Our Catliolic Heritage in T e:xas
212
supplies for the frontier outposts, however, that the wealthiest and most influential merchants in Mexico were often the agents of the captains, sharing in the unfair profits and encouraging the illegal transactions. But even more serious in its effect on the efficiency of the garrisons was the frequent employment of the men in the private ranches and mines of the officers, who, in many instances, had acquired large holdings. It was the soldiers, according to the reports received by the viceroy, who acted as overseers of the mines and lzacie11das of the captains, who tended their cattle, and looked after their business. These occupations kept them away from the presidios which they were supposed to garrison and were the cause of serious consequences to frontier settlements and missions. As a result of such unpardonable abuses, the money of the royal treasury was being wasted in maintaining presidios which were such only in name, affording little or no protection and serving only to enrich unscrupulous captains. 2 Furthermore, the viceroy judiciously pointed out, conditions had changed since the original establishment of many of the presidios. In some instances the country in their vicinity had become well populated and no longer required protection, while in others the Indians had either been reduced to mission life or had ceased their former hostilities, making the existence of a garrison unnecessary. In order to ascertain the true state of affairs and to determine with all fairness which presidios should be abolished, how much the soldiers should be paid, and how the other abuses should be corrected, it would be necessary to send an official to conduct a per- sonal investigation in each and every one of the military posts. This measure, he knew, had been tried out before without success, but the failure could be attributed to the unwise choice of inspectors and the low pay allowed them for so important a mission. Preparations for inspection. "This enterprise," the viceroy declared, "will require time and a person of character, intelligence, and unlimited devotion to Your Majesty, capable of carrying it out." To avoid the danger to which men are exposed in executing so delicate and responsible an undertaking, it would be well, he said, to allow whoever was chosen this time, a salary commensurate to its great responsibility and to give him and his assistants sufficient funds for their traveling expenses during the tour of inspection, otherwise the temptation to favor those who were %/bid. A comparison of the abuses described by Father Gonzalez on conditions in Texas with those listed and so vividly depicted here shows clearly the extent of the influence it had on this official. See pp. 194-195.
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