[1741] [JACK to COUNCIL]
Sanfelipe 9th Jany 1836
To the Honorable the members of the General
Council of the Provisional Government of Texas The undersigned acting Agent of the Empresarios Stephen F Austin & Samuel M Williams for the colonizing of Eight hundred families-respectfully represents That from the 15th of April 1831 until within a few months past no commissioner was had for the putting in possession the families contracted with & who by the colonization laws were entitled to land owing to this circumstance a large number of families have settled in the country, without recieving titles or any certainty of there ever doing so, and so long have they waited, anxiously expecting that time would bring about a different state of things, without their expectations being realized, that even before the closing the office by the consultation most of them had dispaired & many were content to sell their head rights at very reduced prices-The closing of the Iand office has had the effect of distroying what remaining confidence existed and most families now believe that either they will never recieve the benefits of the laws of colonization or that the time is so far distant that its value is comparatably small and consequently a great many are now selling their claims for from twenty five to Two or three hundred dollars each-That such is the fact I refer you for evidence to every farmer who has the least intercourse with his neighbours-That such is the fact I refer you to every monied man who is in the least degree engaged in speculation and Gentlemen without intending it you have put the honest but generally poor families in the hands of speculators-The system is injurious to the country in as much as much the largest portion of our Citizens in this colony have no land to call thier own-and no inducement to fight the battles of the country. Untill they recieve their lands, agreably to the constitution they are not Citizens, and unless they are so-are not under the control of the Government- The result of our difficulties no man can forsee We may be driven back for a time, or we may be involved in war for a length of time, and the confusion hereafter may be so great as to r~nder it im racticable to carry on the operat1~ms.of the land office-and Pl d olicy as well as common 1ust1ce would say that every sure y goo P I d "bl · d I Id ece ive his )and at as ear y a ay as poss1 em or er to mans 10u r
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