Our Catl,olic Heritage in Texas
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Discontent and unrest i,i Texas. As revolution swept relentlessly on its northward course, the people in Texas grew more and more con- fused and restless. Contradictory stories of the Napoleonic plots, the infiltration of liberal ideas brought by adventurous traders from the United States, and the fiery appeals of American filibusters eager to liberate Texas from Spanish tyranny kept the inhabitants of the vast province in constant indecision. John F. Smith, a resident of Natchitoches and friend of Dr. John Sibley, wrote Father Huerta in Nacogdoches at this time: "I can raise a thousand men and place them around your banners. I wish to aid you to defend the cause which you have so justly undertaken to support. The gods desire to protect you until victory is gained. You should abandon your king [Ferdinand VII] at once, for he is unworthy to rule you, having submerged his sovereignty beneath the tyranny of Napoleon and spilled oceans of blood in the heart of his kingdom." Smith then expatiated on the well-known Ameri- can idea that all men are born equal and that tyranny of kings justifies subjects in establishing a free and independent government. 7 Huerta promptly turned Smith's letter over to the officials in San Antonio. Viceroy Venegas, Commandant General Don Nemesio Salcedo, and Governor Manuel Salcedo were fully aware of the smouldering dis- content among the people in Texas. Before Jimenez advanced as far as San Luis Potosi, Salcedo had issued an appeal to the people in his jurisdiction to avoid being misled by false information. Napoleon's concern was not to bring happiness to the people, he declared, but to gain control of the colonies, to destroy religion, and to enslave America. His purpose was to deceive them just as he had deceived Ferdinand VII and Pope Pius VII, the latter of whom he desired to make a virtual prisoner. All loyal subjects were urged to help put down rebellion. The best means of promoting the general welfare in such troubled times, he counseled, was to maintain peace and order. He warned that the giving of aid or comfort to French agents and sympathizers would be high treason and those convicted would be executed within twenty- four hours after pronouncement of sentence. Those found guilty of spreading propaganda to stir up rebellion would be hanged as traitors; but those who remained loyal and helped preserve peace and order would be duly rewarded.' · Shortly after this proclamation was issued, two revolutionary agents, 1 Smlth to Huem, April 19, 1811, B,rar Arc/siv,s; Mattie Austin Hatcher, Tli1 o,,,,,,,, of T1ras to For,,,,, S1ttl1mmt, 1801-1821, 205-214. •N. Salcedo to the People of the Interior Provinces, October 24, 181 o, Na&oKdoc/,11 Arcllhm, XV, IIO•II7,
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