15
PAPERS OF MIR.ABE.AU BuoN.APARTE LAMAR
count of an object, which I flatter myself will be interesting to you as the representative of the Republic of Texas. -I had the honour to address a letter to Your predecessor Dr. Jones- who viewed my plan favourably, and honoured me with an answer. My plan is in short~ To establish in Texas a German Colony of 500 to-may be a 1000 families, to which I possess by my extensive ac- quaintances and influence ample means in Germany, I can realise in 1 a short time.- I have a brother in Cologne on the Rhain River, who is a merchant, and Known-throughout the whole province, who will second me in my undertaking with all his ardor and influence. I remark to Your Ex- cellency a point which is especially to be considered, namely: Vessels sail now from Cologne directly to America-without touching any land, since the Steam-navigation is established at that river. ]\fr. J. P. Dornenburg, who is employed by the Government at Washington-from whom I received a letter yesterday, mentions to me, that he spoke already with you about the same object and about myself personally.- Your Excellency's predecessor has-as above mentioned considered the whole very favourably, and promised to use all his influence near his Government-to bring it to maturity; but as I was not honoured with any news untill now from him, I thought it not alone prudent- but also a sacred duty-to acquaint Your Excellency with it. To be able-as your Excellency will certainly see, I must lay aside all my business to provide for my family and myself, and deYote my time solely-to the execution of this plan, which is connected with heavy expenses from my part-being obliged to make a voyage to Europe, and travel also a great deal in the interior of Germany, in order to make the necessary arrangement, so that I may be able to arrive there with a ship with emigrants in the shortest time.- Being already since 5 years a citizen in the state of Pennsylvania-and thour- oughly acquainted in the interior, I may for certain send there fi;om this State more than 100 families-most of them stout farmers and mechanics of different trades so much wanted there-very probably al- ready this fall. As I understood, that there will be an extra Session this summer-in Texas, I beg of Your Excellency to forward to Yonr Government this my humble proposition, and to recommend it, if You think it worthy to take notice of it. Your Excellency will pcrmjt me to make yet another observation, which I believe will be considered, as it appears that hostilities may probable begin-either with the :Mexicans or Indians, or both together. I have been a commissioned officer and made the two last campaigns in France,-and am presently Captain of a Volentecr campany in Phil- adelphia, of which many are ready to follow me, and who have already made a campaign in Florida. I should then make it my duty to form if the Government wishes-either a Company or a bataillon for the defence of the country. To cover therefore my expenses as well as those of my brother in Cologne-and others, whom I have to employ, I wished that the Government woul<l grant me as an indemnification for every ten persons-who will emigrate there either through my means-or that of my brother-500 acres of land for ever. besides-
Powered by FlippingBook