Last Filibustering Expedi.#<J1is and-Independence, I8I7-I820 161
tack in 1812 and to have gone to Natchez after the battle. He now pledged both his life and his fortune to the undertaking. The sponsors of the enterprise were primarily interested in settling Texas with Americans and developing trade with the province and Mexico. They subscribed, according to some accounts, the not incon- siderable sum of $500,000. Steps were immediately taken to secure volunteers. Prospective soldiers were offered-in addition to their regular pay-a bounty of one league of land. Supplies, munitions, and arms were purchased and sent in barges up the river by way of Rapides and present Alexandria. The meeting place for the filibusters was to be some ten leagues beyond the Sabine. It was rumored that Robinson, Humbert and Adair were to join the expedition later. The Mexican consul in New Orleans reported that Gutierrez and his force of Spanish rebels in Nacogdoches were to join the Anglo-Americans. 30 Organization of tlie Sec<J11d Republic. By June, 1819, the first group of filibusters crossed into Texas. With them came Eli Harris, a printer, who set up shop in Nacogdoches. Long did not leave Natchez until June 17, narrowly escaping arrest for the violation of neutrality. The United States Government, anxious to secure ratification of the Florida Treaty, took a positive stand against the enterprise. For once Federal officials tried earnestly to restrain the adventurers, with the result that they seriously handicapped the activities of the Revolutionists. When Long arrived in Nacogdoches, he found approximately six hundred men, Americans, Mexicans and Indians. He immediately proceeded to organize a provisional government, and on June 23 issued a second declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas. This rare document followed closely that of the United States. It denounced the treaty of 1819, because the citizens of Texas had long entertained the hope that the settlement of the disputed boundary would include their province within the limits of the United States. But since the treaty had blasted this hope, they found themselves obliged to pro- claim their independence from Spain.u Two days previously a supreme council had been established. The twenty-one members, with Long as president, were to act as advisors in the exercise of full authority over the state. Among its members were Horatio Biglow, Hamlin Cook, W. W. Walker, Stephen Barker, SOE!i Harris to M. B. Lamar, January r8, 1841, Lama,- Pa'}4f'S, III, 483; Felix Trudeaux to Fatio, Natchitoches, June 19, 1819, Histo,-ia, vol. 162, A.G. M. SlDeclaracion por el supremo consejo de la Republica de Tejas, Pa/6us d6 Estado, 72-73, A. G. I.
Powered by FlippingBook