The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 32, July 1928 - April, 1929 Page: 339
361 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Tadeo Ortiz and the Colonization of Texas, 1822-1833 339
development and enfranchisement of our impaired ports. All the
better class of Mexicans know that these measures, among many
others, have been the chief causes of the scandalous demoralization
of the agents and administration of the custom houses, of the sup-
port that has been given to the immense contraband trade, and
the decrease of public revenue and the lack of progress of the
national marine. Nevertheless, these dangerous measures are not
destroyed and it even seems that they are more firmly entrenched
because they are usually defended so tenaciously.
In my former expositions concerning the affairs of Texas, I have
already shown the utility and advantage that would result for the
advancement of its colonization, by opening its ports to free com-
merce and that no unfavorable results would result therefrom to
the national public treasury. In my travels, I have checked this
opinion and plan, by the practical knowledge acquired in the
various localities. There are six navigable rivers, ports, and bays
which are in touch with a maritime and commercial power. These,
like natural canals, are beckoning people to open up mercantile
connections with their vast coast and a neighboring unsettled re-
gion. Only a fleet and armed force, and an extreme course of
discipline on the part of the custom houses would be able to resist
them, as long as a mass of population and a regular political ad-
ministration are not present to offer opposition in those uninhab-
ited places. On the other hand, without first looking into and
treating the subject of the development of the population and
organization of Texas, although it were possible to avoid contra-
band trade, the income of the custom houses would be so limited
that they would hardly meet the expenses of their administration.
As a result, the nation would be handicapped by maintaining use-
less employees, who would be exposed to general demoralization
without any favorable result.
With the continuance of the collection of the custom house
duties, and the prohibitive system in the ports of Texas, the de-
velopment of the country and the progress of the population of
the ports are paralyzed, because they either speculate on finding
out of the way ports of entry, or, as I have felt and witnessed
myself, they get an entry more easily by land from Natchitoches,
a point through which the colonies near Nacogdoches and this same
town are being supplied. Through Nacogdoches more than
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 32, July 1928 - April, 1929, periodical, 1929; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101089/m1/344/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.