The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913 Page: 424

424 The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
previous to my arrival at my post--in order to note, by comparison
with the Returns for the Current year, the Commercial progress,
or retrogression, of the Republic.
William Kennedy.
The Earl of Aberdeen, K. T.
Historical Abstract, in reference to .the Tariff of the Republic of
Texas, in operation on the first of June 18431
On the 17th of January 1821, Moses Austin, a Native of New
England, obtained permission from the Supreme Government of
the Eastern Internal Provinces of Mexico, to introduce three hun-
dred families as Colonists from Louisiana into Texas.
In consequence of Moses Austin's death, his project of Coloniza-
tion was taken up and prosecuted by his Son, Stephen, who was
obliged, in 1822, to apply to the Authorities of revolutionized
Mexico, for Confirmation of the privilege which had been conceded
to his father by the Authorities of old Spain. On the 4th of Jan-
uary 1823, a Colonization law, approved by the Mexican Emperor
Iturbide, was promulgated, and, on the 18th of February of the
same year, an Imperial Decree was issued, empowering Austin to
found a Colony under the provisions of the general law.
A revolutionary Movement having displaced Iturbide, and the
Government which succeeded him, having decreed the Nullity
of all Imperial titles, Austin was Constrained to Solicit the Con-
firmation of his Concession from the Congress of Mexico. This he
obtained on the 14th of April 1823, which may, therefore, be re-
corded as the legal date of the Commencement of Anglo American
Colonization in Texas.
To encourage the settlement of her waste frontier lands,
and thereby interpose a barrier against Indian aggression, and
strengthen herself against Spanish attempts at reconquest, Mexico
held out various inducements to the earlier Colonists of Texas, and,
among them, a temporary exemption from tithes and taxes. By
Article 24, of the Mexican Colonization Law of the 4th of January
1823, it was enacted that, during Six Years from the date of the
Concession, the Colonists should not pay tithes, or duties, on their
produce, nor any Contribution whatever, of a public kind.

1F. 0., Texas, Vol. 7.