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011r Catl,olic Heritage in Te:xas
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there and to make known to the leaders the good will of the United States. He wanted to enter Mexico by way of Natchitoches but he had to wait three months in New Orleans for passage. During this time he had kept the State Department informed of events in Florida, Natchitoches, and Mexico itself. The United States was not the only foreign power interested in the fortunes of the Mexican Revolution. French and British agents anxiously watched the progress of the Revolution and were equally interested in profiting therefrom. When Gutierrez returned to the frontier outpost he became the target of designing agents. For this reason Governor Claiborne was delighted to have an experienced man like Shaler act as mentor for the inexperienced but most valuable Mexican envoy. Shaler himself wrote jubilantly to Monroe that it was fortunate in a way that he had been unable to set out for Natchitoches before Gutierrez' arrival. He had shared his quarters with the Mexican emissary while in New Orleans, had made the trip with him to Natchitoches, and had prevented him from becoming "the victim of numerous foreign and domestic intriguers." 16 The feeling of admiration Shaler had for Gutierrez was reciprocated. Their mutual regard and respect was extraordinary. Each wrote enthusias• tically to Chief Clerk Graham of his good fortune in meeting the other. Gutierrez, still feeling deeply grateful for the many courtesies shown him in Washington, tried to show appreciation by consulting Shaler on every question. Shaler, on his part, endeavored to guide the Mexican patriot so as to prevent him from falling victim to designing individuals who flocked to him with incredible proposals. Conditi(ms ,m the fronti.er. The restless pioneers and adventurers who had been rushing to Louisiana since 1803 had been looking longingly to the country beyond the Mississippi. To them Mexico was a fabled land of incalculable wealth and the door to this magic treasure house was Texas. Their repressed desires had grown daily in intensity. They saw in the Mexican Revolution an opportunity to help in a worthy cause and to realize their desires. Neutrality la,vs had kept the less reckless in check. But this weak leash would be broken the minute war was declared against Great Britain. Just as the settlers of the Northwest had looked forward to the seizure of Canada, and as the pioneers in Alabama and Georgia had anticipated the acquisition of the Floridas as their first move in the event of war, the 16 Claiborne to Shaler, New Orleans, April 7 1 1812; Shaler to Monroe, New Orleans, March 23, 30, 1812, cited by Garrett, o;. cit., 105-106.
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