Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
Secretary of State Adams chose Major George Graham as the envoy. The instructions given the commissioner are significant. He was to inform both Lallemand and Lafitte that his Government was surprised at their occupation of territory claimed by the United States. He was then to find out tactfully who was supporting Lallemand's expedition, particularly whether Joseph Bonaparte or Onis had furnished funds for the enterprise, or whether they had made arrangements with the Viceroy of Mexico. He was to ascertain the number of persons already in Texas, how many more were expected, where they would come from, and what resources were available to them. 20 When Graham left Washington, he was not aware of the withdrawal of the colonists to Galveston, which had taken place on July 24, 1818. He set out, therefore, to look for Lallemand in Texas, going first to Natchitoches and then to the deserted Spanish post of Nacogdoches. He there hired John Durst to guide him to the French settlement. It was only after reaching Champ d'Asile that he learned of the departure of the French for Galveston. Durst accompanied Graham to the mouth of the Trinity and rowed him across to the -island, where they arrived on August 24, 1818. Graham talked first to General Lallemand, who, greatly embarrassed, made humble apologies for the intrusion. He as- sured the American representative that his intentions had always been peaceful; he admitted that the settlement had not been authorized by anybody; he declared that he was unaware that the "United States had determined to assert their claim to the province"; and he emphatically denied all connections with Lafitte. He admitted frankly, however, that he had contemplated an attack on San Antonio. Graham then wrote a letter to Lafitte, whose headquarters were lo- cated on a different part of the island. The commissioner informed the pirate that the United States claimed the country from the Sabine to the Rio Grande, and would "suffer no establishment of any kind, particu- larly one of so questionable a nature" as the one established by him. The daring hero of New Orleans was nettled by the peremptory demand that he abandon the island. Without deigning to call on the commissioner, Lafitte replied in writing to ask on what authority the envoy was acting. Graham dropped his superior attitude and courteously invited Lafitte to come to see him in order to discuss the whole matter. The interview between Graham and Lafitte took place on October 21. Graham appeased Lafitte by ZOAdams to George Graham, June 2, 1818, Domestic Letters, XVII, 172-173, N.A. W.
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