The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911 Page: 162
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162
Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
bear evidently the stamp of the Inquisition which in Spain [?],
upon mere rumor or suspicion no matter how vague or irrelevant,
was in the practice of carrying on the greatest prosecutions by
ex parte management, in the absence of the accused-oftentimes
whilst he was pining in prison, ignorant of all that was going on
against him.
From a Government deformed with such a system of Laws as
this I have here given you a notion of, it has been our fortune to
separate; a consideration which should incline us all I think to
bear with the greater patience, the inconveniences and ills, which
our new condition may bring upon us.
A few more words will suffice to close this account. Immedi-
ately after Genl. Austin's discharge on bail, suitable efforts were
made to bring the cause to a final hearing, but this could by no
means be effected; as the Judge fearing, no doubt the imputation
of partiality to foreigners, and thinking perhaps he had already
done enough for Justice, declined for the time, any further action
on the matter.
It happened fortunately about this time, that the Congress of
the Nation convened-and passed after a discussion and delay of
some months an Amnesty Bill as it was called: which had the
effect of doing away all political offenses that had been or were
supposed to have been committed up to a given period. In the
meanwhile Genl. Austin had written a clear and lengthy exposi-
tion2 of the affairs of Texas, in which he successfully vindicated
not only his own motives and conduct but those also of his fellow
citizens the Colonists. This Exposition was printed in pamphlet
form, and distributed among the members of Congress and most
other dignitaries of the Government. It made I do not doubt,
a very favorable impression; as, when the Amnesty Bill came out,
there was no exception in it as to him.
The consequence was that after a good deal more perplexity
with the Judge, he obtained his complete discharge, which took
place I think some time in June, following his liberation on bail.
Soon after this, providing himself with a passport he took the
stage from Mexico, to return home by the way of Vera Cruz.
1January 4, 1835.
2It is dated January 18, 1835. A translation of this pamphlet is printed
in THE QUARTERLY, VIII, 232-258.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911, periodical, 1911; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101054/m1/176/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.