135
Continued Foreign ltitrigues and Turmoi,l, r8r3-r8r8
a meeting on the Mexican side of the Sabine in order to give some semblance of legality to the proceedings. Such was the body that organized the Provisional Government of the Free Men of the Interior Provinces of Mexico on November 25, 1813, and chose as president Juan Mariano Picornell, the revolutionary Spanish leader and printer from Venezuela, who had come to Texas with Toledo. Soon after the erection of this pseudoresponsible government, the new president was on his way to New Orleans with Humbert to secure finances for the expedition and obtain supplies, arms, and munitions. 42 Picornell hastened to explain. to Toledo that he had decided on this course for the sake of the revolution. He and his associates expected all those interested in the cause to unite with him in a common effort- Kemper, Perry, and Robinson. Deep was the chagrin of Toledo. He frankly expressed his disap- pointment in his former associate and told him he could not recognize a European as head of the provisional government. He assured Picornell that American volunteers of the former expedition were of the same opinion.4J On January 6, 1814, Picornell published in L'Ami des Lois a manifesto designed to attract volunteers and secure financial backing. The Interior Provinces, it declared, besides being rich in all kinds of resources, could boast a most salubrious climate. Many nations desired and would help maintain their independence. Those countries which proved un- friendly to their independence would be denied trading privileges. The days of the Spanish tyrants were numbered. Ten Mexican armies of patriots would soon overthrow them. The Republican army nearest Texas was said to have fifty-five million pesos, which would become available to those being organized to invade Te.xas when they joined this army. A regularly constituted provisional government had been organized and an army of three thousand volunteers and one thousand Indians was ready to cross the Sabine under the command of Generals Humbert and DucQudray-Holstein." But the president of the yet unliberated Interior Provinces was hardly able to buy a meal in New Orleans-so meager were his resources. Padre Antonio Sedella, who maintained a close watch over the plotters 42 Diego Murphy to Viceroy Apodaca, New Orleans, January 4, 1814, 1'1Jp11/11s d11 Cuba, A. G. I. 4 lPicornell to Toledo, December 13, 1813; Toledo to Picornell, January 5, 1814, Merico, Filibustering E:1:,Peditiom, N. A. W. "'L'Ami d11s Lois, New Orleans, January 6, 1814; Murphy to Viceroy Apodaca, January 7, 1814, 1'1Jp11les d11 Cuba, A.G./.
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