Mr Editor — I have been highly gratified by observing almost a simultaneous expression of public sentiment in various parts of the Union in favor of the re-attachment of the province of Texas to the United States. It is truly a national question of the greatest importance, and I believe nothing but a knowledge of its local situation (to say nothing of its internal value) is wanting, to convince the intelligent and the unbiased that our interest demands an extension of our western boundary to the Rio Grande del Norte. As this question ... unreadable line ... it may not be amiss to lay before the public any information that will give an idea of the real value of the "delightful part of the globe." I therefore request you to republish the following round unvarnished statement of facts in relation to Austin's colony; it was first published in the Mobile Commercial Register, and written by a gentleman who has resided several years in the colony. Having had opportunities of seeing that country, and hearing something of its present condition, I can with safety confirm the statements of the writer, with the exception of one, which is doubtless a typographical error. He is made to say, that the cost of obtaining land "will not amount to four dollars per acre," when in truth the settler incurs on expense but that of surveying his land and paying for his deed, which amounts to the paltry sum of forty dollars per league. I call the attention of tenants, and those of our citizens who have land worth from one to five thousand dollars without negroes to work it, to this fact, viz; that they can there obtain 4446 and 2-3 acres of land situated in a delicious and healthful climate, adapted to the production of sugar, cotton, rice, indigo, corn, wheat, and affording facilities for grazing unknown in any other part of the world, for the paltry sum of forty dollars. Your condition now is precisely the same as that of some of our richest citizens once was. They too were destitute and undervalued citizens in the older states; but it was not congenial to their minds to remain in a state of serveilance, (sic) and tug and toil for an avaricious landlord. The wisdom of their conduct needs no comment, they are now possessed of all the comforts, conveniences, and luxuries of life, and they are enabled to educate their offspring in the very best Universities in the Union. Are you more thoughtless of your own interest, or more careless of the welfare of your offspring, that you remain here, and with apathy and indifference suffer the rich harvest now offered you to pass unreaped! The settlement of Texas will be an excursion of pleasure compared with the dangers, privations and hardships encountered by our fathers in colonizing the mountains of New England, and in settling the states of Kentucky and Tennessee; for the Indians in Texas are unwarlike and friendly, and supplies can be obtained from New Orleans in four or five days. The prospects are far brighter; instead of the pre-emption of 540 acres that was obtained by the settlers of Kentucky and Tennessee, you can obtain 4446 and 2-3 acres of superior quality, adapted to the production of the most and desirable commodities, and in a salubrious climate. The story of Texas being unhealthy went abroad from the circumstance of there being a number of unacclimated persons there during an unusually sickly season; they being exposed to the inclement weather in a part of the country where there were no settlers, consequently they were destitute of houses, and often without a dry suit of clothes. Was it strange then, or any proof of a sickly country, that they, thus exposed, altogether unaccustomed to a southern climate, should be sick. The fevers are by no means fatal, no better proof of this is necessary than that nearly all that were sick, though destitute of proper medical aid, and the proper diet for sick persons, recovered. The health of the province since has put to silence this unfounded rumor, and has furnished ample proof of its being a salubrious climate.
Opportunities like the present of realizing wealth, "even beyond the dreams of avarice" seldom, or never have occurred to any people. That it will be embraced (by Tennesseeans I cannot say) I most positively affirm. Already men of enterprise, of research, and of intelligence, have found their way to her hospitable bosom; already a distinguished Englishman has obtained a grant of millions of acres. How many more will follow his example, who can say? Let us then avail ourselves (I speak to the poor) of this inviting opportunity of securing a competency for us and our children after us; let not the thoughts of expatriation deter us, already the sentiments of the people have been too forcibly and generally expressed to pass unheard and unregarded, and that President who owes his elevation to them, will not be deaf to their voice. It will be too late to wait until it is acquired by the United States, for then the lands will rise immediately, and incalculably in value. Let us now shake off the apathy which has too long characterized us; — let the spirit of the Boones and the Robertsons animate us, to exchange situations of want and unproductive toil, for plenty and real independence.
BOONE.
P. S. I will further add, for the satisfaction of those who intend to emigrate, that a number of the citizens of this county, intend to start early this fall for Texas.
From the Mobile Commercial Register.
The limits of the territory designated by the Mexican government to Col. Austin, for the settlement of the families introduced by him, has for its eastern boundary, the river San Jacinto; its northern boundary, the upper road leading from Bexar to Nacogdoches; its western, the river Labaca; (sic) southern, the sea coast or shores of the Gulf, and lies between the 28°30' and 31st degrees of north latitude, and 94°30' and 96°30' of west longitude, from Greenwich. The Brasos and Colorado rivers are the principal that run through the Colony; the former discharges its waters into the Gulph, and the latter into Matagorda Bay; there are several large creeks that discharge their waters into the Bay and gulf, although they do not merit the character of rivers, besides which there are numerous creeks emptying into the Brasos and Colorado, that are permanent in their waters, being supplied by springs. The soil on the margins of the Colorado and Brasos, is generally alluvial and covered with timber, consisting of ash, elm, cotton wood, hackberry, sycamore, live oak, red oak, &c. interspersed with very large cane brakes, and is by planters considered equal to any soil in the world for the cultivation of cotton and sugar. The prairies are covered with grass, affording an inexhaustible range for cattle and horses during the whole year, while the soil of them is cultivated in cotton and corn to a very great advantage; indeed, to farmers who have a small force, they would find it much to their advantage to farm in the prairies, as they thereby avoid cleating the cotton lands, and are enabled to cultivate a much larger quantity in a shorter space of time.
The population of the Colony is from 3000 to 4000 inhabitants, which, with some few exceptions, are Americans. The majority of the inhabitants are agriculturists, while other devote much of their time in stock raising, this latter branch of industry is one that yields to the grazier a handsome income, as the stocks are maintained without any other expense than occasional herding the whole year round; indeed, it is a positive fact, that it is less expensive to raise a cow beast of three years old, than to raise a chicken of one year old. The prospects of the crops in the middle of last month were very flattering, and it was estimated that 1000 bales cotton, 150,000 bushels of corn, and from 130 to 150 hogsheads of sugar, (experimental,) would be made. It may be well here to remark, that the luxuriant growth of the cane in the colony, presents to the planter the most flattering prospect for the application of his force to the cultivation of it, while the section of the country which from its local situation, soil, and climate, is congenial to the growth of cane, is very great.
The local government of the Colony is administered by officers who are elected by the settlers, and consist of an Alcade, who has civil and judicial jurisdiction, two Regidores, (Aldermen,) and one Syndic, forming in conjunction with the Alcade as president, a municipal body styled as Ayuntamiento. The Alcade and one of the Aldermen are elected annually, and cannot be re-elected until two years after they had retired from office. Justice is administered in a prompt and summary manner, few crimes are committed, and generally speaking there is less disorder than in many sections of the western countries of the United States. The climate is remarkably healthy and salubrious, springs abound in the margins of all the creeks, and the water is good.
Lands can be obtained by emigrants with great facility from the Empresario, (founder of the colony,) and the commissioner of the government, under the colonization law, which authorizes the grant to families who are actual settlers of one league Mexican measure, equal in English to 4446 acres superficial surface, and unmarried man can obtain the fourth part of that quantity. The expenses of which will not amount to four dollars per acre. The same law requires that emigrants should be furnished with testimonials of good character from his last place of residence.
At Sanfelipe de Austin, the capital of the Colony, there is a very good school, presided by a teacher of first rate literary acquirements, from the state of New York; there are also several other small schools in various parts of the Colony. The are (sic) seven cotton gins in operation in the Colony, two saw and grist mills, and one steam saw mill nearly ready to go into operation.
Matagorda and Galveston (about 3 or 4 words missing) harbors and safe entrance, there being less that 12, and at times 15 and 16 feet waters on the bars. At present the principal part of the trade of the Colony is carried on in small vessels which enter the Brasos river, where there is a bar about 30 yards wide, over which six feet water can only be calculated on with certainty, although there is often seven and a half to nine feet of water. The cotton raised in the Colony is generally sent to New Orleans for a market, and the surplus corn, beans, wheat, potatoes, &c. are sent to Metamores, Tampico, and Vera Cruz.
"Regarding Austin's Colony.", National Banner & Nashville Whig, (Nashville, TN), Saturday, September 5, 1829; p. 2, col. 3.