Stephen F Austin to Samuel M Williams, 08-28-1833
Summary: "All is melancholy with death and civil war." Government hopes to dam Americans out of Texas by immigration of Poles and Germans—"as well try to dam the Mississippi with straw."
[From Williams Papers, Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Tex.]
Mexico
Dr Sir.
I fear that your detention in mobile will do some harm—you
know that in
The cholera is abating but there has been no session of congress
since the
The revolution is not yet ended. Arista has possession of Guanajuato and there are a variety of reports about the progress of the Crusade party, but I do not think they can succeed. The civil war may probably be protracted sometime.
I can say nothing definite as to Texas matters—they are all before congress but when there will be a session I know not—neither is there any certainty at all, what congress will do as to Texas. I have strong doubts on the subject.
Tadeo Ortiz has been sent to the U. S. by Government on some
misterious mission, but what it is I cannot tell—some say it is to take
Poles, or Germans or somebody else to Texas to dam out the north
americans—stop the mississippi river with a dam of straw—he told
me he would be in Texas in death and civil war. I am better but debilitated
Do not neglect the tract that Brown surveyed east of colorado foot of mountains—one of H. Austins is not yet located. Close all up as fast as possible—no one can tell what is ahead.