27 I
WitledrtrJJal of Queretaran ,J,fissionaries from Texas
brought back, if the civil and military officials had cooperated with the zealous missionaries. Pacheco pointed out that it was publicly known that the governor at Los Adaes had permitted the sale of guns and ammunition by the French to the Indians in the vicinity and down the Trinity to the coast, because he was interested in this trade himself. He suggested that the Indians, who were now at peace with the Spaniards. should be made to join the missions and come to live in them. Those who refused should be considered enemies. He was of the opinion that a more virile policy would cause all the friendly tribes to rally to the Spanish standard and to aid the Spaniards in waging a formal campaign against the Indians of the north. To improve the condition of the missions, the first thing was the appointment of an experienced, upright, honest, and fearless governor with jurisdiction over both Coahuila and Texas. Under his leadership, the forces of the two provinces could be utilized for a single purpose whenever circumstances demanded it. The settlers in the older towns, such as San Antonio, San Juan Bautista, and others, could garrison the presidios while the regular troops were engaged in formal campaigns. An energetic policy, initiated with a few unmistakable successes over the enemy, would do much towards restoring confidence in the might of Spanish arms and inspiring respect for Spanish authority. As to the actual administration of the missions. Pacheco emphatically declared that the system and method developed by the experienced mis- sionaries of the two colleges of Queretaro and Zacatecas could not be improved. The only thing needed to enable the Padres to accomplish their praiseworthy labor of Christianization and civilization was to afford them the cooperation so long denied them. While it was the general practice, it should be made uniform that in each mission there should always be two missionaries. This might entail a slight increase in the cost to the royal treasury, but the benefits derived by the neophytes would more than compensate the added expense. In this manner one could look strictly after the temporal while the other attended to the spiritual welfare of the mission. In case of sickness, the neophytes would not be deprived of spiritual comfort and instruction.n Although the sons of the College of Queretaro withdrew from the missions in Texas, this incident does not mark the end of missionary endeavor. As a matter of fact there was a renewed interest in the extension
lTMartinez Pacheco, Informe, Novembe.r 8, 1772. A. G. /., Auau,seia ti, Guatla• lajara, 104-6-20 (Dunn Tr., 1;,6;, 0 1772), pp. 121-130.
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