The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 390
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
interest rather than to altruism. He stated that the day was not
far off when a seat of government would have to be established
in Texas. It was to the interest of every inhabitant of the district
to see that the seat be established at San Felipe.
If we can get decent public buildings and an academy under way . . .
this place stands a better chance . . . than any other point. . . . Everyone
who does or says anything to retard the advance of this place [San Felipe]
is actually doing an injury to himself. . . . I calculated the chances for
this place to be the future seat of government many years ago, and I was
then of the opinion that the people of this colony could make it the seat
of government if they took the right course and I am of the same opinion
still.
The academy is still a very important matter and I hope you will aid
us from that quarter of the country. If we can get it under way, I have
no doubt the government will aid us. I will devote a great deal to this
object if it goes on, for independent of the good that will result to the
children of the colony, it will give a favorable character to it abroad.1'
Was this economic motive the basic reason for Austin's interest
in education? Scarcely. But it may have been a contributing cause.
From other sections of the colony, also, came opposition to the
school project. From Brazoria a colonist wrote that he had
tried to push the academy forward,
but I am sorry to say I did not find one advocate for it-not because
they were opposed to [it] altogether, but owing to the hands the funds
for that purpose will be deposited in. I find the members of the ayuntamiento
unpopular, throughout the colony. They all appear willing to subscribe
to a jail and academy provided a committee of responsible men be appointed
to receive subscriptions.'2
A letter from another part of the Colony noted that although,
because of its past actions, the people would not support an
academy under the supervision and control of the ayuntamiento,
they would support the project if Austin personally would select
and appoint a board of trustees. The writer added, "I will
venture to say that there is not any person . . . in this colony,
but what would approve of such an institution."'1 Judging from
the atrocious spelling and literary style of the letter, the academy
was badly needed.
While Austin was endeavoring to interest the colony at large
in his project, he was active in San Felipe also. On March 2,
1829, a document, containing subscriptions of over $800 for
"Austin to J. H. Bell, March 17, 1829. Ibid., II, 191.
12"3. E. B. Austin to S. F. Austin, March 18, 1829. Ibid., II, 193.
3"William Martin to S. F. Austin, March 25, 1829. Ibid., II, 196.390
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945, periodical, 1945; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146055/m1/434/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.