Our Catholic Heritage i11 Texas
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inclusive, but it suffices to give an idea of the heavy responsibilities and varied tasks.entrusted to the a,yun,tamiento.' Prior to the organization of the municipality of San Felipe in 1828 under a duly elected a,yu,,itamiento, in accord with the new law, Austin had exercised practically all the functions of government in the new colonies. When Austin was confirmed in 1821 in the colonization grant as his father's successor, Governor Martinez made him responsible for the government of the new settlement. "You will cause. them all [the colonists] to understand that until the government organizes the authority which is to govern them and administer justice, they must be governed by you and be subordinate to you." 10 This broad authorization was repeated in the Government's decree of February 18, 1823, which affirmed his right to execute his father's contract. To the civil and judicial duties it added the responsibility of organizing the militia. The grant of full powers in civil, judicial, and military affairs without defining their extent or limitation puzzled the young empresario. Austin wanted to know particularly whether his judicial authority extended to punishing for capital crimes, and how the cost of justice was to be met. Other questions of much concern to him were that of waging war against the Indians, as also that of his rank in the national militia. Austin stopped in Monterrey on his way back from Mexico in 1823, to consult Commandant General Felipe de la Garza on this point. De la Garza referred the matter to the Provincial Deputation, and upon its advice instructed Austin on June 16, 1823, that in all capital cases he was to refer the process and verdict to the superior government; and that awaiting a decision, Austin was to work the prisoners on the roads. He was appointed lieutenant colonel in the militia and was fully empowered to conduct Indian warfare. 11 In December, 1823, Austin subdivided the Brazos District by organ- izing San Felipe under an alcalde. When he incorporated the settlers on the San Jacinto a year later, he created a fourth district by that name, and in January, 1826, he established the District of Mina on the Colorado. That same year he organized the District of Victoria by subdividing San Felipe, and early in 1828 he set up a seventh district, 'E. C. Barker, "The Government of Austin's Colony," The Quarterly, XXI, 243-244. IOMartinez: to Austin, August 14, 1821, in Wooten, A Com,preneflsive History of Tezas, I, 472. llAustin to Garza, May 27, 1823, and Garza to Austin, June 16, 1823; Transla- tions of Records of Austin's Fint Colony, Vol. I, 12-14, Gerural La,rd Office Records.
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