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Ow· Catliolic H e1·itage in T e:xas
Governor Cabello had too fine a record of service 17 to warrant giving serious consideration to the accusations of partisan treatment to the unfortunate settlers of Los Adaes. His hesitation in carrying out the order for seculari- zation is to be found in his conviction that so radical and sweeping an innovation should come from the king. He was not sympathetic with the A daesanos because he suspected their indolence and insistence on being taken care of by the government. Croix was a bit disappointed to learn that his orders of June 8, 1779, had not been carried out. After consulting Galindo Navarro, he wrote a sharp note to Governor Cabello on March 21, 1i81, ordering him to put into effect the former instructions given him for the secularization of Mission Valero. 11 But apparently the second order met with no better observance than the first, and Mission Valero was not secularized at this time. Nevertheless, Croix reported the matter to the king on August 27, 1781, as an accom- plished fact, asking for his approval. On May 6, of the following year, he was informed by Jose de Galvez that the settlement of the former inhabitants of Los Adaes on the lands of Mission Valero had been approved by the king. It was to be understood, however, that upon the conclusion of the war with the English now in progress (American Revolution) the A daesanos were to be established in a new settlement on the San Marcos, a locality thought to be more advantageous for the purpose of defence of the province. 19 Thus the secularization of Mission Valero received royal approval, but in fact it was not carried out at this time. The approval in principle was an ominous portent that foretold the approaching end of the missions in Texas. They were soon to pass away and to become milestones in the history of the State. 17 Governor Cabello was a native of old Castilla. He had risen from sub-lieutenant to the rank of Colonel from 1741 to 1 777. He had seen service in Portugal, Toledo, and Havana, where he had fought bravely against the English in 1762, and was rewarded for his bravery by the appointment as governor of Nicaragua. From here he came to Texas. A. G. I., A udie11cia de Guadalajara, I 04-6-20 (Dunn Transcripts, 1777 to 1780), pp. 235-239. 11 Croix to Governor Cabello, March 21, 1781. A. G. JI,/., Historia, Vol. SI, pp. 454-455. 19 Jose de Galvez to Croix, May 6, 1782. A. G. Al., u;storia, Vol. 51, p. 457.
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