that it was repugnant to the religious feelings of the people of the orth, to admit her into the Union, because she wa a slaveholding State, or Empire. This very distinctly disclosed the issue which will be made, if ever it may suit the policy of your country to offer for ~dmission. ,vhether you "will be consulting your interests to come into the·union must yet remain an open questiop. balanced by a vast variety of conflictin"' considerations. But in regard to the policy of having as many of.the citizen of the United State~ as po sible deeply .& speedily interested in your country whether in or out of the Union there can be but one opinion. In War they will rush to your rescue and in Peace overflow your Country with wealth & capital ~ at once eommence those internal & social improvements which have already given such an impulse to the prosperity of these States. For the pur- pose of augmenting & concentrating thi interest I cannot but think it would be sound policy immediately to modify your law so as to permit citizens of the United States to hold Lands in Texas. With this modification & by passing judicious Land law for opening Land offices your population would increase immensely and your Govern- ment by the sale of its Public Lands have an overflowing Treasury. Until somethin"' more decisive takes place between Mexico & yourselves I do not see how your public credit can be established in any other way, than by bringing'your lands freely into the market under a safe public guarantee. I feel the deepest social & political interest in your Country. I trust I shall be able next Winter to visit it as a private citizen altho' as you will be apprized that my engagements at home preclude the possibility of my·going there as a public one. One of the pleasures which I shall derive from my visit will be the gratification of making your personal acquaintance. Long known to me by char- .acter at home & by your generous sympathy to South-Carolina in the hour of her peril. & trial in her late conflict with the General Govt. & -still more recently by your gallantry & conduct in the °\,Var in 'l'exas, I know few !)€rsons I should desire more strongly to take by the hand.
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