The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 227
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The Government of Austin's Colony, 1821-1881
tinez in August, 1822,10 had divided the settlement into two dis-
tricts, one on the Colorado and one on the Brazos, with an alcalde
ih each to look after details of local administration and justice.17
In December, 1823, Austin subdivided the Brazos district, and
made a third, which he called the San Felipe district;18 in the
fall of 1824 he incorporated into his colony some immigrants who
had drifted in and settled on the San Jacinto, and continued the
district already there;19 in January, 1826, he established the dis-
trict of Mina, on the Colorado;20 and at the same time, appar-
ently, subdivided the San Felipe district to create the district of
Victoria.21 By the beginning of 1828 there was still another dis-
trict, making seven in all.22 Associated with the alaalde in the
administration of these early districts there was a "constable"
with substantially the authority and functions of such an officer
at present.28
"8Trespalaoios took over the office of Governor from Martinez on August
17, 1822; and resigned April 17, 1823. 'See Martinez to Trespalacios,
August 17, 1823, and Trespalacios to junta provincial gubernativa, April
17, 1823. Bexar Archives.
'Austin's statement to his colonists [1829], in A Comprehensive His-
tory of Texas, I, 458; Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 15. Trespalacios to
Bastrop, November 10, 1822 (University of Texas transcripts from De-
p'artment of Fomento, Mexico): "Have the colonists elect a military
commandant and an alcalde or juez politico to do justice to all the in-
habitants of the district." The same document, with Bastrop's report on
the colony, December 11, 1811, is in the General Land Office at Austin,
Spanish Records, Vol. 54, pp. 75-78.
1"Austin's proclamation, December 2, 1823. Austin Papers, miscellane-
ous. The limits of this district were defined as extending from Choco-
late Bayou on the east to, the San Bernard on the west, and from the
Coast to the Coshattie road in the interior. On January 1, 1825, the
district of the Brazos changed its name to Bravo in honor of -General
Nicholas Bravo. See proclamation of Austin, of that date. Austin.
Papers, miscellaneous.
"Austin wrote Gaspar Flores, political chief of Texas, on August 26,
1824, that the settlers of San Jacinto wanted to join his colony and sug-
gested that he be allowed to extend his jurisdiction to the left bank of
the San Jacinto. Flores approved this request on September 21, and on
November 4, 1824, ,Austin reported that it had 'been done. All the let-
ters are in the Austin Papers.
"Austin to (Mo.rrison and Buckner, January 4, 1826. Austin Papers.
"Ibid. The authority for this statement is a note on the same sheet,
without date.
2Austin's statement to his colonists [1829], in A Comprehensive His-
tory of Texas, I, 458; and Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 15.
"Jolhn Tumlinson to Bastrop, March 5, 1823 (Austin Papers), says he
has appointed but one constable to summon witnesses land make arrests.227
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918, periodical, 1918; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101073/m1/233/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.