The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925 Page: 11

Influence of Slavery in the Colonization of Texas

forbidden, except that colonists might buy from each other; that
after 1840 introduction should be prohibited under any pretext;
and that the grandchildren of slaves thus introduced should be
free, the males at twenty-five and the females at fifteen. He
added minute regulations for preventing violation of the law by
professional traders, for registration of slave births and deaths,
and for preventing exchange of old and infirm for young and
vigorous slaves in the United States or the exportation of the
second generation to avoid liberation. The principal crops of
Texas, Austin pointed out, must be cotton and sugar, for which
slave labor was indispensable. Since the federal constitution did
not prohibit slavery, he did not question the competence of the
state, on the principle that "what is not forbidden is permitted,"
to pass such a law as he desired. He anticipated objection to
the remoteness of emancipation proposed in the petition, but be-
lieved that a shorter period of immunity would not attract de-
sirable immigrants.22 No attention seems to have been given
this memorial at the time, but immigrants continued to bring
slaves to Texas.
In July, 1826, Austin was informed that work on the state
constitution was approaching a critical stage. The framework
of the government was completed and the legislature was occu-
pied with a chapter of general provisions, of which one article
dealt with slavery. An illiterate but intelligent correspondent
wrote from Mexico City that emancipation would certainly pass
at Saltillo but that the colonists could evade its effects by the
subterfuge of nominally liberating the slaves at once and taking
contracts from them to work for their former owners at stipu-
lated wages until they had worked out their value." At the
same time the political chief of Texas at San Antonio was de-
ploring the slavery article, which he regarded as one of the calam-
ities of the union with Coahuila. He advised a protest from all
'2Memorial concerning slavery, August 18, and Austin to Governor Rafael
Gonzales, August 20, 1825, Austin Papers, I, 1170, 1180
"Ellis H. Bean to Austin, July 5, 1826, Austin Papers, I, 1368: But
there is a way your Settlers can Stop it all But the sooner the Better
that is to Gow in Presens of and Alcalde stating that this nigro cost you
so much and when he Pays it by labor Don you have no charge against
him he Discounts so much a month and other hirid Persons a small sum
so that he will be the same to you as Before and it will be no more
notised." The writer was a resident of East Texas, but whether related
to the well known Peter Ellis Bean is not known.