Mexico Exinquisition June 3. 1834

S. M. Williams

On the 31st I drew on the house of Beers St. John & Co. for seven hundred forty seven dollars 51/100

I have received three letters from you 13 March 13 and 15 April— also information that I could draw on the above house, from Don E. M. [Ramon Musquiz] through his brother-in-law—all that family have been firm and true friends to me in all my troubles and I hope my friends will never forget them

I have heard of the laws passed by the state in favor of Texas I have not seen them except the land law which I approve of very much and of all the others so far as I have heard of them

I think it is the duty of the people of Texas to return thanks in a public manner to the state Govt, through the Ayuntamientos and chief of departments for these laws and also to make a most solemn and positive declaration of their firm adhesion, union and attachment to the state of Coahuila and Texas and to the Mexican confederation. This declaration or document ought to be drawn up in an able manner, concise, but clear and full and it ought to be published in the U. S. in order to correct public opinion there as to the intentions and objects of the people of Texas.

The position taken by them last year was " that the evils which threatened that country with anarchy and ruin must be remedied by the Govt, or the people would remedy them of themselves and ought to do so, as in the last resort they wiould have the right to do so on the principle of self preservation"

I sustained this position firmly as the agent of Texas before the ministers and the vice president and my letter of 2 October [was based] upon it, and upon the public good and general interest of the republic and of Coahuila and Texas by recommending that the constituted municipal authorities should take up the subject and thus prevent popular commotions.

A frank and plain statement of these facts and of the true situation of Texas and the state of public opinion etc all embodied in the document of public thanks to the Govt, above mentioned, would place the whole matter in its true light before the world, and contradict all the calumnies and false reports, that the intentions and objects of those people, and also my objects, were a total separation from Mexico—such reports are all false. It is also reported here that those people have abandoned me and wish me shot or imprisoned for life, and the enemies of North Americans and of Texas are making use of this calumny both against me and against the people of Texas, for our enemies wish to make out that those people are ungrateful and bad, and they say that if they abandon me they would also abandon the Govt. etc. etc.—all calumnies and false.

I particularly requested those people not to be excited on account of my arrest, and strongly urged and begged that they would remain quiet and faithful to the state of Coahuila and Texas, as I had no doubt the state government would remedy the evils complained of— I thank the people for having complyed with my request. The result has shown that I was right. The evils have all been remedied in a legal manner, excitement and commotions kept down in Texas, The people of Texas and the whole state and nation have been served effectually and all motives for discontent in future are forever removed. My mission to Mexico—the position taken by my constituents and firmly sustained by me here, and my imprisonment and sufferings and the noise and alarm occasioned by all these things— have materially contributed to bring about this happy result—and I therefore do not regret what I have suffered and the money I have spent. On my part I risked all for those people and to sustain the position taken by them—I now expect that they on their part will do justice to the Govt who has remedied all their evils, to me their agent—and to themselves as high minded and honorable men and as true and faithful Mexican citizens.

All this they can do by a public and official document of the character before mentioned combining a statement of facts as to themselves, and as to me their agent; thanks to the Govt for what has been done; and a clear declaration of union and fidelity to the state and to the Mexican confederation.

This will place the matter before the world in its true light, and do justice to all parties and silence calumny for ever—it will also keep ambitious or restless spirits quiet.

D. G. Burnet would be a good hand to draft such a document aided by Capt Martin, Miller, Jack, Chambers, Jones, Adams, Johnson, Lesassier etc—

My enemies in the low country that you speak of will do me justice—no one can be so base as to calumniate the man who has served them faithfully and is suffering for their benefit—personal feelings are momentary in their influence but justice will finally prevail over them. I wrote yesterday to Oliver Jones.

Remember me to Ramon Musquiz particularly—I shall feel grateful to him and D. Vr B° [Victor Blanco] as long as I live and hope my friends will—also remember [me] to everybody—let the present happy situation of that country forever bury all personal feelings. I bury them forever—and let us all devote ourselves to cultivate the soil, make good crops, and be good neighbors and good citizens— so soon as I can close my affairs so as to get on to a farm I will do so, and it will be a difficult matter to drag me away from it—unless it be to go to a ball or a social meeting of friends. I am done with public matters, that is when I get free from them I mean to keep so—-and I mean to get free as soon as I can—

S. F. Austin [Rubric]

You can show this letter to whom you think proper I send it via New Orleans I am in good health I was incomunicado rigororisimo from the 13 Feby to 9 May—no books or writing materials and very little light—dreary enough, but the idea that Texas would be benefited and that I had done my duty kept up my spirits and I bore all patiently. I hope that Almonte who was sent to Texas by Govt, has been well received and kindly treated, no friend of mine or of Texas would think of treating him or any other commissioner of the Govt, in any other manner than with attention and politeness. The enemies of Texas, or my enemies might wish to take a different course in order to make confusion and difficulty.

S.F.A.

I sent a power of attorney to my brother-in-law to sell property and I now send a duplicate. I wrote him by way of Orleans 10 May.