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Our Catliolic Heritage i11, Texas
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proclamation admitting Louisianans. He brought with him his wife, Rosa Francisca Vechan, and two servants, Pedro Esteban and Pedro Flogny. His wife, who was a native of Naples, showed her marriage certificate signed by a priest in New York City to prove that she was a Catholic. Pedro Esteban said he was a German and a Catholic, but he was unable to prove that he had been baptized. The fourth member of the party, Pedro Flogny, stated that he was a Frenchman and a Catholic and maintained that his baptismal certificate had been lost during the Negro insurrection in Santo Domingo. It was evident that of the seven, only the woman and the boy could produce satisfactory evidence to prove that they were Catholics. In spite of the explicit regulation barring non-Catholics, they were, nevertheless, all permitted to settle in Texas. In the report on the investigation, the governor commented on each one of the immigrants. He remarked that Larrua was "b11eno," and made the observation that since Rumanoli was young and single, he might make a useful citizen of Bexar. He contended that because the Michamps had been legally married, there were no grounds for refusing them. He approved of Esteban for the strange reason that he had a trade, and tradesmen were needed. As for Flogny, Cordero admitted that he really did not meet requirements, nor did he have anything in particular to recommend him; hut he let Flogny remain, for a still stranger reason, to save the expense and inconvenience of sending him back to Louisiana. 33 The case of Carlos Tessier was an even more flagrant violation of the immigration law-and that with the full connivance of Governor Salcedo. Early in November, the commander of Atascosito reported the arrival of Carlos Tessier from Louisiana, who declared that he was on his way to Bexar with some personal property and certain effects belonging to the new governor's wife. Although he interned the crew of Tessier's vessel until he received further orders, he permitted Tessier to continue his journey to Bexar because he had a passport. Governor Manuel de Salcedo was an old friend of Tessier's, whom he had met in Louisiana, and he wished to employ him as his secretary. But Com- mandant General N. Salcedo refused to approve the appointment. Deter- mined to keep his protege in Texas, the governor advised him to make formal application for settlement in Villa de Salceao, and gave him permission to remain in that settlement until he obtained action on his petition. The governor went further. He was willing to extend
33 Report on Larrua and party, October 11, 1808. Bexaf' A,-c/iiv4s.
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