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Our Catholic Heritage in T e%as
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June 3, 1826, he annulled Edwards' contract and ordered him to leave the country. The order alleged that he had insulted the dignity of the State and usurped its authority, that he had despoiled established settlers of their property, and that he had sold land and appropriated money as "absolute Lord and Master." The execution of the order, however, presented difficulties, for there were no federal troops at Nacogdoches. The Political Chief could not carry out the instructions until the end of November. A curious incident occurred on November 22, 1826, in Nacogdoches. Without previous notice forty men seized Norris and Sepulveda, took forceful possession of the akalde's records, set up a court-martial, and offered a reward of $100.00 for the arrest of James Gaines on the charge of evil influence over Alcalde Norris. Sepulveda and Norris were tried, convicted and sentenced to death, but the penalty was commuted to removal and perpetual disbarment from office. Three days after these unprecedented proceedings the band liberated all prisoners, appointed Joseph Hurst temporary alcalde, placed the archives in his care, and disbanded. Saucedo and Colonel Mateo Ahumada, having at long last assembled a respectable force, set out from San Antonio on December 13, 1826, to expel Edwards and restore order. They arrived on January 3, 1827, in San Felipe, where they remained for three weeks because of bad weather. Benjamin Edwards mean- while had ridden into Nacogdoches on December 16 at the head of a small band-scarcely over thirty-under a red and white flag inscribed with the words "Independence, Liberty, and Justice." He proclaimed the Republic of Fredonia and proceeded to fortify the old stone fort. The majority of the inhabitants, however, were not in sympathy with the revolt. Helpless before the unexpected attack, they adopted a policy of neutrality. But many began making preparations to flee across the Sabine at the first opportunity. Proclamatio,i of t/,e Republic of Fredonia. Edwards was counting on the support of the Anglo-American settlers and the Indians in his wild scheme. The leader of the Cherokees, Richard Fields, was resentful at the refusal of the Mexican Government to grant his people lands, and allowed himself to be guided by the advice of Dr. John Dunn Hunter. Fields made a treaty with the new republic on December 21, 1826, which assigned the Intlians all the territory west of the Bexar-Nacogdoches Road from Red River
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