Peach Point 7th Decr. 1834
Dear Brother
We fondly hoped that long ere this we would have been enjoying your
society at home but from your letter of the 25th Aug., one to Williams of
the 7th September also a letter recd from Mr. Grayson a few days after
his arrival in the city leaves everything in uncertainty, but still we hope
that ere this you have been released and you with our good friends Messrs
Grason and Jack are on your return and will soon meet your numerous
friends once more in Texas. Who will meet you with unfained pleasure,
with regard to famaly matters, nothing new has occured since Mr. Grason
left. Emily has had the fever a great part of the time for the last season,
she has not had it for two weeks, and I hope will now enjoy her health
once more Now for political affairs, a short time before I recd your letter
of the 25th August Henry Smith our Political Cheaf (he who had his head
graised at Velasco)—came out in our Brazoria paper with a very urgent
address to the people of Texas recommending a convention and a state
Govt this address had hardly got dry from the press untill he recd from
Judge Chambers, Oliver Jones, and Bascas [Vasquez] the other member
of Congress for Texas a plan of calling a convention together with a request
from the people of Bexar for delegates to be elected in Texas to meet in
convention at Bexar on 15th Nov. a few days before the election an address
from the central committee in reply to the cheafs first address came out
in hand bills which was in direct opposition to the opinions of the cheaf
which had its influence, and in fact the people are heartily tired of high
handed and revolutionary measures and almost with one voice opposed
the measure in toto I have not heard of any elections being held anywhere
but within this jurisdiction and only in three electorial district here viz.
Brazoria Columbia and Velasco at Brazoria there was 57 against a
convention and 16 for it at Columbia 24 against and 23 for at Velasco there
was actually not more than from 7 to 10 legal votes to be given but at
the time of the election there was two or three vessels lying there with their
crews and passengers and to accomodate I supose Mr Wharton and Dct
Archer they all went forward and voted for there candidate and I have
been told there was between 50 and 60 votes taken there when there was
not more than ten in the precinct but it all availed them nothing as they
were completely headed and broke down and so I hope they will remain.
Your letter of 25th came to hand a very short time before this election
was to take place I showed it to McKinney, Williams, Bell and several
others of your friends and they all concured in urging the publication of it
and accordingly it was, and has been widely circulated both in the paper
and handbills and all who I have conversed with it on the subject say they
think it has had and will have a good effect, the tryo Chambers and
Whartons are now as politically dead as if they were buried. Chambers
has been at San Felipe but has not attemted to enter on his duties as a
judge I hear he has gone back to Monclova, he met with the coldest
kind of a cold reception in the colony and I expect he was glad to get out
of it again. Since I commenced this I saw your letter of the 18th Oct to
McKinney I am sorry you are so much deceived with regard to the
Whartons conduct towards you. you are more decieved than ever if you
think one of the tryo has the least good feeling toward you or that they
ever had. no it is far from their remotest thoughts I saw the paper that
Waller and Wharton signed it was nothing but a statment of facts which
neither of them could or dare deny it was drawn up at the request of
McKinney and myself by W. H. Jack and their willingness to sign it was not
from any kind feelings towards you. their motives were widely different
they discovered that your cituation was causing a strong a very strong
excitement throughout the colony and Texas and Whartons, only motive
was to go with the current to gain popularity and to check the warm
excitement felt on your a/c at the same time he was taking every
opportunity to caluminate and abuse you all this we knew when we got him to
sign the memorial but never dreamt that you could be deceived by such a
manuever Spencer Jack knew his motives he can inform you. None of
your conciliatory centiments towards such fellows shall ever be published
by [me] nor will they by McKinney on this subject I know his centiments
these fellows are not deserving of an[y] friendly sentiment from yourself
and I hope may never make another advance towards a reconciliation I
dont wish to quarl with but hold them at a distance as you would tainted
meat they are not deserving of confidence or one good feeling from you
or those who are your sincere well wishers these are my opinions I have
always thought that I was of as forgiving a disposition [as] any person
ought to be but a man or set of men who would persecute me as they
have you I never could meet them on terms of friendship. W. H. Wharton
took great offense at your letter and came out in a very violent card
against you but I believe before he got them printed he got ashamed of it
himself and tryed to suppress it a few of the proof sheets got out and I
am told his best friends decountenance it.
There is a great reaction in public opinion since you left crops throught
[throughout] the colony has been very good this season (with the
exception of this imediate neighbourhood our crops here was about ruined with
the worm not more than a third made) everything is prospering a
considerable emigration is coming in both by land and water and the people
apear well contented without any more conventions. McKinney is now in
New Orleans of which I expect he has informed me. he is a man of entire
worth Williams says he is going to Montclova very soon I have not
offered any of your land for sale as I have not seen any necessity for
selling there was a small claim against you which was pressed but
Williams with a little aid I gave him has settled it so he informs me. Sterling
C. Robinson is cavolting about in the upper colony at a great rate he is
taring up all that was done by Austin and Williams, he will hardly let the
hills and rivers stand that they happened to have crossed with a chain.
While Chambers was up the country he wrote an expose for Robinson
which has been published in which he makes heavy charges against you—
but all these things are now prety generally understood and if Williams
goes on and has that business straightened all these assertions will go back
on themselves writh double force
Capt Henry Austins family was all well a few days since, he gets along
but badly in Texas. I had a letter from Mr. Learning a few days since
he says the Fox suit is still in court and hopes it will come to an ishue this
month he sent you a new map of Texas a second edition of the one you
furnished he had heard you had got home and wishes you to write to him
What was the situation of your a/c with Jno Austin Wm T. Austin as
adm.r of his Brother has been selling notes which was in his brothers
possession of yours one I know of against Thomas Westall for 611$ this
I presume was only logd with John for collection if so it ought not to be
paid to the assignee of his admr.
[James F. Perry]