Comnumications Between Santa Fe and San Antonio
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plains, the rich valleys, and the rolling hills that lay between the Mississippi and the distant outposts of the weakly held line of defence of New Mexico and Texas. The wisdom of abandoning the eastern establishments in Texas is seriously to be questioned when the matter is viewed in this light. Effect of the attainment of independence by t/1e American colonies. Far from lessening the growing uneasiness of Spanish officials, the attainment of independence by the struggling English colonies was the determining factor in the search for a more direct route between the distant outposts in New Mexico, Texas, and the Mississippi. Juan Gasiot, a French Indian agent, called the attention of the commandant general of the Interior Provinces, Felipe de Neve, to the serious danger threat- ening Spanish interests west of the ]VIississippi, now that the war against England was ended. "It is necessary to keep in mind," he declared, "that a new independent power exists now on this continent, founded by an active, industrious, and aggressive people. With its citizens free from the war sustained for many years against the mother country, from which they have at last succeeded in obtaining independence, this power is already directing its energies to the welfare of its people that they may be respected in the future. These men, freed from the hardships of war that have engaged them so long, will turn their industrious genius to agriculture, the arts, and commerce." The inevitable development of this new and vigorous nation, Gasiot warned, would prove a constant menace to Spain's dominions in America. Spain should lose no time, therefore, in consolidating and reenforcing its defences against the relentless westward sweep of its advance. Texas, Coahuila, and New Mexico stood directly in the path of the westward march and should receive attention first. "If we fail to do so," Gasiot exclaimed with remarkable foresight, "we will see the citizens of the United States of America, lured by the advantages offered by the uncontrolled Indians in the territories lying between their frontiers and our provinces of New Mexico and Texas, make frequent incursions in order to establish trade with the natives. Thus the natives will become attached to them by bonds of interest. The trail blazers will next establish forts among them and continue to advance in this manner until they reach the limits of our borders, where they will have to be stopped. But by that time they will have become irresistible, drawing great strength from their new acquisi- tions and the establishment of alliances with numerous Indian nations.'• He concluded by stating that in order to forestall this impending
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