En Inquisición Mexico May 30th 1834
Mr. Oliver Jones
Sir I am still in prison and I can form no idea when I shall be
at liberty
When I left Texas in April 1833 the position taken by the people
was that the evils that threatened that country with ruin must be
removed by the Government or the people [would] remedy them
themselves and ought to do so as in that case they would have the
right to do it. I sustained this position as the agent of the people
firmly both verbally and in writing before the ministers and the
Vice President and also in my letter to the Ayuntamiento of Bexar
of 2nd of Oct. last I represented my constituents as they were when
I left them, and as I had right to believe they continued to be;
regardless of my personal safety liberty or life, it was my duty so to
do—great good has resulted to Texas from my labors, and the noise
which this business has made—all the evils complained of have been
removed, my conscience is clear, I have discharged my duty faith
fully, and for having done so I have suffered five months inprison
ment-—Three of them in close and solitary confinement locked up
in a dungeon day and night, the reflection that Texas would be
benefited by my sufferings kept up my spirits and I have borne it all
with patience and fortitude, I have understood indirectly from
common rumor that those people in whose service I am suffering and
have sacrificed so much time and money and fatigue are now
calumniating me and rejoicing in my misfortunes, I do not believe this
report—a few may do so, but not the mass—not the farmers-
the honest and sound part of the community—they have always been
correct sound and honest in their feelings intensions, and principles
and I have no doubt that all their sympathies are in my favor
will not calumniate them even in my thoughts by believing otherwise
In my letter of the 17th January from Monterrey, I requested them
not to suffer themselves to be excited on act. of my imprisonment
I did this to serve them, for all kinds of excitements in Texas are
injurious to the farming and laboring classes and to the
improvement of that country. They complied with my request and I than
them for having done so. I also requested them to be obedient to
the state of Coahuila and Texas—they have been so, and for this
also thank them—God knows when I shall be at liberty—I hope
soon—a mild and respectful representation of facts from the
Ayuntamientos of Texas stating the situation of that country and of
public opinion when I left them In April last year, as agent, the
position above stated taken by those people which it was my duty
as their agent to sustain, and my general character, conduct and
services in favor of good order, of the integrity of the mexican
territory and of the welfare and improvement of my adopted country
such a representation especialy from Bexar would open my dungeon
at any time and would do it now. But perhaps this is to much to be
done for S. F. Austin, I did not think that I was doing too much
for those people when I risked everything for them.
I understand that the main charge against me is an attempt to
separate Texas from the mexican Republic, this charge is false as all
Texas can testify, however I do not know what the charge is for
up to this day no copy of charges or accusation of any kind has
been furnished—neither do I know whether I am to be judged by a
military or civil tribunal when informed of the charges against me
(and God knows when that will [be] perhaps many months hence)
it may be necessary for me to send to Texas for evidence, so that I
may linger away years here—the Ayuntamientos of Texas might
have saved me all this, I did not ask it but I confess that I ex-
pected it would have been done. If I am calumniated I consider
that it is a duty of the people there to defend me by a statement of
facts—an able and clear but short exposition to the public.
I hear from rumor that the state legislature have past a law to
sell the vacant lands—such a law is necessary—public sales is the
best, and only true basis for a land law, It will benefit the state of
Coahuila and Texas greatly and fill its treasury and also benefit
Texas—I recommend this system to the ministers here and the
establishment of the trial by jury and the minister of relations informed
me that he had recommended both to the Government of the state
by order of the Vice president.
The aspect of things here indicates a great change or a civil war
of some kind, But God knows what, the people of Texas, in my
opinion ought to have nothing to do with their family political
quarrels and I hope they will not. All you need in Texas is peace, a
dead calm, and to make good crops. Remember me to all who
remember me, Show this to Capt. Martin, to D. G. Burnett and to
Miller—
S. F. Austin
June 2nd I have just heard of the laws past by the state in favor
of the local government in Texasthe establishment of three
departments; judges, trial by jury, land law etc. In short every evil
complained of has been remedied—this fully compensates me for all I
have suffered I do not regret it; I think it is the duty of the people
of Texas, to return thanks to the State Govt, in a public manner
through the Ayuntamientos for these laws, and to make a most
positive and clear declaration of their attachment and firm adhesion
and union to the state of Coahuila and Texas and to the Mexican
confederation. This ought to be done—it is due to the state—and
it ought to be published in the news papers of the U. S. in order to
correct the erroneous opinions, that have existed there as to the
intentions or objects of the people of Texas,—they have been sound—
they asked for a competant organization of their local government
and nothing else, and they never had any other object, It was for
this I came to Mexico and for this I am suffering—all this might be
embodied in the document above mentioned And the people of
Texas would thus do justice to the State, themselves, and to me all
at the same time. Some of the enemies of Texas are beginning to
snear at those people by reporting in this city that they have
abandoned me and wished me sacrifised—such an idea is injurious to the
character of those people and totally false, and ought to be refuted
by a plain, frank, and public statement of facts
S. F. Austin
Mr. James F. Perry
Sir I send you the above letter which arrived here on the 9th inst
I have receive[d] your letter, as also Guy's nothing new, there will
be something done for Uncle to day as there is a colecton [?] of
people in town to day Clayton is to be tried for his life
M. Austin Bryan
In a letter to Sam Williams of similar import to this he used
these words " I was incommunicado regororisimo from the 13th Feby
to 9 May—no book or writing materials & very little light—dreary
enough but the idea that Texas &c " Dated ex inquisición—June
3rd '34