[737] [SAWYER Lo HOUSTON]
New York Octr. 3d 1835
Dear Sir.
] am happy Lo hear of your being in Texas, and shall be still more so on learning that you have settled there. As I am a proprietor in both the Rio Grande & Texas, & Color~do & Red River cos., 1 feel some hopes upon the presence of a friend on the spot, that my speculation will not turn out so bad as prospects now would cause us to apprehend. The troubles with [illegible] prevent the population of the colony, & will retard its settlement until they end, either in the purchase of Texas by the United States, or in the independence of the colony. We believe that our government has the subject under consideration lo bring about the cession indirectly by agreement with Signor Almonte the comr. now in Washington to throw the boundary back to the Rio Grande de! Norte. That will bring it about without any congressional action on the subject, unless an appropriation were required to meet the payment of the consideration of the purchase, which, as it would no doubt turn out a good speculation, Congress would do that, without deciding as to the future disposition of the country. As to the other alternative, an act authorising the purchase, I apprehend much difficulty in its passage. All the conflicting interests between the different sections of our union would be brought to bear, & even the slave question would be agitated. The first move would be preferable; but we have no certain news whether any & what progress has been made in bringing it about. You would render an act of immense service, if you could be instrumental any way of bringing it about, & would in that case stand foremost among the candidates for its government. But should war ensue, & an attempt made to gain its independence by arms, the country would be ruined; the disorderly reign then for years, & we all die before we could realise any thing from our large expenditures. Mr. Jno. Chas. Beales our Empresario is there some where on our tract on the Nueces, but we cannot get a line from him. This puts us much back, as we know not what to do for want of information. It was my intention lo have gone about this time to my old District in N. C. to have raised a party of settlers lo send on, but 1 cannot stir from his six months silence. His lady & children are here but can get no tidings from him. 1f you can send him word how much distress & injury this unaccountable silence occasions, you will do us a great
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