II
011r Catliolic Heritage in Texas
Approval of recommendations of Sierra Gorda. The report was sent to the fiscal, who, on November 13, suggested the whole matter be referred to a ftmta S11-perior (Superior Council). The two plans proposed and the report of the Count of Sierra Gorda were fully discussed on December 22, at which time the Council voted that no change be made in regard to Nacogdoches, but that orders be issued for the secularization of Mission Valero in accordance with the suggestions of Sierra Gorda, and that the other four missions be reduced to two. 9 The corresponding orders were accordingly issued on January 9 and 24, li93· While it was the intention that only Mission Valero be turned over to the ordinary and that the other four missions be consolidated as two, the execution of the decree carried the process to its inevitable end, the complete seculari- zation of all the San Antonio missions. Copies of the decree were sent to the bishop of Monterrey, to the governor of Texas, and to the president of the missions at San Antonio. The order of the viceroy was received by Governor Munoz at La Bahia, where he had gone after his return to Texas. There he issued a proclamation on February 23, 1793, commanding the immediate execution of the viceregal decree just received and giving instructions as to the manner in which all property was to be listed, how it was to be distributed, and what was to be done with what remained after the mission Indians were given their share. 10 On April 11,· 1793, Governor Munoz summoned Fray Jose Francisco Lopez, president of the missions in San Antonio under the administra- tion of the College of Zacatecas, and informed him officially of the decree concerning the secularization of Mission San Antonio de Valero (present Alamo). He was accordingly instructed to make an inventory of all the sacred vessels, ornaments, vestments, and other church property, and to give each Indian a yoke of oxen, a plow, a harrow, a hoe, an axe, and a milk cow with a calf. The governor, aided by Pedro Huizar, the surveyor, would take care of the distribution of the land.11 T/1e wppression of Mission Valero. Without loss of time, Father Lopez appointed Fray Jose Francisco Lozano, missionary of Valero, to proceed at once with the distribution of supplies, implements, and stock to the neophytes. This took place that 'Galindo Navarro to Commandant General Nava, June 26, 1794. A. G. /., Auduncia de Guadalajara, 104-1-1. (Dunn Transcripts, 1794-1798, pp. 14-33.) l0Auto de! Gobernador Manuel Munoz, February 23, 1793. Saltillo Archives, Vol. V, p. 227. llAuto de! Gobernador, April I 1, 1793. Saltillo Arcl,ives, Vol. V, pp. 234-236.
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