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From San Lorenzo to Retrocession of Louisiana, 1795-1801
The matter was brought to a head at Natchez through the activity of a Baptist minister by the name of Hanna, an itinerant pioneer preacher. Permission was obtained on June 4 for him to hold a quiet meeting in Ellicott's camp. The news spread rapidly, and a large crowd gathered to witness the unusual sight. The enthusiastic minister in his fervor denounced Catholicism. He was reprimanded by Gayoso a few days later. His impudent reply resulted in his prompt arrest and an order on June 9 that he be put in the stocks. In vain did he appeal to Ellicott, who wrote in his / oumal that he "spent a great part of the night devising plans to direct the commotion that was now inevitable to the advantage of the United States, without committing either the government or its officers." The next day a mob forced Gayoso to take refuge in the fort, and for twelve days the boundary commissioner and governor of Natchez was a virtual prisoner until terms were dictated by the rebellious citizens who were encouraged in their actions, guided in fact, by Ellicott. 20 Although the incident just narrated may seem unrelated to Texas, it had a very direct bearing on the policy ultimately adopted by the Spanish officials for the defence of the province, and should be considered in relation to other contemporary incidents to fully understand the e,·ents that followed in Texas. lames Wilkinson and his scleemcs. A singular character, as_unscrupu- lous as he was shrewd, a double-crossing villain, a good-natured rogue, this man played a sinister roll upon the Spanish frontier. At the close of the war for American independence, he retired from the army with the rank of colonel and brigadier-general by brevet. In 1787 he was engaged in business in Kentucky. In June of that year he arrived in New Orleans with a cargo of tobacco, flour, butter, and bacon, which were promptly seized by Spanish officials. He appears to ha,·e won the confidence of Governor Mir6 shortly afterwards, however, and to have ingratiated himself with Mir6 by a memorial which he presented at this time. The goods were released, and before the close of the year Wilkinson had sold them at a handsome profit without paying a cent of duty. The secret of his success is found in the proposals made to Go,·ernor Mir6 in his memorial. He argued that the settlers of the West had an inalienable right to follow the rivers flowing from their country to the sea. Spain was pursuing a short-sighted policy in attempting to close the Mississippi to them. They were greatly aroused b,· the rumors that
20 Ellicott, / ournal, 98-1 02.
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