Our Catholic Heritage, Volume VI

Fqreig11 Colo11ieation of Texas, I820-I835

209

and sold his colony for $120,000.00; that he was organizing a revolution and was returning to Nacogdoches with 700 men. There was, however, little or no foundation for any of these charges. Edwards had gone to New Orleans to recruit settlers and had left his brother Benjamin in charge, who was as impetuous and irritable as Haden, and had naturally been predisposed against all those, who, as he honestly thought, had persecuted his brother. Dependent on rumor and gossip for his information as to what went on, he wailed patriotically, :"It cannot be that the fundamental principles of a free constitution, cemented by the blood of thousands, are thus trampled under foot, and its most sacred principles violated in the persons of Americans, after being invited into this country with a guarantee of their rights and liberties"." He did not, however, understand Mexicans, nor did he have either patience or tact. An appeal to Austin for advice brought a frank and candid reply. The whole affair had caused him much unhappiness, Austin responded, but he was determined not to meddle. He advised the Edwards brothers to throw themselves on the mercy of the State Government by making a full report on every detail in the now hopelessly confused controversy. 51 Their obstinate attitude, bordering on insolence, was, in the opinion of Austin, " ... jeopardizing the prospects of hundreds of innocent families who wish to live in peace and quietness in the country." He gave brutal,l.y frank advice. "There is one way for you all to save yourselves and only Otte • •• go in person and present yourselves to the chief of the department of Texas . . . acknowledge at once without any reserve or stiff and foolish republican obstinacy that wrong steps were taken . • • that you were misled by passion or something else ..• and petition the Governor to order a general court of inquiry . . . Let the Americans put aside their rifles and be guided by more prudence and reason than they have." 51 Saucedo had transmitted his suspicions of Edwards' ulterior motives to the Governor, declaring that Edwards knew no law but the rifle, that he had nothing but contempt for the Mexicans, and that he would probably make himself independent as soon as he had the force. Saucedo urged establishing a garrison at Nacogdoches as a precautionary measure. When the President received this report from the Governor, he decided to act immediately to avoid the threatened catastrophe. On S6Quoted in Barker, Li/4 of St4-pl,e,. F. Austi,., 184. S7Foote, Texas and Texa,u, I, 269-270, SIAustin to John A. Williams and B. J. Thompson, December 14, 1826, ibid., 190-191.

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