unexplained detour to Opelousas. After their return, Veramendi and Navarro were accused of illegally trading in Louisiana, but they were not prosecuted. Veramendi was elected to the ayuntamiento as a councilman in 1820. The following year, he, Erasmo Seguin, and others from Béxar travelled to Natchitoches to meet Stephen F. Austin, an American who was considering becoming an empresario, or colonizer, in Texas. The men escorted Austin to Béxar. On their journey home, they learned that Mexico had declared independence from Spain. The new Mexican government soon named La Bahia an official port of entry for Mexico, the first in Texas. Veramendi was named the collector of import taxes, a role which provided him a substantial income. He held this post in 1822 and 1823. leaving office when he was elected alternate deputy of the Texas Provincial Deputation to the Mexican National Constituent Congress. In 1824 and 1825 he was elected alcalde of Béxar. During this time he managed to resolve most of the disputes over the 1813 confiscation of property. In May 1827, Veramendi was named an alternate legislator to the Congress of the state of Coahuila y Tejas; he would serve if either of the elected legislators was unable to fulfill his duty. He was elected alcalde again in 1828 and used his position as alternate legislator as an excuse to ask that the election be overturned. Governor Jose Maria Viesca refused to set aside the results of the election, instructing Veramendi to serve unless he was actually called to the legislature. In 1827, Veramendi also received a land grant entitling him to 11 leagues. He was nominated for Vice-Governor of Coahuila y Tejas in 1830. The legislature, composed of eight men, voted. A run-off was called between Veramendi and Ignacio de Arizpe. Veramendi won the run-off unanimously on September 6, 1830. As vice-governor, he was expected to live in the provincial capital, Saltillo. There is no record that he was ever sworn in, however, and he remained at his home in Béxar. His eldest daughter married James Bowie on April 25, 1831, "in what was said to have been the most elaborate social event in years". When the governor of the province, José María de Letona, died in September 1832, Veramendi assumed the office. Two months later, the legislature summoned Veramendi to Saltillo to take over. He was sworn in on December 24, 1832. Among the laws