Ottr Catliolic H eritagc in Texas
340
marshals for Mexico. The Due de Berg was instructed to put the Flora in readiness to take the new viceroy to Mexico, and transport 3,000 guns, armaments, and the munitions necessary to assure the desired result. But Cuesta refused the appointment, because he was in ill health; and before anyone could assume the office, l\'Iexico had taken steps to resist all of Napoleon's efforts to take over the Government in Mexico. 6 The Emperor's strategy seemingly called for general discontent, par- ticularly discord between the Creoles and the Spaniards in the colonies, and a pro-French party to make it possible for him to bring the rebellious colonies directly under the protectorate of France. In this scheme of things it was of the utmost importance to penetrate Mexico either by way of Vera Cruz or through the northern frontiers of New Spain. Hence, the importance of Texas. He, accordingly, sent to the United States as chief of his emissaries a certain Desmoland, who was to dis- patch special agents to various points in the Spanish colonies. Their task was to foment discord and win the colonies over to France and Napoleon. 7 The Emperor planned to use for his own ends the division existing between the upper clergy, or Peninsular Spaniards, and the lower clergy, or Creoles. He hoped to gain the support of the Creoles by holding out to them the possibility of establishing with his aid an independent Government which they could control. Tfte Geueral D'Alvimar incident. The Spanish officials in Mexico were not ignorant of·Napoleon's plans or of his agents. Early in May Commandant Gener~l Nemesio Salcedo warned Governor Cordero of what was impending. He had received confidential information that a certain General Alvina, an Italian member of the Legion of Honor, had just arrived in the United States with a group of French officers. Their plan was to proceed by way of Philadelphia and New Orleans across the frontier to arouse the peaceful inhabitants of New Spain to revolt. The governor was instructed to maintain patrols at Nacogdoches and all other posts along the frontier and coast. Strangers presenting passports from the Court of Spain with the purpose of gaining admis- sion into Spanish territory were to be permitted to proceed under escort 6 Correspo11da11ce de Napoleon fer, XVII, 237; 246-248; 297. General Castana was offered the position, but the Marquis de St. Simon, it seems, was finally appointed. 7 Bancroft, History of Mexico, IV, 70-81; Hatcher, T/1e Ope11ing of Texas to Foreign Settlement, Appendix Is; Fisher, Lillian E., Tlte Bac/,:grotmd of the Revolution for Mexica11 lndepe11de11ce, 365.
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