Ottr Catliolic Heritage in Texas
his officials had not heeded the recommendations of His Majesty and had ignored his royal wishes in regard to granting him permission to put into effect his plan of colonization. He explained that the dean of the Audiencia, Pedro Malo de Villavicencio, had questioned his character and fitness for the enterprise, whereupon he had gone to Nuevo Leon to secure testimonials and had brought with him several Indian chiefs who desired missionaries to instruct them in the faith and who wanted the Spaniards to come to live in their lands. The Indians had brought two parrots and a precious stone as presents to the Audiencia in proof of their vassalage. The officials had, however, received them with dis- pleasure, had deprived them of their commissions as captains, and had ordered them back to their lands. This circumstance had greatly embar- rassed the petitioner, whose prestige with the natives had suffered a severe blow. He now requested the king to order the viceroy to give him as colonizer authority to enter upon the conquest and settlement of the new lands; that he be granted the title of Sargento Mayor and Capitan a Guerra, as well as that of Governor and Captain General of the province he hoped to subdue and inhabit; and that he be granted the right to exploit the salines discovered in the territory administered by him. The result of the representation of Ladr6n de Guevara was a new ced1'la issued on June 13, 1743. After reviewing the antecedents of the proposed plans for the conquest and settlement of the Seno Mexicano, the king declared that Ladr6n de Guevara had no grounds for complaint against the action of the viceroy and the Junta, because full discretion to act had been granted to them in the matter. With regard to the incident of the six Indian chiefs brought to Mexico and the treatment accorded them, the king observed that more tact might have been exercised in revoking their commissions. Ladr6n de Guevara should not have induced the Indians, however, to appear before the Junta without obtaining per-. mission to do so. The Junta was instructed, therefore, to continue their investigations and to select a leader to undertake the occupation of the proposed territory at the earliest possible moment. In the meantime, Ladr6n de Guevara was not to interfere in any manner, nor was he to communicate with the Indians that were to be reduced. The viceroy was to inform him that all his requests were denied, both because of their arrogance and because the petitioner had shown no meritorious services that would justify granting them. 7
7Royal Cidula, June 13, 1743. A. G. M., Provincias /nternas, 174, pp. 11-22. In the decree the letter of Guevara of July 18, 17 42, is summarized.
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