The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925 Page: 14

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

very warm on the subject. . . . The Old Baron has strove
hard for us. I know not what would have been our fate if he
had not been a member of the Legislature. Our situation would
have been a deplorable one indeed."0
Arrived at Saltillo, Brown Austin became less cheerful. Bas-
trop stood alone in the legislature and the other members were
so hostile to Texas that the most that could be expected would
be permission for the original three hundred to retain their slaves.
Two weeks of judicious lobbying, however, materially improved
the outlook, so that by October 10 he felt certain that the privi-
lege would be extended to all settlers then in Texas. Further
introduction would undoubtedly be stopped and children would
probably be free at fourteen, though he had done his utmost to
postpone their emancipation until twenty-five or twenty-one.
Austin's memorial had been so convincing, he said, that Carillo,
the author of the slavery article, had asked permission to with-
draw the article for revision.1 Writing on November 18, Bas-
trop gave Brown Austin full credit for his work with the legis-
lature. The matter would be disposed of the following week, he
said-though in this respect he was too optimistic-and all the
members except Carillo were pledged to recognize slaves already
in and those to be introduced for a certain term after publica-
tion of the constitution, but neither this period nor the age for
emancipating children had been determined. Even as Bastrop
wrote, these points were forming the subject of another memorial
from Austin to the legislature, begging that five years be allowed
for introduction and that twenty-five be fixed as the age of eman-
cipation.82
This, however, was without avail. When finally passed on
January 31, 1827', the slavery article recognized existing slavery
"J. E. B. Austin to Austin, August 22, September 3; Saucedo to Aus-
tin, August 22, 1826, Ibid., 1, 1430, 1445, 1429.
"3The Journals of the Legislature carry no record of this; but on Oc-
tober 2 (page 386) the governor sent in a report from the political chief
of Texas, showing the dissatisfaction caused by the slavery article. This,
with accompanying documents, was filed for consideration when the
article should be discussed.
31J. E. B. Austin to Austin, September 23, October 10, 1826; Saucedo
to Austin, October 5; Bastrop to Austin, November 18; Austin to Legis-
lature, November 20. Austin Papers, 1, 1461, 1473, 1470, 1505, 1507.
Austin tried, with at least partial success, to enlist the support of Coa-
huilan municipalities for this petition. See Robert Lewis to Austin,
December 8, 1826, Ibid., 1529.