The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 263
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Stephen F. Austin and the Independence of Texas. 263
tion of the tariff, and repeal of the law of April 6, 1830, and that
it went beyond the action of the previous convention and drew up
a provisional state constitution with a long memorial to the gov-
ernment praying for its approval.1 Austin and two other com-
missioners2 were elected to lay these documents before the gov-
ernment, but Austin alone served. He reached the capital July 18.
Generals Arieta and Durin had just begun an insurrection, and
Santa Anna was leading a campaign against them, while Vice-
President Farias was carrying on the government. Farias re-
ceived him courteously and referred his petition to a committee of
Congress, but gave him little enough real encouragement. Austin,
when he left home, claimed to be sanguine of obtaining the repeal
of the law of April 6, 1830, and permission for the Texans to hold
a convention and adopt a constitution. 8 Conditions in Mexico
disappointed him, and for the first time he seemed clearly to recog-
nize the possibility of Mexico's being unwilling or unable to ad-
minister Texas in a manner consistent with its highest develop-
ment. While still declaring himself hopeful of success, he wrote:
"But if our application is refused, I shall be in favor of organiz-
ing without it-I see no other way of saving the country from
total anarchy and ruin-I am totally done with conciliatory meas-
ures, and for the future shall be uncompromising as [to] Texas
matters."4
As August and September wore along the issue of the civil war
in Mexico appeared doubtful, and Austin became more and more
impatient. If a change of administration occurred, his object
might be indefinitely delayed. On the first of October therefore
he called on Farias and told him plainly that if some attention
were not paid to the wishes of the Texans he feared that they
'Edward, History of Texas, 196-205; Yoakum, History of Texas, I, 467-
482; THE QUARTERLY, VI, 151, VIII, 240-246.
'There is some difference of opinion as to who the others were. Yoakum
(I, 312), Bancroft (North Mexican States and Texas, II, 134), and Bryan
(A Comprehensive History of Texas, I, 499) say W. H. Wharton and J. B.
Miller; Kennedy (Texas, II, 23) and Garrison (Texas, 185) say J. B.
Miller and Erasmo Seguin. Thrall (History of Texas, 189, note) calls
attention to the difference between Yoakum and Kennedy, but follows
Yoakum.
8Austin to Perry, April 22, 1833. Austin Papers.
'Austin to Perry, July 30, 1833. Austin Papers.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910, periodical, 1910; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101051/m1/289/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.