Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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\Vhen the matter was reported to Salcedo, whom Pike described as "a middle-sized man, apparently about fifty-five years of age, with a stern countenance," the cautious and worried commandant of the Interior Provinces again advised the utmost tact to prevent an open break. As he was sick, he did not feel like writing at length. He recommended that Cordero read carefully his letter of January 17. He suggested that the Americans be told that "until. the boundary is defined, setting the limits of the provinces of Louisiana and Texas, no point may be aban- doned that has until now been known to be within the territorial limits of Spain." He reiterated his disapproval of the plan to call out provincial troops and declared that whatever men should be needed were to be drawn from Nuevo Leon and Nuevo Santander. The viceroy had already issued instructions to this effect. 16 Suggestions for establisliment of a neutral zone. Salcedo was the first to propose that the area between the Arroyo Hondo and the Sabine be declared neutral ground as a means to prevent a rupture. In a letter to Cordero on February 24, 1806, after repeating that the action of Rodriguez in establishing new posts at Comichi and La Nana had been ill-advised, he declared that a return to the status quo was highly desirable. He instructed Governor Cordero, therefore, to send an officer to Natchitoches to explain to the commander that the territory between the Arroyo Hondo and the Sabine was to be considered neutral and until the boundary was defined, neither party was "to advance within the area designated. Here, then, are the essentials of the agreement e\'entually entered into with Wilkinson nine months later. On March 23 Cordero informed the commandant general that he had followed his instructions in regard to the neutral ground proposal and had ordered the additional troops concentrated at Nacogdoches to return to their former stations. He assured Salcedo that all efforts would be made to prevent an outbreak of hostilities. Intent on avoiding a breach, Salcedo once more advised moderation on the frontier when he informed the governor on April 4 that Francisco Viana, an experienced officer and inspector of military outposts, was to take charge of the garrison at Nacogdoches. Cordero was to instruct Viana to use the utmost dis- cretion in dealing with any situation that might arise. 87 "Salcedo to Cordero, February 23, 1806. Nacogdoches Archives, X, pp. 74-76; Pike, ExploraJory Travels, 265. 17Salcedo to Cordero, February 24 and April 4, 1806. Nacogdoches Archives, X, pp. 77-81, and 89-94. Pike remarks in his diary that Viana was a capable officer but had failed to be promoted because be was too outspoken. Pike, op. cit., 293.
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