Caney Creek July 30th 1831

Dear Sir

No doubt you have heard many saysoes concerning me or my publik addresses or Exhortations etc and from those tails perhaps may have thought it was injuring the cause of your setling the affairs of the coloney with the Government Which has been the fartherest from me I have been very careful not to abuse any privilege that has been held out by government or its Agents. My practice has been to go no whar where I hav not been invited and when and whare I have gone. And sung prayed Read a chapter in the Bible or testament and Exho[r]te the people to love God and each other: deal justly love mercy and walk humbly before God and the wourld. And to make their peace with God and try to show them by precept and example how to obtain that peace: And this far I thought we (or I) ware privileged: found[ed] on the first address of the Rev Muldoon ;—

No man perhaps feels agreater anxiety for your wellfare and that of the coloneye than I do and instead prejudicing the minds of the people against the Priest I am persuaded I have been the means in the hand of God of quieting many and reconciling their feelings.

The whims superstition ignorance of a community cannot be helped. But to sattisfy them on the best and easest terms is the question and to do the most or greatest good to the wourld of Mankind: This has ocupied my mind for some months past. Religious policy is as necessary (and requires more) as state or National The fear of being compeled to become Romans or recanting some of their Religious tenets or habits on the part of the colonist and jealousy on the part of the government that they are not Romans-—

The plan that is most impresed on my mind on the subject is to cite some one who has preached or Exhorted in the coloney (as I understand I am not the onely one) before the priest as I presume from his [Muldoon's] third address he has ail power on the subject: and let the accused produce testimony of what he has inculcated and if it be aclgudged to be Religion declare it so to be and put the sir name Roman to it and let him (or them) go on. My Bible teaches but one Religion and I presume a Romans is the same it matters not what names men give it so it is pure and undefiled, whether Roman Methodist Baptist Presbyterian or Catholick: and a liberal minded man can wave on these points for the sake of doing good: A course of this nature would certainly prove to the colonest that the government did (or do) not wish to oppress or compell them in to any unreasonable or just measures: and prove to the government that even the preachers are of the Religion of the Government as well as hearers and instead of it prooving an ingry to the setling the affairs of the coloney it will make in its favor and it is a tract that will ear long lead to the liberty of concience which I have no doubt is the ernest [wish] of your soul: I can see no impropriety or injury in the course: I have reasoned with myself for and against it and if it can be adopted; it will surely answer the desirable end and be the means of doing a great good

I mention this subject to you for the first believing it to be my duty to do so as there is much talk and clammer, and this appears to come to the middle ground as both are tenacious and superstituous—should such acours meet your approbation after viewing it and be adop[t]ed my prayer will be answered And if not may it remain with you, and as coming from the purest intentions: I feel it my duty to reprove vice and immorality whare and when I see it and to inforce the love of there assosites [associates]

I have three weeks confinement to my school and then I shall go to San Felepe wher I hope I shall have the pleasure of conversing with you on various subjects

And rest assured I shall do all I can for the good of the coloney in cutivating peace and friendship with ail—And abuse no privilege but use them

And may the Blessings of Heaven rest upon you and yours and guide you in all wisdon and so I Remain

Sumner Bacon

Hon S. F Austin Esq.