USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 7
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McCaleb,1 who has made the most logical and successful defense of Burr's career, indicates the proper setting of Burr's enterprise in Amer- ican history in the following sentences: "If we return now [after Burr's trial and disgrace] to the west, we shall discover that the passing of Aaron Burr had not materially affected the condition of affairs. Patriotism and honesty were no longer disputed characteristics of the frontiersmen ; nor was their malignant hatred of Spain doubted. More- over the same adventurous spirit that Burr had enlisted survived and was to manifest itself for succeeding decades in filibustering enterprises, moving ever westward-tidal waves of society beating down the barriers of an opposing civilization. By the summer of 1808 the Neutral Ground was filled with adventurers, who crossed the Sabine, bartered with the natives, caught wild horses, and gave Nemecio de Salcedo no end of trouble. They were recognized as Burr's legitimate successors."
For years the Burr conspiracy threatened the peace of mind of Spanish governors and viceroys, who ascribed to that remarkable schemer and adventurer the life and spirit of the many movements undertaken
1 The Aaron Burr Conspiracy: W. F. McCaleb (1903).
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to overthrow Spanish authority from the direction of America. Through- out the remainder of his life, Burr continued to manifest a deep interest in the affairs of the southwest, especially after Texas began its struggle for independence. "One day, upon reading some accounts from that quar- ter, he exclaimed, 'There! you see? I was right! I was only thirty years too soon. What was treason in me thirty years ago, is patriotism now!'"1 Burr died September 14, 1836, some months after Texas liberty was vindicated at San Jacinto.
1 McCaleb, "Aaron Burr Conspiracy," 369.
CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST DECADE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
LIEUTENANT PIKE'S VISIT.
In the summer of 1807, Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike, one of the most intrepid of American explorers, who in the previous fall had dis- covered the peak which bears his name, and in the following winter had been placed under arrest by Spanish authorities and escorted to Chihua- hua to the residence of Captain-General Salcedo, was now returning, still under Spanish escort, to Louisiana. From El Paso the party had journeyed down the Rio Grande, and reaching Presidio Rio Grande, about forty miles below the present Eagle Pass, from there struck across the country by the old Spanish trail between Coahuila and Texas. Leav- ing the Rio Grande on June Ist, a week's march brought them to San Antonio. Pike's estimate of the distance by this trail was one hundred and fifty-one miles. In his interesting "account," which is in the form of a diary, he mentions a few incidents of this journey. He speaks of the immense numbers of cross roads made by the wild horses. At one place he killed a wild hog, "which on examination I found to be very different from the tame breed, smaller, brown, with long hair and short legs ; they are to be found in all parts between Red river and the Spanish settlements." These wild hogs can still be found in this part of Texas, in some of the big stock pastures. Fifteen miles north of the Nueces "we saw the first oak since leaving New Mexico, and this was a scrub oak."
On Sunday, June 7th, the party crossed the Medina river, which was at that time the boundary line between Texas and Coahuila. In the afternoon they reached San Antonio. "We halted at the mission of Saint Joseph (San Jose) ; received in a friendly manner by the priest of the mission and others. We were met out of Saint Antonio about three miles by Governors Cordero and Herrera in a coach." They were entertained most hospitably, and after supper attended a dance on the public square. Pike and his party remained a week in San Antonio, each day being a festival occasion. He was delighted with the city, and his description and comments may be read with much profit, as affording a pleasing picture in contrast with the scenes of atrocity and bloodshed which were soon to mark this city.
The American explorer conceived a great admiration for the local governors. The approaching conflict with the Americans was already foreseen by the Spanish authorities, having been accentuated by the Burr and Wilkinson movements. Though Pike's picture of these gov- ernors may have been overdrawn, it is difficult to reconcile their characters with those usually painted of the ruling Spaniards of the time, and to
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believe that in the strife that followed humanity and justice were all on one side and bloodthirsty cunning and barbarity on the other. Don Antonio Cordero, to quote Pike's account, "was one of the select officers who had been chosen by the court of Madrid to be sent to America about thirty-five years since, to discipline and organize the Spanish provincials, and had been employed in all the various kingdoms and provinces of New Spain. Through the parts which we explored he was universally beloved and respected; and when I pronounce him by far the most popular man in the internal provinces I risk nothing by the as- sertion. His qualifications advanced him to the rank of colonel of cavalry, and governor of the provinces of Coahuila and Texas. His usual residence was Montelovez, but since our taking pos- session of Louisiana he had removed to San Antonio, in order to be nearer to the frontier, to be able to apply the remedy to any evil which might arise from the collision of our lines."
The excellences of Don Simon de Herrera, governor of the kingdom of New Leon, whose seat of government was at Monterey, were not less conspicuous in the eyes of Pike, who describes him as a man of wide knowledge and experience of the world and "one of the most gallant and accomplished men" he ever knew.
Of the relations between the authorities at San Antonio and America in the complications following the Louisiana purchase and the aggressions of the Burr party, Pike says: "We owe it to Governor Herrera's pru- dence that we are not now engaged in a war with Spain. When the difficulties commenced on the Sabine the commandant-general and the viceroy consulted each other, and mutually determined to maintain inviolate what they deemed the dominions of their master. The viceroy therefore ordered Herrera to join Cordero with 1300 men, and both the viceroy and Gen. Salcedo ordered Cordero to cause our troops to be attacked should they pass the Rio Oude [Hondo]. These orders were positively reiterated to Herrera, the actual commanding officer of the Spanish army on the frontiers, and gave rise to the many messages which he sent to Gen. Wilkinson when he was advancing with our troops. Finding they were not attended to, he called a council of war on the question to attack or not, when it was given as their opinion that they should immediately commence a predatory warfare, but avoid a general engagement; yet, notwithstanding the orders of the viceroy, the com- mandant-general, Gov. Cordero's, and the opinion of his officers. 'he had the firmness, or temerity, to enter into the agreement with Gen. Wilkinson which at present exists relative to our boundaries on the frontier."
Morals and Manners.
The Texas population at the beginning of the 19th century were much given to the chase and the roving habits which this pursuit implies. But Gov. Cordero, among the other excellent accomplishments of his administration as detailed by Lieut. Pike, "restricting by edicts the buffalo hunts to certain seasons, and obliging every man of family to cultivate so many acres of land, has in some degree checked the spirit of hunting or wandering life which had been hitherto so very prevalent,
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and has endeavored to introduce by his example and precepts a general urbanity and suavity of manners which rendered San Antonio one of the most agreeable places that we met with in the provinces."
San Antonio.
San Antonio in 1807, as described by Lieutenant Pike, contained "perhaps 2000 souls, most of whom reside in miserable mud wall houses, covered with thatched grass roofs. The town is laid out on a very grand plan. To the east of it, on the other side of the river, is the station of the troops." (In the Alamo.)
Missions.
"About two, three and four miles from San Antonio are three mis- sions, formerly flourishing and prosperous. Those buildings, for solidity, accommodation and even majesty were surpassed by few that I saw in New Spain. The resident priest treated us with the greatest hospitality. and was respected and beloved by all who knew him. He made a singu- lar observation relative to the aborigines who had formerly formed the population of those establishments under charge of the monks. I asked him what had become of the natives. He replied that it appeared to him that they could not exist under the shadow of the whites, as the nations who formed those missions had been nurtured, taken all the care of that it was possible, and put on the same footing with the Spaniards; yet, notwithstanding, they had dwindled away until the other two missions had become entirely depopulated, and the one where he resided [San Jose], had not then more than sufficient to perform his household labor ; from this he had formed an idea that God never intended them to form one people. but that they should always remain distinct and separate."
GOVERNOR SALCEDO'S ACCOUNT OF TEXAS.
Manuel de Salcedo was governor of Texas from Nov. 7, 1808. to January 22, 1811. On the latter date he was arrested by the revolution- ists of Bexar and carried a prisoner to Coahuila. Later he was restored to office and governed the province from December 19, 1811, till April I, 1813. In 1813 he was forced to capitulate to the forces under the com- mand of Don Bernardo Gutierrez. Aug. 8, 1809, he prepared a descrip- tion of the province, of which the following is a summary :*
In the Province of Texas were only three presidios; San Antonio de Bexar, la Bahia del Espiritu Santo and los Adaes. The Villa of San Fernando de Austria. founded in 1730, was united with the Presidio of San Antonio; its small number of inhabitants was continually harassed by hostile Indians until 1806, when Sr. D. An- tonio Cordero arrived to look after the movements growing out of the cession of Louisiana. Until 1806 the presidial system of government was in vogue. Thence- forth the entrance of emigrants, the introduction of troops on account of the boundary troubles with the United States, and the active measures adopted by the present commandant general and their prompt execution by the said Cordero made a beginning in the pacification of the Indians. To provide for the continuation of these beneficial results the presidial system should be abolished; it is responsible for the deplorable condition of Texas politically as well as regards the military. The governor is without asesor, secretario, escrivano, without aranceles, instruc- ciones, &a., so that he is compelled to do everything himself. There are in the
*Prepared by Mr. E. W. Winkler, state librarian.
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province two presidial companies and one other, whose total of 352 men, united to those of Nuevo Reino de Leon and Colonia de Santander number 1033, including officers. They are stationed at Nacogdoches. Atascocito (Destacamento de Or- coquisac ), Villa de Trinidad, Bahia del Espiritu Santo, Bexar, and other places, leaving scarcely 250 men disengaged.
The present population of the Province is as follows :
This Capital and its jurisdiction 1,700 souls
La Bahia and its jurisdiction. 405 66
Villa de San Marcos de Neve and its jurisdiction. 82
Villa de Trinidad and its jurisdiction. 9I
Nacogdoches and its jurisdiction 655
Bayou Pierre, east of the Sabine, on the neutral ground, but ouirs
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3,122
The inhabitants have no occupation ; they are without means. One wonders how they cultivate the soil without implements ; how they built their houses without tools ; the houses are very rude. The soil is capable of producing cotton, indigo, tobacco, cochineal, wheat, corn, etc. The province is watered by six rivers: San Antonio, Guadalupe, Colorado, Brazos, Trinity and Sabine, which have numerous tributaries.
Now as to the changes made necessary by the cession of Louisiana, that most illegal act possible; it was brought about by certain Frenchmen and enemies of Spain. Its acquisition is generally considered by Americans as one of the most im- portant negotiations for the United States; it makes them masters of the Nile of Western America, and affords them a southern outlet for the populous provinces of the West. A frivolous pretext this; they had a good market in New Orleans while Louisiana belonged to Spain. What they desire is to approach closer and closer to the treasury of Mexico. They will never be content to see the boundary fixed at the Sabine or at the Rio Grande; though if they wanted merely the navigation of the Mississippi why should they wish to encroach further? They are ambitious and Spain must defend her rights and fix the boundary where it belongs. Troops for this purpose should be sent, the Province settled and fostered by opening a port. It is a mistake to depreciate the Americans. They are not to be despised as enemies ; they are naturally industrious ; hence they are robust, active, sober and courageous. The population of the United States is over 7,000,000, and if that country does not maintain a standing army above a certain number it is not because it is unable to do so; it has a large body of good fighters at its disposal continually. There are no natural barriers between the Spanish Provinces and the United States; on the contrary, large rivers extend across the boundary, and there are well known roads.
The Indians in this Province present another subject that deserves consideration. They are at peace at present; nevertheless the King should establish trading houses to forestall American traders. There are six missions in this Province at present ; two without missionaries, and altogether contain only 343 souls. The system seems good and useful, but it is exceedingly slow in producing results. The Indians that submit do not do so from conviction, but for the sake of the presents. Still no one but the padres could do even this much with them.
The entrance of emigrants from Louisiana is another subject that needs careful consideration, so as to guard against the introduction of any seditious characters, while at the same time protecting those who are loyal to the Spanish government.
And lastly, this Province needs 4,000 men for its protection and defense. It would be well to establish a commandancy general of the east.
CHAPTER X.
REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN TEXAS, 1810-1820.
Spain's most brilliant era as a world power was in the sixteenth cen- tury. Then her vast conquests in all seas and lands gave her possessions which, had she retained, would still girdle the world with her sovereignty. But the golden dream was dissipated with the crushing of the armada in 1588, and thence Spanish glory rapidly declined. Her weakness as a colonizer in Texas in the eighteenth century has been disclosed in former pages, and as the vitalizing blood gradually failed to nourish the extrem- ties so in time even the trunk became weak and impoverished. In Mex- ico, the strongest of Spain's colonies, a gradual amalgamation of con- querors and natives had been going on for centuries until there had re- sulted a truly Mexican people, alien both to the pure-blooded Spaniards and to the natives. The royal laws, however, discriminated in favor of native Spaniards, giving them superior privileges and caste distinctions especially invidious to the Mexican born. Other grievances and the nat- ural restlessness of the Mexican people, aggravated by self-seeking lead- ers, brought matters to a crisis, and thus there arose the party favoring in- dependence as opposed to the established royalists.
Hidalgo first raised the standard of revolt, in 1810, and later More- ios carried on the work until by his execution and the defeat of his party the revolution was supposedly stamped out in 1817. But the disaffected ones were merely biding their time, and in 1820, when Spain had revolu- tion within her own doors at home, the Mexicans proclaimed their own independence, overthrew the vice-regal authority, and set up the republic which with so many vicissitudes has existed to the present day.
During all this turbulence and the varying fortunes befalling the achieving of Mexican independence, Texas suffered as an abandoned child, and was bandied about by royalist, by revolutionist. by filibuster, by pirate, by Indian and adventurer-in short fell into the hands of no capable man, and from neglect and lack of development, was a stunted but precocious creature when brought under the care of her kind and fostering American father.
It must be kept in mind that at no time before 1820 was there a civilized population in Texas probably exceeding ten thousand, and these were grouped around three or four fortified presidios, San Antonio hav- ing the greatest number. All efforts at colonization by Spain had practi- cally failed, and the region northeast of the Rio Grande was at best only nominally held in possession. Texas was essentially an agricultural coun- try, and Spanish conquest succeeded best in the mining regions further south and west. It was the policy of the Spaniards to constitute them- selves a ruling class and leave to the tractable natives the labors of tilling the fields ; but, as it turned out, the Indians of Texas were far from do-
Vol. I. 4
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cile and exceedingly disinclined to settled agriculture. As stated before, the ground reason for Spanish occupation of Texas was fear of foreign encroachment, the reason of a spoiled child who wants a thing because some one else wants it; this jealousy and the political and administrative measures which were its fruit kept fertile Texas a fallow field until the time was ripe for American invasion. And because of the scant dominion and weakening hold of Spain, together with the Mexican revolution, the foreign incursions and various ventures set on foot during this period had a large degree of seeming strength and success. But from the very fact that Texas was not yet a settled and permanent community, armed expedi- tions could effect nothing but dissipate the chaff-like settlements, could tear down but not build up, or even sustain what was there. The sub- stantial basis of an independent and hardy farming and industrial popu- lation must be made before a superstructure of political and social organ- ization could rise.
The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition.
The Mexican revolutionists of 1810 counted on the sympathy if not the active support of the Americans. This confidence had been fostered by the Burr movement and many other evidences of American interest, both commercial and patriotic, in the northern provinces of Mexico. So, on the defeat of Hidalgo and the demoralization of his forces, he started north with the remnant of his followers with the hope of strengthening his cause by alliance with American sympathizers. In March, 1811, José Bernardo Gutierrez was commissioned agent of the revolutionists to so- licit aid and promote their cause at Washington and among Americans in general. He passed through San Antonio, which on January 22, 181I, had fallen into the hands of the revolutionists, Gov. Salcedo and de Her- rera and other prominent royalists becoming prisoners. At Washington Gutierrez was unable to obtain recognition as a representative of the rev- olutionists. His credentials not being held sufficient by the authorities he had returned to Natchitoches, Louisiana. There he found many willing spirits eager to help in the winning of independence for any people, pro- vided their love of adventure and self-seeking were gratified. One Au- gustus Magee, resigning his commission as lieutenant of the American · army, joined the enterprise, and as instruments of his design was col- lecting a band of the too-willing outlaws from the Neutral Ground, whom he, as an officer of the American troops, had just left off subduing. These two men of similar enthusiasms perfected their plans in common-Gut- ierrez to be nominal commander of the filibuster, with title of general, and Magee the directing head, with rank of colonel.
The motives that prompted men to enlist in this movement cannot be accurately defined. Hope of booty, love of adventure, and real border ruffianism combined as baser motives with the higher ideals of sympathy for republican principles and sentiment aroused by the defeat of Hidalgo. Gutierrez was certainly an adroit promoter of his plans. That he was a sincere patriot cannot be affirmed, but he willingly became a figurehead of a movement the objects of which, so far as it was successful, were the independence of the northern provinces from the dominion of Spain.
The royalist governor, Salcedo (who had been restored to office
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after the first uprising of 1811), at San Antonio, had a clear apprehen- sion of what the movement meant in its ultimate results and the follow- ing letter, written August 17, 1812, to the viceroy1 also shows an incisive analysis of the progress of the expedition: "With one thousand of the troops recently arrived from Spain at Matagorda I shall free this king- dom within a month of a new and more formidable insurrection than the past one. The people, incautious on the one hand and hallucinated on the other, embrace with readiness the sedition. The Americans say they have not come to do harm to the inhabitants of this kingdom, but to aid them in securing independence. Unfortunately our people do not know the poison and hypocrisy of our enemies; do not realize that they are work- ing, under the pretext of succoring them, to conquer our provinces little by little. In the end the natives cannot rid themselves of the Americans. While I am waiting for the reinforcements I have asked, I shall do all in my power to expel the invaders, if the troops of this garrison re- main faithful."
In August, preparations having been completed by the revolutionists, an advance was made from Natchitoches to the Sabine. The passage of the river was disputed by the Spaniards under Montero, though they were quickly outflanked and compelled to retreat to Nacogdoches.
"Two hundred Americans have crossed the Sabine near Natchitoches, and are marching against Nacogdoches, a garrison town of the province of Texas, now occupied by Spanish troops. About twelve months ago there was some severe fighting between the creoles of Texas and the Spanish troops, when the latter succeeded in crushing what they were pleased to call rebellion. Now a creole officer named Manchaca, in the patriotic cause came to Natchitoches lately to recruit for the republican service and succeeded in getting 200 of the finest riflemen of our coun- try, who have marched in high spirits." (In Niles Register, Nov. 7, 18II.)
The defense of Nacogdoches aroused no enthusiasm among the in- habitants or soldiers, the former seeming to anticipate with gladness a change of government, while the latter were indifferent. After overcom- ing without difficulty the patrol at Atoyac, the invading forces ap- proached Nacogdoches. On August 12th the garrison fled without pre- tense of resistance, and all the territory between San Antonio and the Sabine lay open to the foe. But, without following up their advantage, the expedition remained some weeks at Nacogdoches, where recruiting went on and from the revolutionists' headquarters were sent various proclamations and addresses inciting the citizens of Texas to revolt and assuring them of the high intent and democratic principles of the pro- posed new regimé. All these documents prove the predominance of American ideas and influence in the movement, and that the followers of Hidalgo acted a minor part in this enterprise.
Natchitoches was on American territory and within the jurisdiction of American authority. That the expedition could originate there and be organized for effective invasion was clearly a contravention of neu- trality. But protests by the Spanish authorities on this and other oc-
1Quoted by W. F. McCabeb in the Texas Hist. Assn. Quarterly, Vol. IV, No. 3.
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casions were of little avail. It seems one of the weaknesses of a great democracy that the laws of the nations and the principles of justice can- not be enforced equally and quickly throughout all portions of the republic. A war with England distracted the attention of the central government, and a frontier town like Natchitoches was under best of conditions a quite safe place for revolutionary schemes. The fact that Magee did not join the expedition as its active leader until Nacogdoches became the headquarters is an evidence of some desire or perhaps policy to observe nominally the treaty relations between Spain and the United States.
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