Tlee Secularization of tlze Missions
59
Munoz, he, on July 14, wrote Father Cardenas, president of the Zacatecan missions, and actually instructed him that the former mission Indians were not to be required to render any service in the construction, com- pletion or repair of parish churches or ministers' quarters. Furthermore, they were not to contribute their labor for the construction, maintenance, or repair of the primary school buildings. If they agreed to work on any of these projects, the previous consent of the commandant general was required. Father Cardenas replied on July 20 that he had taken due notice of the new regulations concerning the labor of natives on public works and had issued instructions to all the missionaries accordingly. 30 To Nava's request for an opinion, Governor Munoz replied on August 14. He explained that the material resources of the Indians were very limited, as proved by the records of the distribution of the mission property. Nevertheless, the natives were morally bound as parishioners to contribute to the maintenance and repair of their churches, the curates' homes, and their schools. They could either render personal labor in the repair of these buildings or pay out of the communal funds of the new pueblos an amount equivalent to the value of the labor. These funds were the result of communal labor on the common lands ( ejidos} and were intended for meeting debts incurred in procuring common benefits to the pueblos. He pointed out that this was even provided by the Laws of the Indies in Book 6, Title 4, Law 6. With regard to a primary teacher, Governor Munoz was of the opinion that this essential expense should be met also out of the funds of the community treasury. At this time the number of children in the pueblos of the four secularized missions was small and there was no pressing need for primary schools. Nevertheless, in drawing up regulations defining the economic obligations of the common funds of the new pueblos, the governor thought it would be wise to include an adequate amount for the payment of primary school teachers. 31 With characteristic deliberation, the points brought up by Governor Munoz, as well as other matters by different officials, were referred to the mature judgment of the A sesor (legal advisor) of the Provincias Internas, who after more than two years finally rendered a long and 3 °Fray Jose Mariano Cardenas to Pedro Nava, July 20, I 794. Saltillo Arcl,ives, Vol. VI, p. 94. 31 Manuel Muiioz to Pedro Nava, August 14, 1794. Saltillo Arc/rives, Vol. VI, pp. 183-187.
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