Our Catliolic H critage in Texas
ciation with French and American traders had predisposed them against the milder and more paternalistic policy in Indian relations generally followed by the Spaniards. The location assigned them between the Sabine and the Trinity was as advantageous for continuing illegal trade relations with the French and the Americans as it was excellent for preventing clashes between the Texas tribes and the newcomers. The admission of the Tinzas and Apalaches, as could be expected, proved to be the spearhead or entering wedge for other equally undependable Louisiana tribes, such as the Choctaws, the Coshates, and the Alabamas, who, making a precedent of the decision favoring the Tinzas and Apa- laches, followed in their wake. Unfortunately, too, the mouth of the Trinity, an important port, soon became a coveted area; and the Spanish officials were, consequently, compelled to move the Indians in order to make room for more ambitious settlers. This action did not increase the love of the new friends, who soon lost faith in their protectors, the Spaniards. Proposal for formal colonization. Heretofore, only individuals had asked for permission to settle in Texas. On April 10, 1804, Father Brady, of whom we have already spoken, and Bernardo Martin Despallier made a formal proposal for the establishment of a colony of Louisiana families. They requested permission to introduce a large number of families from Baton Rouge and Rapide. This may be called the first application for an empresario grant. The petitioners stated that the plan had originally been conceived by Casa Calvo. They explained that most of the families whom they intended to bring were French. They estimated that more than a thousand were ready to abandon their homes in Louisiana in disgust because of American rule. Of these, about two hundred were Spaniards. Most of them were of noble descent, were influential and prosperous citizens who had come to Louisiana while the province was under the jurisdiction of Spain. Some of them had immigrated to the province at royal expense and felt a deep affection for the king. If penni~sion was granted, they would move into Texas just as soon as they were able to dispose of their property. Among the various reasons given for the desire to immigrate, those stressed were the dissatisfaction felt by Catholics with a country in which relig-ious faith and observance had now become a matter of indifference, and the love and affection felt for the benevolent government of Spain. They made an appeal to national pride by declaring that the immigrants
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