Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01160

Author/Creator: Austin, Stephen F. (1793-1836)

Place Written: Austin, Texas

Type: Manuscript document signed

Date: 4 June 1825

Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 34 x 21 cm.

Summary of Content: Written in English. Authorizing settlement of 500 Catholic families. The document says that official communications with the families must be in Spanish and lists other conditions such as requiring families to be industious, ”Cat[ho]lics and of good morals.” Docket indicates it was originally numbered 341 but was renumbered 415.

Historical Era: National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860

Full Transcript: Conditions on which the Empresario Stephen F. Austin is authorised [sic] by the Govt. of the State of Cuahuila and Texas to Colonize 500 families on the vacant lands remaining within the limits of the colony already established by kind, in the Department of Texas. , , 1st The Govt. admits the project prevented by citizen Stephen F. Austin in his representation of the 4th of February of the present year relative to the Colonization of 300 foreign Families so far as is in conformity with the Colonization Law passed by the Legislature of this State 24th March last, and hereby designates in Conformity with the 8th article of said Law, and arguably to his petition the vacant lands remaining within the limits designated for the colony which he has already established excepting only 10 (ten) Leagues from, the Coast which cannot be colonized except with the previous approbation of the Supreme Executive power of the Nation agreeably to the Law of the 18th [lost text] , , Possessions given to [lost text] titles within the limits designated shall be respected. , , 3d. In conformity with the said Law of Colonization of the [24th] March the said Empresario Citizen Stephen F. Austin shal[l] be obliged to introduce the said families within the term of 6 [lost text] counting from the day on which these conditions are signed by the said Empresario under the penalty of loosing the rights and benefits granted to him by the 8th Article of the said Law. , , 4th The families which are to compose this Colony besides being industrious as he offers in his petition must be Cat[ho]lics, and of good morals proving these qualifications by the documents required by the 5th Article of the said Law of Colonization of the 24th March. , , 5 He shall be obliged not to admit in the new Colony criminals, Vagabonds, or Men of bad Conduct or Character, and cause such as are within his limi[ts] to leave it and should it be necessary he shall drive them out by force of arms. , , 6th For this purpose he shall organize the new Colonists in a body of National Militia of which he shall be the Chief until otherwise ordered. [2], , 7th As soon as he shall have introduced 100 families at least he shall notify the Govt. thereof in order that a Commissioner may be sent on with the Competent instructions to put the new colonists in possession of their Lands and to establish Towns in Conformity with the Law. , , 8th Official communications with the Govt. or with the authorities of the State, instruments of writing and other public acts, must be written in Spanish, and when new Towns are formed it shall be his duty to establish Spanish Schools in them. , , 9 It shall also be his duty to promote the erection of churches in said Towns and that they are provided with ornaments, holy vases and other things necessary for divine worship and in the proper time to solicit the necessary number of Pasters [sic] for the Administration of Spiritual affairs. , , [10] In all ot[her] [lost text] and other general Laws. , , The foregoing conditions were accepted and signed by the Empresario Stephen F. Austin on the 4th of June 1825 on the 20th May 1825 the Governor of the State by an Official order increased the number of Families to Five Hundred. , , Stephen F. Austin

Keywords/Subjects: Texas, Religion, Catholicism, Land Transaction, Westward Expansion, American West, Morality & Ethics, Latin & South America

Sub Era: Age of Jackson

Resource: Stephen Austin’s contract to bring settlers to Texas, 1825