Revoltttion Flares Again
ment of a government similar to that of the United States and to distribute in the Interior Provinces some of Toledo's pamphlets.a After waiting almost a month for a ship, the Mexican envoy finally left Philadelphia on February 12, 1812. J. C. Caballero, one of Toledo's correspondents in Santa Domingo, and a Gutierrez fellow countryman by the name of Ramos Arizpe, who was in Cadiz at the time, urged Toledo to help Mexico attain her independ~nce and advised him to extend help particularly to the rebels in the Interior Provinces. The independence of New Spain would be the most effective means to secure for Cuba and the other islands of the Caribbean ultimate freedom. 13 Not until April 28 did the intriguing Gutierrez return to Natchitoches. The five months since he had set out from the distant Rio Grande for the capital of the great Republic of the North, had wrought many changes in the rugged frontiersman. His blind faith had been richly rewarded. This fugitive from the Spanish officials now returned well-dressed, as befitted an ambassador. His rough manners had given place to a polished and courtly mien.I' He came ac- companied by an American of distinguished appearance, Captain William Shaler, who had joined him in New Orleans. He became not only his friend but also his inseparable companion. Shaler, a veteran diplomat and revolutionist, recently returned from Cuba, was now assigned as a special agent of the State Department to promote revolution in northern New Spain.Is Gutierrez in Natchitocltes. Shaler had been present when Gutierrez handed Chief Clerk Graham's letter of introduction to Governor Claiborne upon his arrival in New Orleans on March 23, informing him that the Government wished "his [Gutierrez'] return to Mexico to be expedited." Captain Shaler, too, was on his way to Mexico to obtain information about recent developments 12Gutierrez, op. cit., 76; Toledo to Gutierrez, Philadelphia, July 28, October 2, 1812, Papers Relating to Burr's Conspirac,y (MS Division, Library of Congress). A thousand copies of the pamphlets written by Toledo were printed and given to Gutierrez for the purpose. llAXXX [sic] to Toledo, March 1, 1812, Papers Relating Jo Burrs Conspirae,,; Toledo to AX.XX, Philadelphia, April 4, 1812; J. C. Caballero to Toledo, Santo Domingo, Sept. 2, 1812; J.M.R.A. to Toledo, Cadiz, July 1, 1812 (MSS in Library of Congress). 14 Gutierrez, "Diary," T/,e .American Historical AssociaJiQn, XXXIV, 291-293; Garrett, Green Flag, 1 l l. IS Manning, Diplomatic Correspondence, I, 9; William Shaler to James Monroe, New Orleans, January 4, 9, 13, 1812, cited in Garrett, op. cit., 104-105.
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