126
. \\;RITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,2
families-in the best manner possible. Therefore, I notify you so that you may, if you think it desirable, have suitable lodgings prepared for them for the 4 or 5 days they will stay in the capital." From this time on a very warm friendship developed between Austin and Seguin and all his family. It is said that Austin always stayed in the Seguin home when he visited San Antonio, and his youngest brother, Brown Austin, lived in the Seguin home for about a year, 1822-1823, while he was learning the Spanish language; moreover, the political relations of the two men were cordial. Seguin was the Texas representative in the National Congress in 1824, and did all he could to advance the interests of colonization, and he assisted in forming the first liberal constitution of Mexico-the Consti- tution of 1824. In 1832, he did much to influence the principal citizens of San Antonio to join with Austin in the plan to adopt and present to the federal government a list of abuses and grievances. This remonstrance, as it was called, was reprinted in Mexico, and did a great deal to prepare the Mexicans for the memorial of the Convention of 1833, because it came from native Mexicans in Texas and therefore was believed. When the Texas revolution broke out he was postmaster of San Antonio. During the revolution he moved his family to East Texas; when they were able to return, after the victory at San Jacinto, they found their cattle scattered or killed, and their houses in ruins, and their fields laid waste. But Don Erasmo presided over the election (February 1, 1836) to select represen- tatives from Bexar to the Convention of March 1-17, at Washington. He missed by two votes (Jose Antonio Navarro received 46 votes, while Seguin got only 44) being the representative from Bexar who was to help declare the independence of, and to form a constitution for, the new Texas Government. The town of Seguin was named for Don Erasmo Seguin, and Thrall (in A Pi<Jto1-ial Hwtory of Texas, 616) says "he was a high-toned gentleman of truly honorable and patriotic sentiments." Seguin married Dofia Josepha Becerra; she died on September 24, 1849. They had three sons: Juan Nepomuceno, Tomas, and Leonidas. Juan N. Seguin became a well-known Texas patriot. See Austin Papers, III, 208, 226, 253; also E. C. Barker, Life of Stephen F. Austin, 34, 118, 128, 135, 156, 231, 412, 421, 426; Frederick C. Chabot, With the Make1·s of San Antonio, 118-122. ~Juan N. Seguin. For some biographical notes see Volume I, 369-370.
I !
I I I
To ANSON JoNES 1
Private
City of Houston, July 18th, 1842.
To Dr. Anson Jones : Dear Sir,
I have been much embarrassed in consequence of your absence during the session of Congress now near its adjournment. Many subjects with which you have had connection, have been brought upon the tapis, and your presence would have relieved me from reflections which have been ventured against
Powered by FlippingBook