Last Filibusterneg EzpeditiottS and Independence, 18q-1820 163
before his death. He declared in the fall of 1819 that it was the inalienable right of American citizens to migrate wherever they pleased, and, in the exercise of this right, there was no reason why they should not flock to Texas, an integral part of the United States within the boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase.u Long found it increasingly difficult to keep his three hundred odd followers supplied. American officials were unusually vigilant and did not permit arms, munitions, or even food to reach the filibusters. By July, 1819, he became convinced that he had to secure the cooperation of the pirates on Galveston Island in order to obtain the desired supplies. As president of the new republic, Long invited Jean Lafitte, still in command of Galveston, to enter the service of his government and bring the island under the jurisdiction of the re- public. He offered Lafitte a commission and letters of marque to prey upon Spanish commerce. The wily Frenchman made prompt and polite reply, wishing Long success without making any commitments. L,mg and Lafitte. By September, Long was desperate. A barge of supplies sent up the river had been captured by American officials. The consequent lack of food caused many to desert. He decided to make another appeal to Lafitte, now his only hope. In exchange for cooperation, he offered to make Galveston a legal port of the republic of Texas.and to establish an admiralty court. 34 Jean Lafitte, having received instructions from his brother Pierre, was in a more receptive mood. He sent his lawyer to Nacogdoches with two weeks' supplies for the half-starved filibusters and instruc- tions to draw up an agreement, which was duly signed on September 30, 1819. The council formally declared Galveston a port of entry of the republic of Texas on October 9, authorized the establishment of another port at Bolivar Point when necessary, and designated Jean Lafitte governor of the island. 35 The Lafitte brothers soon betrayed Long's expedition· to the Spanish authorities just as they had betrayed General Lallemand. In a letter to the Intendant of Cuba, Pierre communicated the details of the new '"Robinson died in Natchez in October, 1819, of yellow fever. Warren, Tiu Sword Wa.r Their Pa.r.r'lort, 238. MJames Long to Jean Lafitte, Nacogdoches, June 24, 1819, transmitted in letter of Viceroy to Minister of State, October 30, 1819, Historia, I 62, A. G. M. Jean Lafitte to James Long, Galveston, July 7, 1819, Lamar Pa-per.r, I, 30-32. 3SLafitte to Long, Galveston, September 30, 1819, Lamar Paier.r, II, 59; Ban- croft, Norin Mexi&an StaJes and Tna.r, II, 42.
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