Ayuntamiento of Brazoria to Congress, 07-31-1834
Summary: Memorial in behalf of Austin.
To the Supreme Govt of the United States of Mexico
The Ayuntamiento of the Jurisdiction of Brazoria of the State of Cuahuila and Texas approaching the Govt, with that high consideration with [which] is due from the subject to the sovereign would most respectfully represent.
That with feelings of the deepest regret and anxiety they have learned that their agent and fellow citizen S. F. Austin has been for a long time under arrest and in a state of most rigorous confinement— when A was first arrested on his return to Texas he requested us to express or feel no anxiety on his account. For relying on the purity of his intentions his established character and his known devoted adherence to the constitution and laws of his adopted country he could not anticipate that his detention would be more than temporary. From that time until very recently we have been totaly ignorant of his true situation. Hence we have been perfectly silent lest in attempting to do good we might possibly do an injury.
But now when our information is such as can be confidently relied
on we concieve it to be a duty we owe to ourselves to Austin and to
Texas to make a full frank and candid statement of facts with a
view to the removal of impressions unfavorable to the character of
the people of Texas, and injurious to Austin. The situation of the
country before the meeting of the convention which adopted the
constitution of which Austin was the bearer was distressing beyond
description The Congress of the State was either ignorant of oar
wants or unable or unwilling to apply the necessary remedy The
administration of justice was a mere mockery the rights of the
citizens were trampled on with impunity. The person, property, or
In this state of things it was conceived that unless some remedy could be applied disorganization and ruin would be the inevitable consequences these were the reasons which produced a call of that convention these were the reasons which prompted that convention to form a plan of constitution and these were the reasons which induced Austin at an immense sacrifice to undertake the discharge of the duties imposed on him with a confident hope that he would be able to render effective services to his countrymen. That he has been unsuccessful in his mission is but too true and the consequences to have been of the most unfortunate character
We know not the charges upon which A has been arrested and
hence it is impossible to refute them. But if it be true as has been
alleged by some that he is suspected of having designs upon the
integrity of the Mexican Territory we reply that the allegation is a
libel as well upon the people of Texas as upon Austin. These people
have never for one single moment entertained such a monstrious idea
and A is the last man against whom such a charge could be
successfully made. His motto has universally been the constituition
Laws federal and state and one some occasions he has even aroused
the feelings of some of his countrymen against him by advising a tame
and humiliating submission to the indignities which have been heaped
upon us. These are facts too notorious to be question and to doubt
them would be evidence of the weakest incredulity. Since A was
dispatched to Mexico the most favourable changes have taken place
in the political affairs of Texas. The National Congress in answer
to our petitions has repealed the obnoxious feature of the Law at
the
The administration of the laws is placed upon a firm and
intelligible basis the trial by Jury the bulwark of our liberty is established
and the property and life and liberty of the subject is secured for
all of which distinguished marks of kindness and liberality we take
this public opportunity of tendering our most cordial and heartfelt
gratitude both to the Federal and State Govts. In conclusion we
most humbly pray that our friend and fellow citizen S. F. Austin
God and Liberty