Our Catltolic Heritage in Texas
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of settlers. He pleaded with the military commander to make these people see what they were losing by their rash action. The governor believed that Bonavia should give them assurance so as to allay their fears and that they should be detained by force if necessary. He should show them that they were throwing away the rights they had acquired at great personal sacrifice, that they were endangering their faith, and that they were branding themselves as traitors by leaving at this time. 60 Bonavia tried to reassure the governor, who seems to have been unduly concerned about the panic that had seized the inhabitants of East Texas. He pointed out that there were no legal means to prevent foreigners from leaving the province if they chose to depart. It was also impossible to prohibit Spanish subjects from emigrating except those who were fleeing from justice. In that case, they could be apprehended and put in prison until their trial. As for those who had succeeded in leaving and were now in Louisiana, Bonavia believed that the only recourse was to request the Spanish consul at New Orleans to make an effort to induce them to return to their former homes in Texas. 61 When Commandant General Salcedo learned of the proclamation issued by Governor Salcedo in Nacogdoches, he was again furious. Unacquainted with the conditions that had prompted the governor to take this step, he judged the action as an unpardonable disregard of authority. The governor had not only exceeded his authority by inviting foreigners into Texas, but had also taken to himself sovereign powers by granting a pardon in the name of the king without consulting royal officials. He reminded the governor that even he, the commandant general of the Interior Provinces, had no power· to grant such a pardon or to offer complete amnesty to criminals. Those who had left the province with their stock had violated the trading regulations, he asserted, and should be tried for this crime upon their presentation to the authorities. He, therefore, ordered Governor Salcedo to issue strict instructions to all frontier officers to disregard the terms of the proclamation, and to arrest all those who in response to it presented themselves within their jurisdiction. They were to be held until they were tried for the crimes they had committed prior to their leaving the province. 62 Governor Salcedo suddenly found himself in a dilemma, but was just as suddenly relieved from his embarrassing position by an unexpected
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60 M. de Salcedo to Bonavia, October 5, 1810. Be:rar Arclzives. 61 Bonavia to M. de Salcedo, October 6 (?), 1810. Bexar Archives. 62 N. Salcedo to M. de Salcedo, October 2, 1810. Bexar Arcliives.
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