The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925 Page: 13
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Influence of Slavery in the Colonization of Texas
or hope for the future"; and the negroes, moreover, if liberated,
would become vagabonds, a nuisance and a menace. The ayun-
tamiento of San Antonio thought the statement "algo duro," very
strong, but said that the situation justified it and forwarded a
similar one of its own.27
Austin's settlements were at this time on the eve of a cam-
paign against the Waco and Tahuacano Indians and the eastern
settlers were harassed by a controversy with Haden Edwards that
led to the Fredonian rebellion. Rumor now of the intention to
abolish slavery caused the greatest despondency and many talked
of returning to the United States.28 Austin wrote his brother a
letter so depressed and "triste" as to give him the "horrors."
Brown Austin was at San Antonio, and conversation with Sau-
cedo and others left him more hopeful; they were convinced, he
wrote Austin, that slavery was indispensable to the prosperity of
Texas; had "sent up a representative couched in the strongest
language they could express" asking for its admission to the new
colonies; and were confident that, whatever happened, the slaves
of the original colony would not be freed, first, because they were
guaranteed by the federal act of establishment and, second, be-
cause no means could be found for compensating the owners,
"Saucedo showed me a letter from the Baron [de Bastrop] and
the Senator Cevallos29 on this subject; the viejo [old man] is
"7Austin to Legislature, August 11, to Padilla, August 14, and to
Ayuntamiento of Bexar, August 14, 1826; J. E. B. Austin to Austin,
August 22, 1826, Ibid., 1407, 1409, 1422, 1430. The journals of the Leg-
islature (Actas) were never published. The University of Texas re-
cently acquired a typewritten copy of the originals which are in the
Congressional Archive at Saltillo. Austin's memorial was acknowledged
on September 2 and referred to the committee on the constitution. A
few days later consideration of Articles 10-14 was postponed to allow the
committees more time. Journals, 352, 357.
28As an example of the exaggeration of rumor: Jesse Thompson and
J. C. Peyton of Austin's colony wrote John Sprowl of Ais Bayou (August
11, Austin, Papers, I, 1405) under strict injunction of secrecy that eman-
cipation was certain and that the country was in despair. Ten days
later (August 21, Ibid., I, 1428) James Gaines wrote Austin that Sprowl
was prophesying "that one half of your Colony and the people here would
be out of the Country he was asked if they would be drove out he an-
swered no they would go out of their Own accord I insisted on know-
ing If It was anything that might Effect the Government or the interest
of the people he refused to answer me But told Mr. Thomas It was the
subject of Slavery and that no hope Remained on that Subject thereby
Creating much Rumor."
91"Manuel Ceballos, Senator from Coahuila and Texas in the National
Congress.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925, periodical, 1925; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101087/m1/17/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.