Preparing to Weatlzer tlze Storm, 1790-1800
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J"awakonis, the Taovayas, and all the Indian tribes along Red River, making maps and drawings of all places visited. 3 The expenditure involved in executing the order, however, so discouraged the king that the formal exploration was abandoned for the time being. But interest continued in the question of opening trade between the two provinces and in the extension of the limits of Louisiana. Late in 1792, Diego de Gardoqui, Secretary of the King, again requested the opinion of Revillagigedo on the subject. The viceroy replied in April, 1793, that the original suggestion had been made by the Caballero de Croix and taken up by Viceroy Galvez. In the opinion of Revillagigedo, the plan for trade and closer relations between the Interior Provinces and Louisiana was impractical. The extension of the boundary he considered a domestic problem. He reminded the king, however, that if the plan was to be carried out, it should be preceded by a careful survey-such as he had suggested before. In view of his subsequent experience, he now believed that communication and trade between Texas and Louisiana should not be encouraged, but rather discouraged and perhaps prohibited altogether. He suspected officials and private individuals in Texas were anxious for such trade because they anticipated great profits, largely from smuggling. He now recommended, therefore, that all communica- tion between the two provinces be suspended; that neither transients nor settlers be allowed to enter Texas; and that, in order to make the new restrictions effective, Nacogdoches be abandoned. This post, in his opinion, served merely as a half-way station for intruders, smugglers, and other undesirables. If the settlement was to be maintained, a strong garrison should be stationed there, adequate to make the authority of Spain respected, to check invasion, to stop illegal traffic, and to give timely warning in case of serious danger.' In view of the circumstances, the king gave up the idea of the survey. He decided to maintain the existing relations between the two provinces. The proposed garrison at Nacog- doches was out of the question because of the expense involved. 5 Illicit trade and the attempted removal of lbarbo. Ever since the reoccupation of Nacogdoches, Gil Ibarbo had been suspected of ulterior motives. Both he and Governor Ripperda had been charged with smug- gling. The suspicion persisted. Anxious to ascertain the true state of 'Instrucciones para los comisionados. Ibid., pp. 182-187. 4 Revillagigedo to Diego Gardoqui, April JO, 1793. A. G. I., Audiencia de Mexico, 96-2-12 (Dunn Transcripts, 1787-1791, pp. 48-53). SThe King to Viceroy Revillagigedo, September 21, 1793. Ibid., p. 54.
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