San Felipe de Austin 14 June 1830.
Dr Sir,
You have no doubt seen published in the news papers the law of
6 of april passed by the Mexican Congress relative to emigration
from the United States—
The 10 article of that law declares that no variation shall be
made in the colonies already established— Mine is established, and
no embarassments can be legally enterposed to the imigration of
honest and good men of families, who are comprehended in my
contracts
It will be necessary for emigrants to procure pasports from some
Mexican consul—the law requires it, and one pasport for the head
of the family answers for the whole, but the number of the family
should be stated. They should report themselves to the local
authorities of the frontier, or port where they enter, and the
recommendations of good character which the colonization law requires must be
produced. Those recommendations should be given by a Judge or
some civil authority of the place where the emigrant removes from,
of a higher grade than a justice of the peace
The Government have ordered that the 13 article of the State
constitution should be rigidly enforced, that article is as follows
" No one can be born a Slave in this state after the publication of this
Constitution in the capital of each civil jurisdiction; and six months
after such publication the introduction of Slaves is prohibited, under
any pretext whatever" The constitution was approved the 11 of
March 1827 and published in due form at this place in May of that
year— A law has been subsequently passed by the Legislature of
the State garanteeing all contracts made in foreign contries, with
hirelings or indented servants
No duties will be collected untill after November as I informed
you when here. The law of 6 april last permits the free introduction
of all Kinds of provisions and lumber into Galveston and Matagorda
for two years free of duty, also all kind of furniture tools etc for
the use of the colonists is free of duty—Tobacco is contraband as it
always has been and will be seized. The exportation of the produce
of the colonies in foreign vessels is permitted by the Same law to the
ports of Matamoros, Tampico and vera Cruz, or in other words
foreign vessels are allowed to engage in the coasting trade from
the colonies to the above Mentioned ports.
The main object of the law of 6th of april is to keep out turbulent
and bad men vagabonds and Slaves, and the true prosperity and
happiness of this country requires that all of those classes should be
for ever kept out— The honest and industrious farmer who brings
his family has nothing to fear and will be well received and obtain
more benifits and privileges than have ever been granted by any
Govt, on earth.
The imprudence and thoughtlessness of some on the Sabine
frontiers and the excessive noise that has been made in the U. S. papers
about the purchase of Texas, seems to have had a much greater
weight in Mexico than a matter so essentially unimportant ought to
have had. It appears to have caused an impression that the North
Americans are all turbulent and that the Govno of the north wish to
take Texas by force right or wrong. All these impressions are
erronious and have been created by the reports of some evil minded persons
for the purpose of trying to extort from this Govt, unjust and
arbitrary measures against the colonist, so as to foment discontent in
Texas. Those persons have also been trying to sow the seeds of
suspicion and jealousy against the Govt, of the U. S. with the hope
no doubt that a war might be brought about between the two nations,
in which event Texas would be lost to Mexico in one campain. A
train seems to have been laid by some one, to drive this Govt, to
such acts as would be most likely to kindle discontent in Texas and
at the same time to sow the seeds of disgust between the two nations,
and the means which appear to have been adopted to effect those
objects seem to be to operate on the credulity of this Govt, by false
reports about the colonists, and the views of the U. S. They appear
to have made this Govt, believe that an offer to buy Texas, by the
U. S. was a declaration that it would be taken by force right or
wrong. These things will all correct themselves. The Govt, will
find on a proper examination that the colonists have done their duty
faithfully as mexican citizens, that they have performed important
and essential services to their adopted country, and that they deserve
the highest confidence.
I returned from Bexar the capital of Texas a few days since, all
is peace and quietness— Genl Teran is expected soon but without
many troops— I am on the best of terms with that General and
with all the officers of Govt, and think that I shall be able [to]
work this colony through all troubles which seem to threaten it.
I know the Mexicans well—. The latest accounts from Mexico give
a bad a/c of the State of things in that quarter— those matters
do not reach or affect us here—
A [Rubric]
[Addressed:] Thomas F. Learning Esqr Philadelphia Pena