[The two following letters from Alex. Thomson to Stephen F. Austin indicate some of the troubles experienced by colonists reaching Texas subsequent to the decree of April 6, 1830, the eleventh article of which forbade further immigration from the United States. The originals are in the collection of Col. Guy M. Bryan.—Editor Quarterly.]
Tenoxtitlan, Novr. 13th 1830. Respected Sir,
I am unacquainted with you personally, yet situated as I am, I think it necessary, to address you, and apprise you of a considerable difficulity, that now exist in the settlement of your colony, and the others also, namely, the order from General Teran, to the Colo. at Nacogdoches to suffer no person to pass, unless they have a passport, I was not apprised of that order, and came there, I think on the 28 ultmo, the alcalde inform'd me when the families came into town I must collect them all together, and present them, I done so, then the Coll. sent for me, and inform'd me that he had the saturday before recd the above mentioned order and could not consistent with his order, let me pass, but as we were ignorant of the late law, and as we had compleatly complyed with the Colonization Law, having our certificates legally arraged, by the proper authorities, he would venture to give five of us a permit to you, who he said was authorised to give us pasports; but the families must remain until our return, we had traveled better than 8 weeks, had spent a great deal of money, and was much fatiuged, we could not feel willing to remain in that part of the country on expences so long, we therefore came round, which caus'd us to loose 2½ days travel, we are now at the barracks, at Mr. Williams, that is the families. We arrived there last night, To-day I came up to the new garrison to see the commander here he says that he has recd the same order, and advises us to remain where we are, until he receives further orders in answer to his letter that he had writen after Majr Robertson had inform'd him that I was on the road, which answer he expected would arrive in four days, mean-while he gave us permission to explore the country, which we intend to do immediately— Coll. Thorn has sent you a letter by me on the subject, We, him &myself think it advisable for you to have an agent appointed in Nacogdoches, he says he is willing to act for you if you wish him, but he expects to start in a day or two for New Orleans and be absent two months, there ought to be some person there authorised immediately, for since I left there, I have been informed of two more families that have been stoped, and detain'd,— I have been particular in giving the particulars of my detention, to you, in order that, you may have a clear view of the impediment, emigrants will meet in comeing to the colonies— So soon as I can, I expect to see you, but cannot for a few days,—Majr. Robertson has inform'd you that I am interested in the settlement of this colony,—
Respectfully your most Obt servant Alexander Thomson.
Texas, Austin's Colony, April 9th 1831 Dr. Sir,
I am sorry to be compelled to trouble you with a few lines, but nescesity forces me to do it, I arrived with my own, and eight more families, on the 2nd Inst. at Harrisburgh, at which place I learn'd that, the families that I had brought out Last fall were ordered below the St. Antonio road, and that they had all mov'd down, the most of them to Mr. Milligans, I immediately went to St. Phillippi, to know the particulars, while there an order arrived, that all the families and myself, should return, to the, U. S. I at first concluded to go immediately but all with whom I convers'd at St. Phillipi, advised me to wait, and petion for priviledge to remain in this colony, and become a settler here, I have arranged all my business in the U. S. and came with view to become a permanent residentor in this country, and has sacrificed much, and underwent a great deal of fatigue, and trouble, to get here, if we have to return, it will break us all prety well— I anticipated no such difficulities, or I never should have engaged in the business, but remain'd where I was well setled in Tennessee—
As I believe it is in your power to do more with the government, and with Genl. Teran, than any one else, and believing that you are dispos'd to be friendly toward us, I now take the liberty to request you, to interceed for us in any way your discretion, may point out, and that as soon as you can, for I will not be able to know what to do, until I hear from you, If I am obliged to return, the sooner I know it the better, or if I am permitted to remain, I wish to be trying to settle myself, if I can remain, I wish to settle in the uper part of your colony—
Any attention paid to my situation by you, will be greatfully acknowledged, now is the time, sir, for you to do me, perhaps a greater kindness, than you may ever have an opportunity to do me again—
Your Most Obedent Sevt. Alexr. Thomson. N. B. until I hear my destiny, I expect to reside in the settlement of Mr. Milligan.
How to cite:
"A BELATED COLONIST ", Volume 002, Number 3, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 237 - 239. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v002/n3/article_6.html
[Accessed Mon Dec 1 18:50:59 CST 2008]
