.PAI'EHS OF }f 11: ·,.:.:,-:.\C BUOKAPARTE LA)[.\fl
No. 82. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN TO JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO [Translation from the Spanish] 0 Yillage of Austin October 19, 1829 .:\f Y VERY ESTF.E.,rno FHIEND, hetwcen work ancl misfortune that came upon me I li,we been lillec1 with saclnes:,, the passage in one of your letters saying that I have failecl to answer and write as often as I i::houkl have done. I will state that the good opinion you have of me is appr('ciated for the reason that I believe you know me well and your judgment has more influence over me than whimsical or accidental and trifling circumstances could have. I haYe just returned from the brink of the graYe, it "·as a terrible blow the death of my only brother who was my companion in so many works ancl privations that we have passed through together in these sparsely settled lands with the only hope of seeing this conutry flower. I am stimulated to sustain the life I have passed but my Brother could not stay to enjoy this pleasure, he was like myself, an enthusiast in favor of Texas and he began to have some plans in order to work. Re is now at rest far away from tribulations and problems of human life- probably this is for the hest- I beg your pardon for troubling you with my private grief- we wil 1 pass to something .else- I have examined all of your letters and find one that does not . . . [mutilated] last one that came in time of my :-irkness and which Samuel answered. It might be that many letters were lost and if you wrote to me about something of interest repeat to me what it was. Prior to rriy illness I had formed an iclea of some plans that I con- sidered of interest for the advancement of Texas and I thought of troubling you for your opinion and advice as a true friend and Texan. My plans had for their object the general welfare of the people and not for my own particular advantage and if I have time and my other duties will permit I am going to put my ideas in some form aud shall send them to you I haYe dedicated myself now in union with 1J11. Samuel to the tedious work of making true an<l correct trans- lations of the conditions of the State and N;tion and of all the de- cisions of the Legislature for the purpose of printing them all in pamphlets and part in the Gazette This nm~· appear to be a work of small importance but it is not The work is very essential and there is nothing more necessary and important for the welfare of Texas for the reason that most of the inhabitants do not undcr:;tnnd a word of ~Pnnii:h ancl it is entirely impossible to govern a people with laws whose existence the musses absolutely ignore All the troubles in Nacogdoches have come entirely from the lack of troops and persons with knowledge of the laws and Chiefs to enforce thc-m The local council in particular and the people of the frontier ncl'essarily get entangled with <lifferent languages and customs I ha,·e not. found a person of judgment who is well informed about the National and State Constitution and of the laws hut what expresses himself as entirely satisfied with them and this is enough to pro,·e the import.anre of the translation The thing of the most importanc-e to the peoplP of Texas today is to regulate the business in regard to the land You "Nos. 82, 83. 9:3 nnd n; were translated br '"· ,v. Rohrmnn.
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