Our Catholic Haitage in Texas
with persons who would only have to be deported later, the commandant general instructed Cordero at this time to refer all applicants in the future to him and to admit no one under any circumstances without his previous consent. 54 Thus, at long last Salcedo took matters into his own hands to put a definite stop to the infiltration of unscrupulous and disloyal adventurers, who tried to take advantage of the royal decree of September 24, 1803, which had opened the Spanish dominions to the king's former subjects in Louisiana. This was the first step in putting an effectual stop to the flow of immigration. Salcedo, while not minimizing the danger from Frenchmen to the Spanish colonies, still believed that the interest of the United States in the vast territories of His Majesty might prove a still greater menace. His apprehensions, as well as those of Viceroy Pedro de Garibay, were considerably increased early in 1809, by a dispatch from Valentin de Foronda, charge d'affaires in Philadelphia. He warned that a large fleet was being assembled at Norfolk to transport 4,000 troops to New Orleans. Foronda reported that he had inquired from the United States Government the purpose of this expedition but had received only an evasive answer. Perhaps they were going down to observe the movements of the Eng1ish, who, he said, "had signified their intention of visiting their friends, the Spaniards, at Baton Rouge." But rumors were current to the effect that more troops were to descend the Mississippi, and that Congress expected to call out 50,000 volunteers, who were to be placed under the command of the troublesome Wilkinson. 55 Tlze spectre of Frenclz and American aggression. The preparations of the United States, suspiciously warlike, were confirmed by Vicente Folch, governor of West Florida, who suspected Napoleon of instigating, or at least abetting, the American move on the Spanish colonies. Strangely enough, the Marques de Someruelos, Captain General of Cuba, also warned Viceroy Garibay at about this same time that Napoleon was supporting the plans of the United States to further his own ambitions of conquest. He urged the viceroy, there- fore, not to lose one moment in fortifying the defences of Texas, Louis- iana, and Florida. It was useless to expect aid from Spain, he observed, because the mother country was already calling upon her colonies to help her defeat France. Vidal, whose loyalty was open to doubt because
54 Salcedo to Cordero, March 13, 1809. Bexar Archives. SSForonda to N. Salcedo, January 6, 1809. Bexar Archives.
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