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Our Cat/10/ic Heritage in Te:xas
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and Hugh M. Fraser; and John McMullen, John W. Bower, and Lewis Ayres, all from San Patricio.n The Provisional Government did not for long work smoothly. During the first month after adjournment Governor Smith and the General Council fulfilled their duties well. Many new officers were appointed to complete the organization of the Government; much needed support was given the army in the field; the organization of the Post Office Department was carried out, and steps were taken to create a navy. But very soon friction developed between the Governor and the General Council, for Smith was inclined to be self-opinionated and the Council was equally stubborn. Differences arose not only over their respective authority, but also over the more vital question of policy regarding the armed forces-who had authority over the army in the field and to what end the forces were fighting: complete independence as Governor Smith desired, or adherence to the Mexican Constitution of 1824 as the Council majority advocated. It was over this fundamental issue that the Council and the Governor fell out. The struggle developed into an open and bitter fight with the Council overriding every veto of the Governor. The climax was reached early in January, 1836, when the Council, desirous of obtaining in Mexico the cooperation of the friends of the Constitution of 1824, authorized an offensive expedition against Mata- moros. The proposed move was in harmony with the policy of the exiled Mexican Liberals in New Orleans, among whom was ex-Vice President Valentin Gomez Farias, who had organized an unsuccessful expedition against Tampico under Colonel Jose Antonio Mexia. While commanding the troops before San Antonio, Austin had been told that ·an effective alliance with the Federalists in Mexico was still possible, and Mexia, after his return from Tampico, had assured him that the Federalists contemplated gaining control of the North Mexican states and seceding from the Centralist South. Matamoros was known to be practically defenseless after the withdrawal of Generals Cos and Sesma. Its capture, therefore, would not only deprive Santa Anna of a strategic base of supplies for his planned invasion of Texas, but would also greatly encourage the Federalists in Mexico. 23 uzavala, the representative from Victoria, and those from Refugio were all Catholics. Contrary to general opinion, the Catholics in Texas took an active and determined stand for independence. 23 Amelia Williams. "A Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo," Tlie Q11arlt'rly, XXXVI, 258-260; E. C. Darker, Life of Stephen F. Austin, 495-496; Richardson, Te:ras. ll•e Lone Siar State, 124-125; Binkley. op. cit., I, 75-76.
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