011,r Catliolic Heritage in, Texas
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affairs and to put an end to all trade with Louisiana, the viceroy requested Juan Ugalde to order the governor to institute a secret investigation. Martinez Pacheco, governor ad interim, explained that, although he was convinced of the guilt of lbarbo, he dared not carry out the instructions at this time because of the many friends of the commander of Nacog- doches and the fear that the investigation might incite the Indians to rebellion. 6 The influence of lbarbo over the natives had been recognized by Ripperda and Croix before. Martinez Pacheco suggested a more diplomatic way of removing the enterprising pioneer. He could be sum- moned for a personal interview and not be permitted to return. But Ugalde, experienced in the ways of the frontier and the character of the natives, decided to postpone the investigation until he could attend to the matter in person. 7 The fiscal, however, unacquainted with conditions in distant Nacog- doches, urged that formal judicial proceedings be instituted without delay. Equally unacquainted with the antecedents of Ibarbo, he raised the perennial questions of who had appointed him lieutenant-governor, how much salary he was receiving, how long he had been residing in Nacogdoches, and how much property he owned.' The facts are that it was Governor Cabello who first referred to lbarbo as "Captain of Militia and Lieutenant-governor of Nacogdoches" in a letter to Croix late in December, 1779, and who notified Ibarbo on March II, 1780, that a salary of five hundred pesos had been assigned to him. 9 When informed of the circumstances, the fiscal recommended that the new governor, Don Manuel Munoz, an officer of known integrity, be instructed to undertake the secret investigation. 10 The new viceroy, acting upon the recommendations of the fiscal and the reports of Ugalde, instructed Governor Mufioz to investigate secretly the charges against Ibarbo and to report his opinion on the advisability of maintaining Nacogdoches. Ugalde, who seems to have conceived a deep hatred for Ibarbo, had charged that he was incapable as an admin- istrator, that he engaged in illicit trade and was responsible for the
6Rafael Martinez Pacheco to Juan Ugalde, March 9, 1789. A. G. Al., Historia, Vol. 93, pp. 34-35.
7 Juan Ugalde to Manuel Flores, April 18, 1789. Ibid., pp. 35-37. 1 Dictamen Fiscal, May 28, 1789. A.G. Al., Historia, Vol. 93, p. 39.
9 Domingo Cabello to Teodoro de Croix, December 17, 1799; Cabello to Gil lbarbo, March 11, 1780. Bexar Archives. Ibarbo presented a copy of the letter shortly after this inquiry as proof of his official appointment. 19 Dictamen Fiscal, November 22, 1790. A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 93, pp. 46-47.
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