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Frenclt Intervention in Spain and Its Reaction in Texas
1J1ameel de Salcedo's suggest.=ons. Unlike Cordero, the new governor, Manuel de Salcedo, who had lived in Louisiana and consequently had the advantage of knowing the Government and people of the United States. was of the opinion that Texas was more seriously threatened at this time than ever before. The ambitious claims of the Americans plus their extensive and growing trade with the Indians represented a real danger. The province in its present condition was helpless before their resolute advance. It could not withstand American encroachments unless it could get more settlers and soldiers. His estimate of the population was more than liberal, however, for he declared that there were approxi- mately 8,000 persons exclusive of the I ,069 soldiers. His figure must have included the Indians in the province. After paying high tribute to the sturdy and resourceful Spanish settlers in Texas, Governor de Salcedo declared that the Americans were still more resourceful than the Spaniards, and were by nature sturdy, courageous, and enterprising. The Texas setup was inadequate to prevent the Americans from penetrating the Spanish dominions. He cited numerous instances of Americans' entering Texas without a permit and travelling from New Madrid, Natchez, Natchitoches, and other places in Louisiana far into the interior. Don Manuel's purpose in extolling American prowess was to impress upon Bonavia, the new com- mander, the absolute necessity of obtaining additional troops and settlers for more effectively enforcing a policy of exclusion. To offset the natural abilities of the Americans, the officials of New Spain could depend only on the loyalty of the Spaniards in Texas and the attachment of the people in lower Louisiana to the king of Spain, the superb horsemanship and inexhaustible supply of horses of the Spaniards, their intimate knowledge of the country, and their friendship with the Indians who had for years traded with them. The new governor believed that attain- ment of parity with the Americans required the reenforcement of the scattered Texas establishments with troops and settlers. Referring to the proposed retirement from Nacogdoches, Governor de Salcedo resolutely opposed that move and any other plan calling for the abandonment of places now held by the Spaniards. He agreed with ex-Governor Cordero that such a step would but invite new encroach- ments by the Americans, who would advance as quickly as the Spaniards retired. The governor proposed, therefore, that the entire frontier along the Sabine be reenforced, that new posts be established at such points as might be deemed advisable, and that the co.1.st, likewise. be garrisoned.
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