The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 200
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
ment that no obstacle would be placed in his way in carrying out
his duties."' Alaman sent instructions to the new federal com-
missioner of colonization on April 21, but, as he said at that
time, "The clarity and precision with which the law is edited,
decreeing various means to secure the integrity of the territory
of the Republic, scarcely demands that it be accompanied by
instructions for its execution." There were, nevertheless, cer-
tain measures whose importance demanded their immediate
execution. Article three provided that the commissioner should
contract with the state government for the purchase of lands
for the establishment of colonies of Mexicans and other national-
ities; this was to be done at once. Alamtn further requested
that the commissioner notify the government at his earliest
convenience of the number of presidarios which would be needed
in the construction of the proposed fortifications. He was also
to begin negotiations with the various state governments look-
ing toward the removal of Mexican families to Texas. In his
first report, the commissioner was to indicate the amount and
location of land needed for colonies, forts, arsenals, and garri-
sons, the number of troops he would likely need, and the prob-
able location of the proposed fortifications.
The remainder of the instructions dealt with articles nine,
ten, and eleven. Briefly stated, they had to do with passports,
introduction of slaves, and immigration from the United States,
in the order named. These provisions were to be strictly en-
forced, and the government was to be informed of any infrac-
tions or abuses which might occur. "His Excellency [the vice-
president] does not doubt that this duty will be fulfilled in all
the particulars which the law provides," concluded Alaman."
In a letter to Alaman, written June 6, 1830, Mier y Teran
discussed each article of the law, and it is clear from a study
of this letter that he was not entirely in accord with all the
provisions. It is also evident that he realized that the mere
putting of the measure on paper was not sufficient action on
the part of the government. In the first place, it was impossible
to enforce the passport requirement with the weak military
54J. M. Viesca to Alaman, Leona Vicario, April 19, 1830, Ibid.
55Alamin to Mier y Tergn, April 21, 1830, Ibid; Mier y Teran to Alamin,
April 30, 1830, in archives of the Hospital de Jesis, in Archivo General de la
Nacidn, Legajo 416, Expediente 1. This letter was written by Berlandier.
Mier y Terdn had been confined to his bed for three days with fever. All
his correspondence from April 30, until May 14, 1830, is in Berlandier's
handwriting.200
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945, periodical, 1945; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146055/m1/218/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.