Ottr Catleolic Heritage in Texas
to use the families of the troops to form the nucleus of new civil settle- ments. The policy of permitting the soldiers to remain in the growing communities as permanent settlers after the expiration of their term of service had accomplished the desired effect, for around each presidio there had developed a settlement, pueblo, or villa. It was time, therefore, Cordero thought, to put into effect in Coahuila and Texas the royal decree of May 30, 1804, which authorized the reorganization of the presidios along the entire frontier of New Spain and the creation of provincial regiments to take over the responsibility of defence. 85 Simon de Herrera, too, concurred in the opinion that the presidial companies should be suppressed, and that militia regiments should be organized in Coahuila and Texas. But he would not admit that the presidial troops had accomplished their primary object, the protection of the settlements against the Indians. He argued that if these troops had been unable to afford adequate protection against disorganized hordes of natives, they could hardly be expected to stand up against the disciplined troops of the United States. He urged the organization of provincial regiments as the solution to the problem of creating an effective force for defence. Nemesio Salcedo was sufficiently removed from the frontier and the viceroy to see in a truer perspective the problems confronting the Interior Provinces as a whole. He sensed the danger to Spanish authority in the proposed provincial regiments. What, he queried, was to prevent rebellion against Spain by these provincial troops, these local volunteers who were far removed from the interior of Mexico and constantly exposed to insidious propaganda? It would be unwise, he said, to train and arm these men, and thereby give the Interior Provinces a military organi- zation that might be used to attain independence. Even before Bonavia sent the arguments of his collaborators to bolster his contention, Com- mandant General Salcedo had made up his mind. He had written Bonavia on July 9 that he did not consider the organization of provincial militia forces in Coahuila and Texas essential to their defence. The presidial companies had protected and were still protecting the civilian settlements in their vicinity. These companies, in addition, contributed to the devel- opment of the settlements by furnishing ready markets for the agri- cultural products of the community. 86 Bonavia registered his disappointment in a lengthy and interesting letter to Antonio Corne!, Spain's Secretary of War. After summarizing
15 Cordero to Bonavia, July 21, 1809. Be:r:ar Archives. 16 N. Salcedo to Bonavia, July 9, 1809. Be:r:ar Archives.
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