Our C atliolic H c1·itage in T ezas
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But Spanish officials, too, had become suspicious of the activity of the Americans in Louisiana among the various Texas tribes. In June, 1805, Salcedo informed Cordero that he had learned on good authority that the United States had sent a formal invitation to the Taovayas on Red River to attend a meeting. The commandant general suggested to Cordero that he write to the Marques de Casa Calvo to ask him to file a protest. He. also advised that more details about the incident and the proposed meeting be secured from the natives. He reminded the governor it would be well to attempt to impress upon the Indians the importance of being friends of the Spaniards. Suspicions grew apace and by August, the commandant general wrote Cordero that the United States was contemplating hostilities along the eastern frontier of Texas. To reenforce the Nacogdoches garrison against any contingency, he recommended that Cordero take there such troops as he could muster. As governor of Coahuila and Texas, Cordero was authorized to transfer as many troops from the former to the latter as he deemed advisable. He was warned to be constantly alert to prevent a surprise. 70 Salcedo, because of the growing tensity on the frontier, felt that it would be best to stop all trade and communication between the settlers of Louisiana and Texas. The commandant general issued detailed instruc- tions designed to stop all trade, but more particularly the sale of horses and mules to Americans in Louisiana. He went so far as to authorize the governor to publish a proclamation imposing the death penalty for the sale of horses and mules to the enemy. He assured Cordero that, on the first certain indication of hostilities on the part of the United States, he would come to his aid in person, bringing arms, munitions, saddles, horses, and all available men. At this time he suggested as a war measure that, should hostilities break out, Cordero might issue a proclamation declaring free all negro slaves who entered the dominions of Spain. It was against this measure that the Americans in Natchitoches so loudly protested. 71 The dependency of East Texas on supplies from Natchitoches and from other neighboring French settlements is revealed by the request of Governor Cordero that the trade restrictions recommended by Salcedo be relaxed. In November, 1805, the governor wrote the commandant 70Nemesio Salcedo to Antonio Cordero, June 17, and August 6, 1805. Nacog- doches Archives, X, pp. 25, and 28-29. 71Salcedo to Cordero, August 20, 1805. Nacogdoches Archives, X, pp. 30-31. See page 250 for protest against harboring of negro slaves at Nacogdoches.
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