8th December 1832.

Dear Sir,

I received your letter of the 18th ult. on the evening of the 29th, to which I made a hasty answer early next morning. Since which, I have been to the Big Road and showed it to members of the most respectable citizens of the Ayish District.

They all heartily concur in the sentiments expressed in the letter, and most ardently wish that the project may be carried into execution. They want a local Government—they want a judiciary proceeding according to the principles of the common law, so far at least as respects the mode of trial, and one, that will protect their property and persons.

There is perhaps no person more dangerous in the formation of a new government than a mere theorist. The principles in the State Constitution are in the main excellent; but the thread is too fine spun— Much is lost in detail— It resembles the works of the famous Abbe Sieyes.

Philosophers and Speculatists may admire liberty for its own sake; but that liberty which the mass of mankind understand—the free institutions which they love and would die to defend, must, with its other blessings promptly afford them security of property, character, and person. Look at our situation under the present constitution and the state's laws as organized among us. To say nothing of assaults and battery, Slander, Libels, Larcenies in every sense of the word, and there have been about twelve men killed among us in a few years and not a person judicially punished for any of these offenses. But to return.

They deprecate the idea of being independent of the Mexican Republic. Their sole wish is to be dependent on it, and to afford it all the support and protection in their power—-to protect all its rights and interests, and in return to participate of all its benefits and advantages, and particularly of its liberal policy in relation to its lands. Neither do they wish, nor could they consent to become a part of, [or] belong to the states of North,

The system of the land sales in those states has long been a subject about which a feverish sensibility and rather a rude spirit of domination has generally prevailed. If the Government there would in time have radically changed it, and checked the progress of what every one individually pronounced an evil, but which sometimes the executive, and always a majority of both houses of congress, adheared to with [the] grasp of a dying man, and refused to consider, we had most of us never seen Texas. Establish a liberal local government— Procure the repeal of the obnoxious prohibitory emigration law. And if it be true what some say, we shall soon see its effects in more than one district, in some of the old states of the North. This united with the cold there, will it is said make the elements of depopulation, poverty and weakness too evident to be resisted. And herein are the causes, among others, why enterprising and industrious labouring freemen, the life blood of any country, will abandon the places of their nativity, in greater numbers than we would ordinarily anticipate. It is true their land system has of late been somewhat softened; but the very effort showed it never could be radically changed. Let those there who wish it, adhear to that policy—that foolish pride, which rejects experience, and continually gathers to itself fresh absurdities to feed upon, with that spirit of boasting and blindness to decay, thai was so strongly evinced in the debate on that subject. Texas will profit by their obstainacy.

If another convention is called I think that two delegates from each district or precinct would be quite sufficient. And, that funds ought to be provided to pay their expenses. Say two dollars per day. And, that the state be bound to reimburse it. Otherwise few delegates, I think will go from the Red Land. Riches and poverty are relative terms; but we have very few relatively rich men. A convention to form a local government ought to be open to the whole population. Strange as it may appear to those that are in the habit of handling money there are in these districts many good citizens—very good livers—men of property—who do not handle five dollars in a year. I do not know how it was with others; but to the late convention, I was gone, twenty seven days, and expended about fifty dollars, and lost a valuable horse; none of those just mentioned persons could bear this and I am as poor as any of them. I was as economical as the case would admit of. And what may surprise you my losses in going to the late convention are more than I shall make in a year. For myself, I do not expect to go if there is a convention; but I mention my own case to show that the expenses of the delegates ought to be paid. Why should a part of society labor for the whole and find themselves? The corporations or wealthy citizens ought to advance these funds.

Your early notice to us, of this subject, is another evidence of the good feelings and kindness you hold to the citizens of the Red Land, which they duly appreciate.

Be pleased to direct your letters to me at Teneha to left at " Mr. Sublets,Big Road Aysh District". Present my respects to Mr. Williams

J. Harrison

Colonel S. F. Austin