Papers concerning Robertson's Colony in Texas, Volume 10 Page: 53
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McLean, PAPERS CONCERNING ROBERTSONS COLONY IN TEXAS, Volume X
53
ment as expressed in its resolution of May 22, 1834, that he had paid no respect to the
possessions which had already been granted in the area by Austin & Williams, and
that Steele was "committing enormous abuses in his office, trampling upon the Colonization
laws, and treating the orders of the Supreme Government with contempt."
Therefore he decreed that the Political Chief of Brazos should:
1. Conduct an investigation to determine the number of families introduced at
the expense of the Nashville Company prior to October 15, 1833, which was six years
from October 15, 1827, the date of the confirmation of the transfer of the contract from
Leftwich to the Nashville Company.
2. That Steele was to issue titles only to those families.
3. Those possessions were not to conflict in the slightest degree with those
already given in the colony, "although titles may not have been issued to them, and
whether the locations have been made by virtue of grants to Mexicans, or by contracts
previously made with individuals by the Empresarios Austin & Williams."
4. All other operations performed by Steele were to be null and void.
The decree further stipulated that, if the investigation showed that the Nashville
Company had introduced at least 100 families previous to the expiration of their
contract, the Governor was to be notified of that fact, so that an extension of time could
be allowed for the issuing of titles, "the other rights granted to Sterling C. Robertson
being secured to him by the Decree of April 29 of 1834"'
The Political Chief of the Department of Brazos was to proceed immediately to
correct "the abuses already becoming apparent in the conduct of the Commissioner
William H. Steele, and, having previously investigated the matter, will order him to be
suspended from Office, advising me immediately thereof in order that I may appoint
another who may merit the confidence of the Government"'
In other words, the Political Chief was ordered to suspend Steele in any event,
regardless of the outcome of the investigation.
In conclusion, the Governor warned the Political Chief not to communicate with
the authorities of the new settlement (Sarahville de Viesca), which would have been
the normal legal procedure, but to execute the order "through the Authorities most contiguous
to the aforesaid Colony."
That threw the case directly into the lap of the authorities in San Felipe de Austin,
the stronghold of Austin & Williams.
We should mention at this point that William H. Steele went down to Monclova
himself toward the latter part of April, 1835, and therefore he was present while the
congress was in session and was fully aware that they had not had a constitutional quorum
since March 14, 1835. Therefore, when he heard about this decree issued some two
weeks later (on April 1, 1835), he considered it to be null and void, and, when he
returned to Robertson's Colony, he went right on issuing land titles, all efforts of the
Austin faction to the contrary notwithstanding, and that attitude was upheld by the
Congress of the Republic of Texas after the Revolution.
As soon as Williams saw that clause which provided for replacing Steele with
another Commissioner, he realized that this decree would result in only a temporary
interruption to the settling of Robertson's Colony, so he set to work immediately on
another proposal which he hoped would result in the permanent transfer of Robertson's
Colony to Austin & Williams.
Transfer of Robertson's Colony
to Austin & Williams
Williams had written Austin on March 31,1835, that he had not yet been able to
get his business before congress officially, but that his documents were all ready, and in
the hands of the members as individuals, and that he expected to succeed.
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McLean, Malcolm Dallas, 1913-. Papers concerning Robertson's Colony in Texas, Volume 10, book, 1983; Arlington, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth28587/m1/54/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas at Arlington Library.