The Agony of the Cliurcli in Tezas, r821-r836
349
The State, finding itself in need of money, decided through the Legislature to sell the walls, buildings and all remaining mission prop- erty. Everything was to be sold for cash at public auction, and the pro- ceeds were to be turned over to the State Treasurer. This drastic measure found strong opposition, which was led by the new commandant of the Eastern Provinces, Anastacio Bustamante, soon to become President. Bustamante demanded suspension of the order, for he desired as per- manent quarters the buildings of Mission Valero, which had been used regularly as barracks for the Alamo garrison. Political Chief Saucedo agreed to suspend the execution of the order until the Supreme Govern- ment had time to pass on the subject, and so informed the Governor." The State Legislature reversed itself in July, 1827. It ordered the cancellation of all unpaid balances due on mission property which had been purchased by individual settlers. At the same time instructions were issued for the sale of all the remaining lands of San Jose. Ramon Musquiz, successor of Saucedo as political chief, had to call on the Alcalde of San Jose for a detailed report on a pending petition pre- sented by the natives for dividing the lands and purchasing the buildings of the mission. 95 The conflicting orders in regard to the buildings had delayed their sale. In September of 1831 Governor Letona wrote Musquiz that the decree of April 29, 1831, in which the order for the sale of all mission property was repeated, applied to all buildings except the chapels, which were to continue to be used as churches. Musquiz ordered the Alcalde of Bexar to proceed without further delay to dispose of all lands and remaining buildings of missions Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada, excepting the chapels. The property was to be sold at public auction for cash and the returns were to be deposited with and held by the City Treasurer until further notice. 96 The people of San Antonio had been earnestly trying since 1830 to maintain a public school. To that end Political Chief Musquiz suggested to Governor Juan Martin de Beramendi early in 1833 that a percentage "Diputados Secretarios del Congreso to Ignacio Arizpe, July 14, 1827; Saucedo to Bustamante, August 10, 1827; Saucedo to Governor, August 19, 1827, Bexar A,-chives. 95 Saucedo to the Vice Governor, September IS, 1827; Saucedo to the Governor, August 19, 1827; Musquiz to Diaz de Leon, August 14, 1828; Musquiz to Ayuntamiento, September 4, 1828; Musquiz to the Alcalde of San Jose, January 23, ·1829, Bexar A,-cl,ives. 96 Letona to Musquiz, September 3, I 83 I ; Ramon Musquiz to Alcalde of Benr. October 2, 1832, Bexar Archives.
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