The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-27

almost exclusirei, 10 the villages OF Naeogdoe
ehea, 1t. Antonio. and La Bania. These are al
ineonsiderable towns: tbe largest OF them 81. An
tonic not containing population OF more than
2'tiO souls. Tine inhabitants plant corn, "heat
Gc. but their Chief attention is given TO the raising
Of horses mules. cattle aud sheep. They carry
al a considerable trade with the thited States
by the way of Nschiioehcs, taking INTO thai
country. horses and mules and receiving ia re-
turn their supplies o. European and American
goods
The North Americans resident in Texas, are
settled on the " hole route from the Sabine to the
Guadalupe We have no data which to
found an estimate If the American population
IN any part OF the province, except III the colony
founded by Col. Austin The limits Of this col
ony extend east and Wcsi from the san Jacinto 10
the Iaiidca, aud north aud south from tie ocean
10 tic st Antonio road, intending the extensive
and fertile bottoms of the Brazos, -. Bernardo
and Colorado. \ census ofthc inhabitants was
completed some months SINCE which gave an
aggregate population Of more than 1900 inhabi-
taot,; aud there can be no doubt lhat at this
time the number Of inhabitants exceed 2000.
The commencement OF emigration from the
United States of North America aud the perma-
nent location of Americans Is settlers in Texas by
authority Of government, may be dated with few
Isl at which time the colony granted by the
Emprcsno,t Stephen f. Austin, began to set
tie. The application for the establishment Of
tins COLONY was made by Major Moses Austin of
Missouri, III the fall of the year 1920 and pre-
Rehied by HIM IN person 10 the authorizes of the
spanish government al 81 Antonio de BexaS the
capital Of lcXasi and by them transmitted to the
seal Of the supreme government Of the internal
provinces, then established at Monterrey
permission was granted by that authority to Ma
jof Austin, 10 introduce into Texas and settle 800
families, emigrants from the United States -
tins beng The first grant fthe kind thai had e
yer been made 10 a foreigner, and the hrsi relax
alton on the part OF the Spanish authorities, OF
that insulated and non-ntercourse policy which
bad been previously so rgidly and unrcentngly
enforced Partial settlements had been per-
mttcd before this time ola few American fami-
lie al NacogdoeheS, but under heavy restric-
tflctlons, and obtained even ia this way by strong
individual influence, and for special objects
without m The least departing from the general
non intercourse policy. Major NJ. Austin re-
ceHed Information Of the success Of his applica-
ton, after his return 70 Missouri aud died short
~ after, NhlIe in the act Of preparing 10 return
and commence the new settlement After his
death, his son, Stephen T. Austin, proceeded 10
the capital OF Texas. where he arrived in August
1871, and there received the first certain mel-
gcnce ofthc complete emancipation of Mexico
from the yoke of Spain, aud the establishment
ofan Independent government. This great event
retarded the prospects of the CON
colony, rendering them in a greater
degree ilattrlmg ON the one hand, promising
total analhilaton of the former restrictive aud
insulated ystenl, and as creating on the other
hand, delay to lis immediate progress, by rem
derms necessary an application To the new and
independent government for its confirmation
such arrangements, however were made by
Col stephen +. Austin, on his first visit to st.
Antonio, as was at that time deemed sufficient;
and this gentleman returned to the United states
for the purpose olbrngIng our tine first settlers,
with whom he arrived at the Brazos and Colo
RADIO rivers, in the lall and winter of lS2l and
y, which was the first commencement Of settle.
ments made in this colony Early in March,
ls22 Colonel Austin proceeded to St. Antonio,
and was there informed that AN application to the
national congress about to meet in the city Of
Mexico. Was Indispensable; and he immcdiatcl,
departed ion that city. The delays and embal-
easements, naturally arising out of the state OF
things, then existing in Mexico, the infancy OF
Its government, its mCipient and provisional or
SanlZauon, the subsequent proclamation OF the
emperor Augtlstin DE ltmbidc, the connection
attending his short reign, and resulting In his fail
detained Col. Austin in Mexico until April 1879
before the objects of his mission were finally act
ed upon, and in formal manner, sanctioned by
the national congress. Other delays of an I'M
a,oidabie nature retarded his return 10 the colo
ny until August 1923 Al this period, the pros
poets ct the new settlements were in the hie hest
degree Encouraging, resulting from the long alb
sence ofGol, Austin, and the consequent state of
uncertainty in which the colonists had remained,
and the check 1hich was thereby given TO cmi-
grafton. In the fall and winter OF that year and
III the spring of 1921 emigration has rccommen-
eed, and SINCE that, has progressed steadily. tho
not with that redundant Hood, which has, in
some instances, poured INTO new countries; and
the increasing prosperity and success ofthis colo
ny, and the consequent benefit which it was now
evident from tactical experience, would result
to the country from the emgrating policy-a Do
hey which has been uniformly followed by the
United states OF the north, since their indcpcnd-
ence, TO which the unparalleled fapdity of their
growth III population, wealth, and general inn
provement, may, IN considerable degree. be at
trlbutcd, confirmed the government in adopting
that policy on extensive plan as had been
pursued in the United States Of the north. and
produced colonization laws in the highest decree
liberal and encouraging to cmisrants; and by
these laws the whole Mexican nation is thrown
open for foreign population Like her cider SIS
ter of the north Mexico has opened her bosom
and offered an asylum to the honest and indus
trious emiarant from all nations and doubtless
the same happy effects will result to the one,
which steady adherence to this system ior fitly
years has actually secured TO the other
II is received opinion with the inhabitants of
the northern climates. that countries situate
within or near the tropics must necessarily be
unhealthy. Facts, however, prove that the com
paratire heath ofcounrics does not depend so
much upon their relative ATTITUDES as upon other
causes. Mexico and Quito are situated within
the tropics, and yet no cities in Europe are more
exempt from endemical diseases In general. it
may he remarked that all countries possessing
high, dry soil, and clear elastic atmosphere.
must he healthy This description applies to
Texas; It's lands are rolling and dry, and its at
mospere remarkably pure and elastic There
arc no ponds, lakes or swamps, which in the
southern states OF North America are fruitful
source of pcstllence. mother cause tending
greatly 10 the heathtuness of this country, is the
prevalence of the trade winds. The wind rises
in the morning, during the summer season. and