Our Catl,olic Heritage in T eza.s
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won out for him. The law provided under Article XXIX that: "After the promulgation of this law, there shall be neither sale nor purchase of slaves who are brought to the Empire; their children born in the Empire shall be free at the age of 14."ll Austin's troubles were not yet ended. He still needed confirmation of his contract entered into with the Spanish Government. Not until February 18, 1823, did the Emperor find time to sign the decree of confirmation. Because new questions had meanwhile come up, further clarification was found necessary. Negotiations dragged on and _the matter was not cleared until March 11, 1823. Austin had planned to leave with a group of travelers going north, for it was not safe to travel alone. By the time he was ready to depart, a new political crisi9 had arisen which required his presence. The Emperor was on the point of being deposed. Iturbide abdicated on March 19. The Congress, which had to pass on the abdication, finally declared on April 8, after a heated discussion, that since Iturbide's election had been fraudulent, he had no right to the throne, and, therefore, Congress did not need to consider his abdication. It was, furthermore, decided that all acts of his administration were subject to revision by Congress. Austin, worried over the fate of his project in the event of the over- throw of the Emperor, hurriedly moved to protect his contract. Congress would be all-powerful upon the acceptance of Iturbide's abdication. Without waiting for Congress to pronounce upon the legality of the Emperor's acts, Austin made application on April 5 for Congressional confirmation of his grant. His acquaintance with the principal members of this body, whose friendship he had cultivated for almost a year, enabled him to secure prompt and satisfactory action. On April l I, Congress recommended the approval of his contract and three days later suspended the Imperial Colonization Law of January 4, 1823. Thus, Austin's contract granted under that law became the only one to be validated by Congress.,. First land titles grant.ed. When Austin at long last returned to Texas early in August, 1823, he found many changes. Conditions in his colony were critical. Governor Martinez had been replaced by Governor Jose Trespalacios, who in November, 1822, had commissioned lSAUlltin, Translation of tlie Laws, Orders, and Contracts 011 Colonization, from January, 1821, up to 1829 (Columbia, 1837), 40-45; J. A. Mateos, Historia Parla· men/aria, II, 28; Barker, Life of Ste-j/ien F. Austin, 49-7 3. MBarker, o;. cit., 73-77.
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