The Organization of Mission Life, r722-r728
173
Fernando be given preference. To send someone else might cause dissat- isfaction among the Indians and make them distrust the Spaniards. This would give the French an opportunity to regain their influence at a time when the natives had just been weaned from their tutelage. In support of his judgment in this matter he declared that Don Fernando was well liked by the Indians, who had become much attached to him; that the soldiers had a high opinion of his ability and obeyed him willingly; and that the missionaries looked upon his possible appointment with favor, particularly the Reverend Father Margi!, who had asked the Marquis to request his appointment. As he was on the eve of setting out for San Antonio, from which place he would proceed to La Bahia to establish there officially the presidio and to reenforce its garrision as ordered by the viceroy, Aguayo asked that the appointment of Perez de Almazan as governor be sent to him at La Bahia, that he might turn the gov- ernment over to his Lieutenant-General before leaving the province. 2 When Aguayo arrived in San Antonio in January, 1722, he was sick. The hardships of the expedition had undermined his health. It will be remembered, however, that in spite of his illness he went on to La Bahia in March, where he had to spend over a week in bed before he could officially establish the presidio and the mission. But as soon as he returned to Coahuila, he immediately resigned as governor of both Coahuila and Texas. 3 The viceroy accepted his resignation and Don Fernando Perez de Almazan was accordingly appointed Governor of the Province of Texas as suggested by Aguayo. The new governor imme- diately took up his residence at Los Aclaes, which being the most advanced post in the direction of the French frontier and having the largest garri- son, naturally came to be regarded as the capital of the province. Conditions in San Antonio a11d Los Adaes. Next in importance, not so much because of the number of soldiers stationed in its presidio, but because of the number of missions in its vicinity and the growing number of unofficial civil settlers, was the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar. Upon his return from East Texas, Aguayo had appointed Matias Garcia, an experienced officer and Indian fighter, captain, but he was soon after- wards named by the viceroy protector of the mission Indians of Coahuila. To fill the vacancy created, the Marquis of Aguayo now appointed Nicolas Flores y Valdez to this important position. He had begun his service as a 2 /bid. 3Aguayo to the King, Coahuila, June 13, 1722. A. G. I., Audimci,1 d~ Guada- lajara, 67-3-1 I (Dunn Transt·ripts).
Powered by FlippingBook