New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-08-31
For TIE Tribune
SKETCHES OF TEXAS. No. Ill.
Enf-ca-io Grams Col,7-rs. Lss, - Msfloo
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The Mexicsn Colonization Laws we're enacted
m i-ef, shortly sie- the establishment OF the Re.
public The origia q these Laxs~n the great
number o. applications made by foreign sdveniar-
ers particularly Americans. for leave o. bring colo
nies into Texas under certain stipulation, with
the Government ior their owa ADVANTAGE. A
grant had been made % Noses Austin bv the
spanish Colo0isi Government IN ISL, which upon
his death (which to'k place the sane vesrl va.
carried cut by By his sou. Stephen +. Austin. tie
Sss recognized By the Governor Of the Eastern
Provinces Of Mexico ss the representative OF h.
father. Sni proceeded 10 make a selection Of
the territory within which he woald coionire. Il
s worthy OF observation that the grant prescribed
no territorial limits. nor any period OF time within
which the settlement proposed by Austin wa to
be completed He selected tract between the
Colorado aud BrAz0s rivers. and bad made some
progress Ia bringing on cOlOnists when the Mex
ian Revolution occurred sud mate t necessary
Or him % return T. the City Of Mexico 70 obtain .
confirmation Of hs grant. he there during
the Short administration OF lIurb dc, snd obtained
from him ratification Oi the colonial decree, bat
upon ms tall VAS compelled TO renew the spphca
tiOn 20 the Congress % the Republic. they con
i-med the original grant, bur being unsurpassed
= lth other SIMILAR applications, they disposed 90
the whole subject by establishing 8 general sys
tenn % colonization under which grauts could be
made 5v tie state Governments % any individual
% A specified tract Tor the purpose OF introducing
coonists upon certain terms u be designated by
.A~.
10 was stated 10 a report OF the Minister OF Elk.
HaIa - Ia ma Ne
Cortez before the passage OF these avs, that the
Establishments which were usually known BY the
name OF the Hissf0Hs. which were partly Militia
rs snd partly Religious had been destroyed BY
Indian irruptons, snd u was recommended that
the public lands should be opened 10 colonization
on system similar to that OF the land sales OF the
United States The principal restrictions upon
the state Legislatures In respect 70 the Avs
shich they might eusc. upon the subject were
that grants were not 70 be made Of lands lying
within twenty leagues OF the boundary between
Mexico and foreign STATE. nor within ten leagues
OF the coast without the Appmbatlon OF the Su
preme or Federal Executive-thst preference
rss to be gwen t. Mexican citizens in the dlstri
button Of lauds-and that no person acquiring title
.o lands under thus law should hold them 1t DOM
cilafsd out Oi the limits on the Republic.
Ia pursuance Of this general act. the state OF
Coahulia snd Texas, m 1925. passed laws under
which any person Vas authorized 20 enter into a
contract with the Government for the intr0iuc
ton of one hundred or more families and there
apon certain lauds we're TO DO designated for that
purpose. sne term OF years being limited for
the performance OF the contract To the settlers
who should be brought IA by the contractors a
certain quantity of and was alOwed-that Is, a
.tio or square league 20 a head OF a family, and
quarter OF league 20 an unmarried man, and a.
the contractor or empre'ari0, as he has been snce
designated. VI e.e was allow ed i've stios or lelgues
IA e Ia - Lab. b IL
part OF a square league for each hundred families
introduced by him. not exceeding, however eight
bundled ismiIes IL was obviously cOutemp ated
that this premium vas tor such families as should
be introduced az The expense Of he emp'esari0
himself Other settlers were allowed 10 come
IN upon il,eir own account, and even enttled 70
receive rr the rate Of league aud labor OF Land
fir each head of a family aud oncthird OF thst
amount r an unmarried man
There Gas IN additional provision in these law =
allowing a sale 81 Iands iu Tee by the State Gov
eminent % a. amluntnot exceeding >leU.a ie0gues
10 an individual but the privilege was limited u
Usric4ns erciusreiy This gave rise a. an impor
tant proprietary interest, which shall have Occa
sion 70 refer hereafter. but ior the present pass
over as not being Immediately connected with the
colonization system.
Within tour Or five years after the passage OF
these avs contrsctswere entered into by various
individuals hose names or NJ east some Ut them.
nave had an unsnyisbe notOrety IN this city
None OF these EmpresarI0s with perhaps the CT
ception OF Mr. AUSTIN, fulfilled their contracts with
in the time specified by law. SINE Of them oh.
tanned an extension OF time-but all were pre-
vented from fulfilling by the snsettsd state OF the
country existing a year or two previous 10 the
Revolution m 1886.
la November. ls35 II was enacted by the Pro-
visOnal Government OF Texas, which had been
established with view ~ separation from Mex
Alma. l,yf ka Eur
veyors rnd other pubic officers under these con.
tracts should be suspended until the Land Office
should be properly regulated BY competent author
ties u be thereafter established.
Toe Constitution adopted after Texas wn Dc
clared independent March, 1861 directed this
suspension 70 continue until further provision should
De made oy the Convention or some future Con
,ress OF the Republic.
The first action upon the subject thereafter was
las passed by Congress in Dec 1897. whereby
i, vas declared that d" Al Emwesarto contracts
haviag ceased the day o5 the declaration Of In
fep~ndence all TIE Uacant lands IN Jehas had be
com, the pr0periy of the Republic and ~eye subject
aIone 10 the disDouttOa ~ me G0peyRm>Ht Of The
same" IL was then provided that IL order %
settle the claims Of Empressrios, suits might BE-
instituted by them against the President Of the
Republic, which should be tried Ike other land
suits.
From this slight sketch it will be o ea that the
righ. Of the Empressros or their sssignees 70
complete their contracts and obtain the premium
lands Il abrogated, and that nothing remsins bat
Acclaim for damages under the law Just referred 70.
! propose now % examine the decisions OF the
Courts % Texas upon THIS Anomalous question, and
see whether a ladici. remedy be had or
whether resort 70 some othsr mode Of redress
bss become necessary. 5AsDovAL.
BROOKLYN AFFAIRS.