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68
AUSTIN S RULE.
[1823.
ince; this course was not a wise one, as they had no
legal right to these new lands, and were liable to be
ejected at any time. But with the home-coming of Aus-
tin came new life and greater prosperity; settlers re-
turned, scores of new immigrants poured in, all was life
and activity. Baron de Bastrop was appointed to survey
lands and, with the help of Austin, to issue to the colo-
nists land deeds in the name of the Mexican government.
De Garza, the Governor of Texas, was a friend to the
colony, and did all he could to make it succeed. In July,
1823, he declared that San Felipe de Austin should be
the capital. In 1824, 247 land titles had been issued.
Austin's Rule.--In the colony, Austin, as empresario,
was in most respects absolute ruler.* Seldom does a
man who has unlimited power govern with such mild-
ness as did Austin; he was well named the "Father of
his colony." Never marrying, he devoted himself to each
and all of his colonists; they looked upon him as a true
friend. Every child loved him, for he was accustomed
to take the little ones on his knee, and tell them wonder-
ful stories of his adventures. He knew how to be severe
when duty demanded. Several disorderly men were
* While Austin had secured from the Mexican government vast general rights
to control the colony, he still thought it best to have those rights specially de-
fined. On his return from Mexico he visited De Garza, and asked that his duties
be more clearly marked out. This was done. Austin was authorized to command
the militia with rank of lieutenant-colonel; to make war on any Indian tribe that
troubled his colony; to bring in through Galveston Harbor all supplies his colony
needed; and to administer justice. He was to do all this with no code of written
laws to guide him until Mexico should furnish him with such a code. In all
things, however, he was to be subject to the Governor of Texas and the Com-
mandant-General.
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Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/82/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.