Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-20

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Is,e''. tae yac.tche~ Me-,
o. .e wIlIer oil The following accnIn, q r
sent Slowing commSn saGe II t&atshez and
we would give il al place IN The Narchez.
TO the editor of .'1'he Natchcz."
Dear Sir a number of my aequalntances being de-
sirous o.earning something OF the soil, climate, pop
nlsiion, navigation, commerce. agriculture, munich
pal regulations, literature religion, state Of society,
&c &c III that part of Texas settling by Amer
lean citizenshavlng spent the last three years OF
my life there, profess to know something of it
That part of the Province which best acuuaint-
cd with, is settling under the immediate direction OF
Coils Austin, Dewitt and Woodbury. agents (or
EuPrisanos for the Mexican COVE nDrnt, aud lies
Immediately the Gulf OF MexIco IL is situated IN
North lot. 23 deg 80 10 81 min. in long. II deg.
west of Washington, and is bounded on the west
by the Rio Guadaoupe on the east by the western
boundary of America Sabine river, on the south by
the Gulf Of Mexico, and on the north by beautiful
unduating country, lying north of 81 lat The first
of those Crants or Agencies to-wit, Austin s, wal
conceded to Col. Austin, decd in 1890, ty in,
royalty Of Old Spain, during the time that Mex
leo was burthened by the tyranny of the most crue
and oppressive monarch that have any account o
in modern history.
After Mexico became u republican government
Col. Austin, j. obtained from the President an
Congress Of the republic, the privilege of settling OF
his grant three hundred American families: which
grant he complied with, and has had LIS first cor
tract ratified in 1923.
In 1924, the Congress of Mexico divided the re
pulic into s federal states, and gave to each stat
the control of all the vacant lands belonging to then
separately, TO dispose Of they thou ht most 30
litic, for their own promotion The second grant q
Austin, as well os the two last grants belonging t
the aforesaid grantee, was Obtained from the Stat
Legislature OF Texas by special Act Of Congres
giving them the power to do subj TO the follow
ing restrctiOns:--Eoch man Of family, in virtue
his settlement is entitled to $500 acres of land an
each young man without family is entitled TO ON!
1900 acres, tile ofour dollars for every hun
dred acres surveying included The soil is nferic
TO none on the continent, and more analogous 10 I'll
fertile and so much boss cd of lands in the Attakap
Of Louisiana than any | have ever seen; and is we
adapted TO the culture of Cotton aud Sugar. TT
climate in perhaps of the best and most healtf
without the tropics; 1t Is no warmer by actual obse
walton of Fuhrenhets thermometer in Texas tbs
in Kentucky, in the heat OfSummer we seldom Ina,
frost enough 10 kill vegetation through the whit er
The population of Austu's Settlement il abor
G000O, agreeable 10 the last Census taken in 1899
one third pF whom are slaves And noeenbIe fo
regular bill OF mortality on record, it 10 so healiI
that abe inhabitants do not die to 90 annual
and reasonable allowance will give MS during n
present. year from to 1000 more settlers Us q
emigration Is Immense We have emptynp il,
the Gulf of Mexcu in the space of 900 mix
no Ices than four nav, gable rivers. the largest
which the Brassos Colorado, GaudalouDe ol
Trinity. besides several of less distinction, and sof
that are not laid down on any map now extant O
ports of entry and harbours afford US cvpry facilj
for exporting the products OF country. as well
importing such of the American manufactures
ou, neccsSites rcquIre-besides safe guaranty
Us from foreign invasion by sea. The vessels enga
ed IN our trade are Of small 'draught of from /
200 tons burthen, mostly sloops and schooners
have no steamboats, yet, as the commerce. of n
country will not Justify IL; our transportation ia do
up and down the rivers by keel boats enttelv
The comL1crce 10 well protected by the lave
the government. We are exc npt from all eyn,
as well as import duties for the term Of twel
years, which term viii expire III 1884; wa are Al
exemp, from any taxation during the same term
yeas 49,
The agriss,isfak fnrse;i. Of DO ooor'r7 orc %