The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937 Page: 38

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

On December 3, 1842, President Houston signed a third sup,-
plementary contract with Peters and his associates, among whom
were Charles Fenton Mercer, Thomas Jones Moore, Martin Stukely
[or Stutely], Edward Luke, Daniel Carrol, the last four of whom,
residents of London, appointed Sherman Converse as their legal
representative.1- The presence of British names on this contract
apparently interested Houston for more reasons than just coloni-
zation. Since it was believed that Santa Anna, President of
Mexico, would invade Texas as soon as he had conquered Yucatan,
Houston felt "an intense anxiety for peace with Mexico" and
requested the British representative, Elliot, to obtain it.12
January 20, 1843, President Sam Houston contracted under the
Act of February 4, 1841, with D. J. Carrol, S. Converse, Charles
F. Mercer, Thomas J. Moore, and Martin Stukely to introduce
and settle at least two hundred and fifty immigrants each year for
five years within the limits of a grant on or near the Red River.13
Of this contract Secretary of State Jones wrote the charge at
London:
Department of State
To Honorable Ashbel Smith Washington, 1-19-'43
Charge d'Affaires of Texas
Sir,
A contract has been this day concluded between the President
and Messrs. S. Converse, D. J. Carrol, Charles Fenton Mercer,
Thomas Jones Mowe, & Martin Stukely to introduce a number
of emigrants into Texas not exceeding ten thousand. For this
purpose the president has granted them a territory on Red River
fronting on the stream 164 miles, and in concluding [sic] upward
of 16,000 square miles. As these gentlemen appear to be acting
in good faith in carrying out their proposed scheme you will give
them every proper facility in your power to enable them to effect
the same. The colonizing of the country with industrious and
respectable emigrants from Europe is an object which the Presi-
dent strongly desires to promote, while every attempt at specula-
tion or imposition by persons who may be disposed to effect this
object by entering into contracts for colonization (should any such
exist or arise) cannot be too promptly exposed and arrested, by
our agents abroad.
I have the honor to be etc., etc.
Anson Jones4
"William G. Hale Papers. University of Texas.
'Smith, The Annexation of Texas, 94.
"Texas Documents. Miscellaneous, 1836-50. Texas State Library.
"Garrison, Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, 1083.