Revolution Flares Again
63
the mission that he immediately arranged an appointment with the Secre- tary of State for the next day. In his conference with Monroe and in his subsequent conversations with him and other State and War Department officials Gutierrez earnestly sought aid for the Revolutionists in Mexico by shrewdly pointing out the advantages that would result to the United States. He stated that he had come in the name of the Mexican people as a "Lieutenant Colonel, an American of the Kingdom of Mexico," although without credentials, to ask aid for the Revolution. He proposed that the United States permit the shipment of arms, munitions, and merchandise to the Rio Grande and other northern provinces of Mexico as soon as Menchaca succeeded in establishing an independent republican government in Texas. In return for this help the Mexican provinces were prepared to ship silver, wool, and other products. Such cooperation would lay a firm foundation for friendly intercourse between the two countries and establish commercial relations that would in time make the Americas independent of all trade with Europe. Last of all, he sought military aid in support of the revolu- tionary movement to prevent any other European power from taking possession of New Spain and to thwart "any malignant effort that might come from Europe." 4 Texas, tlie ,price of A -merican aid. That Monroe was interested in the independence of Texas and Mexico as such is open to doubt. Ever since the Louisiana Purchase the United States had been disputing with Spain over the western boundary of Louisiana. Without doubt the unexpected presence of the unaccredited agent of the Mexican Revolution was viewed as an opportunity to adjust the boundary dispute, for it will be remembered that Monroe was Jefferson's agent for the Louisiana Purchase. The evidence permits of no other interpretation. From the summary made by Gutierrez of the views expressed by Monroe it seems that the adjustment of the Louisiana boundary question so as to include possibly the entire Province of Texas was made the prerequisite for military aid. Gutierrez declared that the Secretary of State realized the significance of establishing closer trade relations between the two coun- 'Accounts of his various conferences during the month of December are found in "Diary of Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara, 1811-1812," translated from the original by Elizabeth West, in Tl,e American Histurical Re11U11J, XXXIV, No. 1, 55·75, No. 3, 281-294; Gutierrez, "Report to the Mexican Congress, 18a3," Lamar Papers, I, 6-12; Don Jose Bernardo Gutierrez to the Secretary of War [no place or date], Me:i:ico filibustering e:z,Pedition.r again.rt t/,e Governmelll of Spain, 18u- 1816, State Department Archives, cited in Garrett, Gree,s Flag Ov" Te:ras, 93-94.
- --
Powered by FlippingBook