Our Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
from the United States. If there had been some indifference in the past, and if there had been some who doubted the serious menace which the enterprising Anglo-American pioneer represented, they were all convinced now that no trust was to be placed in their friendship. When claims were advanced to all of Texas as part of the Province of Louisiana, Spanish officials were not surprised, and the viceroy ordered Simon Herrera of Nuevo Leon and Antonio Cordero, then governor of Texas, to prevent the advance of General Wilkinson beyond the Sabine. Almost twelve hundred men were mobilized to face the new crisis. Little wonder that three years later Zebulon M. Pike's intrusion was eyed with such suspicion and misgivings, and that the activities of Aaron Burr were viewed with deep concern. American reaction to tlte retrocession of Loteisiana to France. The retrocession of Louisiana to France created a widespread feeling of genuine alarm among both the officials and the people of the United States, particularly in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. As long as this important province was held by Spain, the Americans felt that no serious difficulty over the navigation of the Mississippi would arise. But in the hands of the powerful and ambitious emperor of the French, Louisiana represented a serious menace to the future welfare and development of the West. The leaders in the Western states immediately denounced the transfer in loud terms. By the spring of 1802, when the retrocession became generally known, public opinion openly advo- cated forceful opposition to the military occupation of Louisiana by Napoleon. 41 As early as November 21, 1801, Rufus King, American minister in London, had written to Secretary Madison to confirm the rumor of the acquisition of Louisiana by France. He had explained at that time the plans of Napoleon for the military occupation of the province and his intention of using Santo Domingo as a base.' 9 In the face of the mounting indignation of public opinion, Jefferson at first favored prudence and an amicable settlement through diplomacy rather than a declaration of war against France as advocated by the Federalists. But in a letter to Livingston, minister in Paris, he outlined the policy contemplated by the American Government in view of the circumstances. This letter is "Geer, Curtis M., The Loui.siana Purchase and the Westward Movement. (History of North America, S. C. Lee, editor, VIII, 185-189.) 49 /bid., 190-191.
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