Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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should be abandoned or a new policy adopted. In order to convert them to Christianity, he said three things were necessary: First, the estab- lishment of a regular presidio, with a sufficient number of soldiers to make the Indians respect the missionaries; second, the selection of more suitable sites, which could not be found in the neighborhood; and third, the congregating of the Indians in a group where they could be taught, instead of letting them live scattered over the country as they did. Bitter experience had taught him that the plan originally advocated by De Leon was the only feasible one. He now begged the viceroy to reach a decision as soon as possible, and that if he was not prepared to establish a presidio, the missionaries should be allowed to retire. In such case, he asked that an expedition be sent to see them safely out of the country of the Tejas. 53 Governor Salinas Varona started back to Coahuila on June 14, 1693. With him came back two of the missionaries. It was with d ifficulty that the soldiers left to guard the Padres were induced to stay. The party arrived in Coahuila on July 17, and Salinas immediately dispatched Massanet's letter and official report to the viceroy, who referred them to the Fiscal. On August 19, this official rendered his opinion. He was perplexed and confused at the recommendations of Father Massanet that force be used to convert the Indians. Such a policy was contrary to all sound theology. "The Fiscal marvels," he declared, "at the proposal of violence and the use of force of arms in the conversion of these savages to our holy faith, these means being contrary to sound theology and the dispositions of the sacred Councils." In view of the circumstances, however, there was nothing to do, but to grant the missionaries permission to reti re to their college and abandon the missions, he said. It would be well, therefore, to refer the matter to a Junta General for final disposition, since the question was intimately related to the proposed occupation of Pensacola Bay. 54 The Junta met on August 31. After mature deliberation, it declared that there was no longer any danger from the French; that the explora- tion of the country had proved beyond question its unsuitability for settlement; and that the abandonment of this area could not possibly affect the occupation of Pensacola. In view of these facts there was no reason why the missionaries and soldiers now in the land of the Tejas should not be allowed to withdraw from that country. The v iceroy should
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SSMassanet to the Viceroy, June I4, I693; Informe, same date, in Ibid., pp. 61 -68. 54 Re~puesta Fiscal, Augu!-t 19, T 693, in / bid., pp. 68-71.
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