Tlie Agony of the Cliurch in Texas, z8iz-z836
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and that the lands be distributed among such citizens as desired to work them. 23 Governor Martinez forwarded the petition to the Commandant General in Monterrey, declaring that in his opinion the Jaraname Indians of Mission Espiritu Santo were not sufficiently civilized, and that the mission should, consequently, be allowed to continue in operation. At the same time he wrote Father Muro, then at Refugio, to inform him that he considered there was little probability of the petition being granted. Father Muro sent the information to Father Anzar at Espiritu Santo, adding that the opposition of the Governor to secularization would probably defeat the proposal of the Ayunta11ue,itQ.:, But both Martinez and Muro were overly optimistic. It was at this time that Father Refugio de la Garza went to Mexico as a delegate to the national Congress. He strongly favored the abolition of all the missions and the distribution of their lands to the citizens of San Antonio and La Bahia. In a letter of July 8, 1822, to the Ayuntamiento of Bexar, he informed them that he had recommended to the national Congress the immediate distribution of all mission lands to the needy in the province, except the lands of Mission San Jose and Mission Refugio, which were to be given as a source of revenue to the ayunta- -mientos of Bexar and La Bahia, respectively. He asked for a report on the number of Indians in each mission and their status. The report showed that only thirteen Indians had received title to mission lands at the time of secularization in 1794.:s The desire for mission lands increased with time. Salvador Carrasco, of San Antonio, and Captain Juan de Castaneda, now in command of the Alamo garrison, applied for new grants. Carrasco wanted some of the lands of Mission Concepcion for himself and for several Spanish families. Castaneda requested a lot, a farm, and a pasture from the lands of Mission San Juan. The Ayu1itat1iie11to, following the suggestion of Father Garza, now asked for all the lands of Concepcion, in addition to those of San Jose. 26 New order for secularization. On September 15, 1823, Secretary ZlMinutes of the Ayuntamiento of La Bahia, January IO, 1822, Berar Arcl,ives. 14 Martinez to the Commandant General, January 24, 1822; to Muro, same date; Muro to Anzar, February 12, I 822, Be:rar Arcl,ives. :sRefugio de la Garza to the Ayuntamiento de Bexar, July 8, 18:u; Father de Leon to Ayuntamiento, September 8, 1822, Be:rar Arcl,iv,11. 26 Jose Manuel Herrera to Ayuntamiento July 24, 1822; G. Lopez to Governor Trespalacios, December I 3, I 822; Luciano Garcia to Felipe de la Garza, September 3, I 823, Be:rar Arcl,ives.
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