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Ottr C atl,olic Heritage in Texas
be traded for a pint of liquor. The Spaniards knew this and were anxious to take advantage of them. Contrary to the general belief, the mission communal property, if divided among the neophytes, was insufficient to furnish each one the means of an independent livelihood. They depended chiefly on the crops raised from year to year, and these were the result of the sympathetic but firm supervision of the missionaries. Nevertheless, the Discretor-io concluded that the best thing to do would be to distribute equitably all common property among the neophytes, giving each his share of the stores in the mission farms, and dividing among them the cattle, the farm implements, and all other belongings. The missionaries would keep only the churches, the priest's quarters, and the things necessary to continue their spiritual ministration. The royal salary, if continued, would suffice to meet their needs. They would expect nothing from the neophytes. They would require only a boy to run errands for them and a young Indian girl to grind their corn and make tortillas ( corn cakes) for them. The signers of the petition were the elders of the college, Fathers Joaquin Maria Manzano, Anastasio de Jesus Romero, Jose Patricio Garcia de Jesus, Ignacio Maria Jose Lanunza, and Ignacio Benigno del Rio. 29 Royal order for new reg1'lations for administration of missions. In June of the same year ( 1780) the king issued an order instructing the viceroy to formulate new regulations for the administration of the missions. He was to request the oldest and most experienced missionaries, as well as the civil officials, who were qualified by experience to speak authoritatively, to make suggestions for the improvement of mission administration. These proposals were to be analyzed and incorporated in the new regulations which were to be submitted to the bishops of Guadalajara and Durango for their final revision and approval. Such regulations as were thus drawn up could be put into operation by the viceroy, subject to final confirmation by the Council of the Indies. When the royal order was transmitted to the commandant general of the Interior Provinces, the Caballero -de Croix, he referred the matter to Galindo Navarro, his assessor. By this time the petition of the Discretorio had been received. Galindo replied that in the adoption of new regulations, the most important point was the administration of the
29 Petltion of the Discretorio of the College of Guadalupe to Caballero de Croix, January I 3, I 780. Saltillo Archives, Vol. S, pp. 2-4.
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