Handwritten letter in Spanish, believed to be by Piedras, unsigned, one page, 8 x 9.75, January 3, 1830 [but likely 1831]. Apparently a draft of a letter to Stephen F. Austin concerning immigration issues, written from Nacogdoches. In part (translated): "The receipt of some printed forms in this mail persuades me that Mr. Jose Antonio Navarro has spoken to you, and I consider him informed about my manner of thinking with regard to the entry of emigrants, whom I am obligated to protect, without prejudice to the fulfillment of my duties. Your letter of the 14th of last month was not answered in the last mail, because the time was so short that it was not possible for me to do so. I do so now. Neither the government nor Mr. Aleman nor Mr. Teran has deceived you in indicating to you that they saw no difficulty in the completion of your contracts, and for this purpose, in order to have them all, they have communicated their orders to pose no obstacles to the transit of your contracted colonists, with the consequence that only with your certification are emigrants permitted entry at this border, and those who do not belong to your colony or to any other are prevented, in accordance with the Law of 6 April. In order to prevent other emigrants from being mixed up with those contracted by you, Mr. Teran gave me to understand that the latter should present a printed certificate signed by you, and he sent me a copy of it, and you another one in a letter of 28 June, and he also enclosed for me a sample of the said printed forms. I assure you that they have been respected both on my part and on that of the civil authorities, and no obstacle will be posed at their post to anyone who has presented them, while preventing the entry of those who by their own admission say that they do not belong to you or to another empresario. If this is the motive for the displeasure you have been caused, know that it is not my fault, since as a public official, I am bound to carry out the higher orders that are communicated to me or fall under my responsibility. Since I understand that Mr. Navarro was going to speak to you about these details, I refrain from going on at greater length, since that would be to lay out a manner of thinking with which you have surely agreed; the certificates received had to be understood in that way. I will greatly appreciate the opportunity to be useful to your brother-in-law on his transit through these parts, and I will be looking out for his arrival in order to pay him my respects. I thank you for the map that you had the kindness to send me, and perhaps fortune will offer me occasions to manifest to you my gratitude." In fine condition, with areas of slight paper loss along the edges. This letter clearly references the 'Law of April 6, 1830,' passed by the Mexican government on the recommendation of General Manuel Mier y Teran. Resulting from growing anti-Anglo sentiment among Mexicans, the new decree severely restricted American colonization of Mexico. Austin—then an ally of the Mexican government—was able to gain concessions that allowed him to continue his settlements. In order to gain valid titles to the land, Austin issued empresario certificates to would-be colonists, duplicates of which were filed with the land commissioner. Here, he seems to be reassured that this process would remain in place despite new regulations.
