Our Catleolic Heritage in Texas
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attend the meeting ... their judgment would undoubtedly be overruled by the prejudiced votes of the vulgar majority, and if evil results ensued the priests would receive as much condemnation as those really responsible for the unwise action." He did not believe in the infallibility of vox populi. The rabble was not capacitated to pass on serious matters. The council, in fact was unnecessary, he argued with Fray Benito. The question was simply whether the presidio should be removed. A list of the forces and arms available for the defense of the town would suffice to persuade the viceroy of the folly of such a plan. 24 The efforts of Fray Mariano to prevent the holding of a Junta proved futile. On June 20, the aroused citizens of San Fernando met and ex- pressed vigorously their serious objections to the removal of the presidio and their equally strong opposition to any plan to found missions for the Apaches in their own country. If these Indians desired conversion, let them be congregated near San Antonio. The ltmta suggested two likely sites for the purpose: San Francisco, situated on the San Antonio River, between San Fernando and La Bahia, or Cibolo Creek. 25 Abandonment of tlee Pedemales plan. Fray Mariano was not pleased with ~he report of the Junta, which, as he had foreseen, condemned the whole idea of founding new missions in the Apache country. In a memorial presented to Urrutia on September 17, 1750, he protested that the action of the ltmta was contrary to facts. Those who advocated missions for the Apaches near San Antonio were fully aware that these Indians could not be congregated outside of their country. The majority of the settlers were opposed to the conversion of the Apaches for purely selfish reasons. The testimony presented by the Junta in support of their contention that these Indians were not sincere in their desire for missions was false. On the contrary they had given repeated and unmistakable proofs of their sincerity. They brought deer skins, buffalo hides, dry beef, and bear grease regularly for trade to San Antonio. For more than a year they had committed no depredations nor engaged in hostilities. Many had voluntarily lived in the missions in San Antonio while waiting for the grant of their petition, and some had even received the Sacrament of Baptism after being properly instructed. A chief returned six horses stolen by his braves from San Xavier. He concluded by demanding,
''M" • narv Activities among the Apaches," Tl,e Q11arterl31, XV, 19 5
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92 .6_ 22 ( Cunningham Transcripts, I 7 3, pt. 3 , pp. 3. 4 .
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