Our Cat/1-olic Heritage in Texas
310
His idea was to establish settlements along the road between San Antonio and Nacogdoches as the best means of defence against a possible invasion by the Americans. The commandant general gave his consent to the new plan on December 16, but stipulated that the newly proposed villas were not to be started until the two previously authorized settlements had been established. Cordero, in enlarging upon his original plans, suggested the possibility of utilizing the numerous Louisiana families who were seeking admission into Texas. Although Salcedo approved the plans, he warned that the employment of immigrants in establishing new settlements might prove an unsound policy. He went as far as to say that he thought it unwise to attempt founding that many settlements at one time. He pointed out that the dispersion of the old Spanish settlers and the intermixture of immigrants in the new villas would require many more soldiers to police and protect them. He suggested, therefore, that these Louisiana families be settled preferably in Bexar and La Bahia to replace the inhabitants of these older settlements who, in turn, might move to the new establishments. He recommended, in conclusion, that Cordero start only those villas for which a sufficient number of colonists could be obtained.so But Cordero had made up his mind. He was to find, however, that the inhabitants of San Antonio and La Bahia were not to be lured into abandoning their homes by the inducements of the proclamation. From them came little or no response to the call for volunteers to pioneer in East Texas. San Antonio, it must be remembered, had no surplus popu- lation, and had struggled too long and too hard against the elements, the Indians, and the incompetent officials to be easily drawn from their homes to start life anew on the frontier. But the news of the projected settlement on the Trinity did arouse considerable interest in Louisiana. A citizen of Opelousas, for example, wrote to Simon McKoy, one of Nolan's associates, stating that the people of Opelousas, who were quite dissatisfied with American rule, had heard that the Spaniards were planning to establish a new town on the Trinity and were offering many inducements to settlers. Because the rumor had become widespread, many inhabitants of Opelousas were selling their lands and preparing to immigrate in the hope of finding new homes.st
I'
: ' ' , I : I
;,
I
I I' I
sosalcedo to Cordero, December 16, 1805. Be:rar Archives. 51 Hatcher, The Opening of Te:ras to Foreign Settlement, IOI.
Powered by FlippingBook