The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935 Page: 182
312 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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,;outhwestern Historical Quarterly
or quarter of a league, in that proportion; and for each labor
$1.00.142
By January, 1835, Milam had succeeded in influencing the differ-
ent political chiefs to join in a memorial to the State Legislature
and to the general government in favor of the petition Milam had
placed before Henry Smith, the political chief of Brazos, in behalf
of the people of Red River."'4 In a letter written to Mr. Pryor,
I have no doubt but those large locations will be recovered and I
hope you will caution our friends against purchasing of specu-
lators. You may inform the people on the west side of Red River
that all Texas is taking a deap intrus in their behalf and I have
but little doubt I will be able to bring with me a commissioner to
put them in possession of their lands."44
In compliance with Milam's request, Henry Smith wrote to the
Governor of Coahuila and Texas in February, 1835, and at the
same time sent Milam's petition. Smith declared to the Governor
that the question of land titles in this country was one of great
import. "The term empresario," said Smith, "is justly equivalent
to that of swindler." He therefore recommended an investigation
of all public agents, particularly empresarios who, Smith said, had
almost entirely promoted their own interests.'14 The greatest
accusations he had to make against the empresarios were as follows:
(1) they had greatly infringed upon the rights of the settlers, con-
trary to guarantees made by the government; (2) they had made
exactions contrary to law; (3) their contracts had generally been
turned entirely to the promotion of their own interests ;146 and (4)
the balance of power had ever been in the hands of the empresarios,
their agents and partisan emissaries, who "by their intrigue and
management have ever kept and endeavor to keep all offices filled
with persons who can be made subservient to their own views and
1"4lbid.
.3mMilam to Pryor, January 6, 1835, Milam Papers.
January 6, 1835, Milam said:
14Ibid.
'Smith to the Governor of Coahuila and Texas, February 2, 1835, in
Texas Republican, March 28, 1835.
'Smith to the Governor of Coahuila and Texas, February 2, 1835, in
Texas Republican, March 28, 1835. In Milam's petition to Smith he said:
"Your petitioner feels it a duty he owes to himself, his friends and to the
government to earnestly recommend a full investigation . . . of the
conduct of all empresarios of Texas." (See Milam to Smith, in Texas
Republican, March 28, 1835.)182
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935, periodical, 1935; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117143/m1/201/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.