Foreign, Colonization of Texas, r820-1835
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population of Texas should become large enough to warrant a separate government. The incessant demands for grants to establish colonies kept the matter of a general law on colonization constantly before Congress. Finally, a new federal law was adopted on August 18, 1824, which reflects a more mature consideration of the subject. It is well to note that the public land policy of Mexico was the reverse of that adopted by the United States Government. The Mexican Government turned over to the states the administration of the public lands and left to each state the regulation of its own settlement. Consequently, the national colonization law merely set down a few general principles which were to serve as a basis for state regulation. The law urged all states to adopt measures for distributing the public lands. Foreigners were not to settle within ten leagues of the coast or within twenty leagues of the international boundary except by special approval of the federal executive. Mexican citizens were to be given preference in the distribution of lands, but no individual was to receive more than eleven leagues of land. No taxes were to be imposed on settlers for four years. Two of the provisions were of special significance. Article VII provided that "until after the year 1840, the General Congress shall not prohibit the entrance of any foreigner as a colonist unless imperious circumstances should require it with respect to individuals of a particular nation." This provision was invoked earlier than expected and was the cause of the breach which led to the independence of Texas. Article XV stipulated that no person who acquired title to lands under the provisions of the law could hold the lands if his residence was outside the limits of the Republic. 36 The State Legislature of Coahuila and Texas held its first session on August 15, 1824. Aided by Austin, the Baron de Bastrop, who had been elected deputy from Texas, was enabled to take his seat in October. His services proved of great value to the new settlers, with whose problems and character he was well acquainted. He immediately applied himself to securing the passage of a liberal state colonization law. In the act adopted on March 24, 1825, his hand is evident, particularly in the wording of the religious requirement. The law invited immigrants to settle in Coahuila and Texas. Those already in the State who desired land had to go before the local ay,mtamiento to take an oath to observe the federal and state consti- tutions and to profess Catholicism; those who desired entry to obtain 36 Gammel, Laws of Tezas, I.
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