The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, July 1927 - April, 1928 Page: 311

                                
Empresario Contracts for the Colonization of Texas         311
6, 1830, Mexico had forbidden citizens of countries adjacent to
Mexico to settle as colonists."      The law    also stated that no
changes would be made with respect to the colonies already es-
tablished, but all others were suspended. The phrase, "colonies
already established," was later interpreted to mean Austin's and
DeWitt's colony.32
The Mexican government accordingly refused to allow the en-
trance of colonists into any of the colonies except Austin's,
DeWitt's and De Le6n's. Teran therefore refused to allow the
colonists to settle for two reasons: In the first place, he consid-
ered it a violation of the Law of April 6, 1830; and, in the
second place, the government had not recognized the company.
His refusal to recognize the company was well founded.             As
shown later, no empresario contract could be assigned without
the consent of the government. The contract implied a personal
trust.33 It is true Mexico did later recognize the transfer of
these contracts and others; but the consent of the government
was necessary.
The company's agents on learning that they were not per-
mitted to carry out their instructions were as much perturbed
as the unfortunate colonists. They found themselves unable to
provide for the comfort or future welfare of the would-be col-
onists. To add to their discomfiture, no instructions came from
the company in any of the several vessels arriving from New
York. Some of the number began to fear they had been victims
sent out to promote the sale of shares of stock and scrip for the
company."
In May, 1831, Veblein sent a memorial to the government at
Saltillo protesting against the action of Teran. On the receipt
of the memorial the governor, Letona, wrote the jefe politico at
Bexar that Vehlein had attempted to misrepresent certain things
to the government.3"    Teran had supplied the governor with this
81Sayles, Early Laws of Texas, I, 55.
32Barker, The Life of Stephen F. Austin, 314.
"8Lipscomb to Pakenham, June 6, 1840. Diplomatic Correspondence of
the Republic of Texas (Garrison, George P., ed.), III, 898.
"Fisk, A Visit to Texas, 89. Fisk was in Texas and saw the terrible
hardships which these colonists endured. He described the scene vividly,
but in neither his account nor in any other did I learn what finally hap-
pened to the colonists.
"Letona to the Jefe Politico, July 30, 1831. Translation of Empresario
Contracts.