Plans for tlze Reorga11i::atio11 of tke Frontier
243
no consideration, if the northern frontier was considered as a single unit extending from the west coast of California Bay to Texas. Equally reprehensible was the disregard of the welfare of the garrisons enlisted and maintained at the expense of the king for the protection of his dominions. The chief source of discontent and injustice was the failure to pay the soldiers in cash or specie. The practice of paying them in kind and of making the commanders the purchasing agents and distributors of supplies was directly responsible for the wretched conditions that prevailed in every presidio. If the soldiers were paid in specie, their hardships would disappear, and flourishing settlements would soon spring up in the vicinity of presidios, attracted by the inducement of commerce.5' There were no regulations concerning the term of enlistment. This matter worked a grave injustice. Once a man signed for duty on a frontier presidio, he could not get an honorable discharge except at the pleasure of the captain. The only way he could leave his post was by desertion or death. There were men who had served faithfully twenty-six years, who were now old and ready to retire, but who would not be granted an honorable discharge. Furthermore, a system of pensions should be established to reward those who served the best years of their lives, or who became disabled while in the performance of duty. The nature of the service expected of presidia! troops made good mounts indispensable. Each presidio should be required to keep a minimum of two hundred fresh horses on reserve. Furthermore, the rifles and pistols supplied to the troops should be of uniform caliber and preferably imported from Spain to insure better quality. A proper uniform should be designed for these troops and every man should be required to wear it while on duty. The maintenance of their arms and uniforms in good condition might be accomplished by frequent reviews and inspections. Each presidio along the frontier should have in addition to its garrison eight or ten Indian guides and scouts, who should be considered part of the enlisted men and to whom regular pay and supplies should be assigned. They should be on the same footing as the soldiers. Their services were indispensable to the duties of presidia! troops. Lastly, regulations should be adopted concerning prize:- and booty obtained in campaigns waged against native:-. The general practice in vogue was that booty obtained was distributed amon~ the settlers of the presidios that volunteered for the campaign. This was fair and just, since these men received no pay and sacrificed their time and risked their )i\"es
5'Missionaries in Texas had ad\·ocatcd this mea~urc repeatedly.
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