nal urc is dune, Texas will be in a few years, distracted hy quarrels, & law suits, fatal lo her peace and ruinous lo the fortunes of many innocent settlers on account of court costs and lawyer's fees. For confirmation of this, your petitioner would refer your Excellency, to the history of Tennessee and Kentucky, two of the United States of the North, where it is known that the money paid in court costs and lawyer's fees, in regard to land suits, amounts to more than both of the stales would sell for. No good citizen can be possible injured by a procedure of this nature,-each one will have an equal voice in selecting the commissioners, who are to decide upon their rights- it is cetainly the wish and the interest of every colonist, to know on what footing his title stands, hefore he has wasted too much lime and labor in improving his land. Furthermore, your Petitioner is an Empresario, appointed by Government lo colonize certain portions of the lands of Texas, and inasmuch, as complaints arc daily made by colonists and others- many believing that the term Empresario is synonymous with swindler- your petitioner feels it a duty he owes to himself, his friends and the Government to earnestly recommend a full investigation by said commissioners of the conduct of all the Empresario's of Texas, and if they have violated their constracts, and the colonization laws to have their errors rectified. By way of compensation lo the commioners, your petitioner recommends that each citizen whose title to a league of land is endorsed good by the commissioners, shall pay to them five dollars and for each third or quarter of a league, in that proportion, and for each labor one dollar- it being perfectly understood, that an endorsement on a title of good by the commissioners, shall be final and conclusive against all the world. In conclusion; hoping and believing that your Excellency will see the vital importance of the steps herein recommended, and will use your best exertions in effecting as promptly as possible, so indispensible an object. I subscribe myself, with the highest respect, your Excellency's obedient servant. Benjamin R. Milam [January, 1835?1
[31] [ UGARTECHEA to COS I
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[ Domingo de Ugarlcchea, Bexar, to Martin Perfecto de Cu~, Leona
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