01'r Catliolic Heritage in Texas
Nuevo Santander, and Texas, instructed Juan Barrera in San Antonio to take steps to collect the proper tithes from the citizens of the Villa de San Fernando. Barrera appeared before the Reverend Pedro Fuentes, curate and ecclesiastical judge of San Fernando, to request the payment of tithes for the years 1780-1783 on all wild cattle ,md stock caught and branded. He argued in the name of the bishop that whenever a private individual rounded up cattle and stock for the purpose of branding them, whether these be from his private ranch or from the public domain, he was duty bound to pay tithes to the church. Thus the wild cattle and stock declared to be the property of the crown were subject to payment of tithes. The bishop went further and claimed that tithes were likewise payable on the fees collected by royal officials for granting permission to hunt, catch, and brand wild cattle. 32 The curate, Father Fuentes, granted the request and ordered that a copy of the bishop's proclamation be sent to Governor Cabello for him to take notice of the section which pertained to the tithes due on fees collected for the right to catch wild cattle and horses. 33 The governor was somewhat taken aback by the unexpected request. He politely acknowledged receipt of the summons, ordered that a copy be filed, but withheld fulfillment of the request for payment until he could consult on the matter with the commandant general. This he did on May 20, 1784. 34 Protests and efforts to establish legal claim to unbranded cattle and stock. The order of Croix, which had not as yet received royal sanction, was vigorously contested by private individuals and missionaries alike, and frantic efforts were made to round up and brand as many of the wild cattle and horses as possible before a royal decree concerning the matter was issued. In the meantime during the years between 1780 and 1787 many abuses were committed. Soldiers and unscrupulous individuals wantonly slaughtered· large numbers of wild cattle for their hides or for a piece of fresh meat; others drove large herds to the neighboring provinces where •they sold them at ridiculously low prices; and the Indians, UProclamation of Bishop Rafael Jose Verger, April 19, 1784. Saltillo Archives, Vol. 5, pp. 7-11. "Pedro Fuentes to Domingo Cabello, May 13 1 1784. Saltillo Archives, Vol. S, pp. 11-18. 14 Decreto del Gobemador Cabello, May 18 1 1784; Domingo Cabello to Croix, May 20, 1784. Saltillo Archives, Vol. 5, pp. 18-21.
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