'l'EXAS STATE LIBRARY
98
to receive them in payment of comodities, a consequence easily to have been foreseen; because no public issues of this kind can obtain credit and circulation, unless there is some fund or known resources for their redemption. 'l'he issuing of this paper had an unhappy effect upon the popularity of Trespelacios, and involved him in sub- sequent troubles, which we shall presently notice; but at the' time thev ,vere first issued, they were joyfully received by the garrison, under the hope and expectation that the character and supposed influence of their new commander would obtain for them a circula- tion in New Orleans. · But in this they were disappointed; and a violent revulsion in their feelings ensued. There was, no decep- tion. however, practiced on the part of Trespelacios neither in this; nor indeed in any other matter; for his conduct was always frank, liberal and up-right; and although we have not the means of going into the details of his administration, we can say with great cer- tainty, that it was such as to secure the approval of the best friends of the enterprise and the lasting friendship and esteem of General Longo.- The p1•ovisions at Bolivar Point being nearly exhausted, it became necessary for Trespalacios to repair to New Orleans for fresh sup- plies. Previous to his first debarkation from this City he addressed a communication to some of his Revolutionary compatriots of l\lexico, appealing to them for pecuniary aid for the prosecution of his pur- poses; and it was with the expectation of receiving from that quarter the assistance solicited, that he now sails for New Orleans. On his arrival, however, to his great discomfort and 'Confusion he finds that his friends had not responded to his communication; and as his chief reliance was upnn them, for the necessary means to supply the wants at Bolivar, as well as to meet his own daily, individual ex- penses, he soon found himself entangled in a labyrinth of difficulties from which it was no easy matter to extricate himself.-And now it was, amidst his present embarrassments, that the Treasury Notes ·which he had issued to the garrison were brought up in judgment against him.-He writes to General Long that his life, is conspired against, and that he is forced to shelter himself in the domicil of an old friend; but the truth of the 'Case is this. Some fifty of the persons attached to the enterprise, had accompanied him to New-Orleans, for the purpose, probably of rioting upon their ·T1·easury Notes; and find- ing on their arrival that 'l'respalacios possessed neither credit nor resources, and that the Scrip which he had issued to them, was valueless and worthless, they took no pains to conceal their dissatis- faction nor hesitated to conspire against him. Drennon wts at the head of the conspiracy. After much consultation among themselves they finally drew up a document of which the following is a copy dated 24th l\fay 1824. ""\Ve the undersigned Officers, soldiers and citizens of the Republic of · Mexico make ·choice of and do resolve to support as ou,r Commanding General, James Drennan. To this we bind ourselves to each other by the honor of soldiers and swear to support it at risk of onr lives, liberty and fortunes. "-To this was appended fifty names, the most of them of persons whose habits precluded them from being either useful or ornamental to any under-
Powered by FlippingBook