Summary: Formed a "Texas Emigrating Society" to investigate conditions in Texas and Mexico and terms of settlement. Will the Government be a republic, will freedom of worship be allowed, etc.?
We the undersigned, being appointed a Committee by the Texas
Emigrating Society of this place, for the purpose of writing letters
to you and Joseph H. Hawkins Esqr of New Orleans, by our agent
Mr Elijah Noble, who is also one of the members of our Society;
Beg leave to state that the object of the Society is to receive and
obtain through him, such Information as we can certainly depend
on, relative to the Province of Texas, and whether it would be
advisable for us to settle there. The Individual members of this Society
have been Informed, more than twelve months ago, of the existence
of a large Grant of Land made to you by the King of Spain, on the
Condition of your settling on the Grant, a Certain Number of
American Families; such as Farmers, Mechanics etc; Since, or about
that time, we have seen Published in some of our News Papers
abstracts of letters said to be from yourself and others, stating that
great offers in land were made to settlers who would emigrate to that
Country, being However, unwilling to Venture so Important an
undertaking, without a Certainty(having heard various and
contradictory accounts from there, both as to its local situation and
advantages, and its political situation.) The Company determined to
send a Commissioner, on whom they can depend for all the necessary
Information. We would therefore feel ourselves under great
obligations to you, for such Information as you may deem necessary as
well as satisfactory answers to the following questions. Is it a Rich
and Healthy Country possessed of the advantages of Navigation?
and to what extent? Is your Grant an Indisputable Title, and how
large is Its Boundary? Have you yet made up the Number of settlers
which you designed to receive? If so, can other grants be obtained,
and upon what terms? If your Number is not made up, what quantity
of Good Land do you offer to settlers, and their Families and upon
what Terms? What is the present Policy of your Country, and what
the future prospects? Will it ever become a republic, so desirable
generally to the people of the United States? Will the Liberty of
Conscience, and of speech, be Granted to the present settlers, and the
Hight of worshiping their God according to the dictates of their own
consciences? Will the Province of Texas be a separate Government
or will it be under the same government and Laws, as that of Mexico?
and will free access through the Country be Granted to Travellers
and Traders. Your full and unreserv'd answer to the foregoing
Interrogatories, together with such other Information as you may
think Interesting to the society; in writing, will be Very Desirable,
and thankfully received. This society is Composed of Farmers, and
Mechanics and Manufacturers, with a few Merchants and
Professional Characters. Some of them are wealthy, others have been
wealthy, but have fallen Victims to the Changes and difficulties of the
time, through the unguarded Policy of our Country, and some are
young beginers: all of whom are respectable and industrious, and
will carry with them such letters of recommendation as you may
require (for we will not receive any but such as we believe are such)
and would if encouraged be a great acquisition to any new Country.
We formed ourselves into a society with a Constitution and Laws
for our Government subject to the laws of the Land to which we may
emigrate, which we think will not only Facilitate our Journey and
safety in moving; but will very much add to our security and
Happiness, when we reach there. Should your answers be satisfactory to
Mr Noble, our Friend and agent, and he should be pleased with the
country generally we have authorized him to make arrangements
for at least from Thirty to Fifty Familys.