Our Cat/1olic Heritage in Texas
without delay. But the new soldiers should be enlisted for a period not to exceed five or six years, after which time these men and their families would remain at the new post as settlers. It would be well to select the recruits with care to make certain of their character, their ability to get along with the natives, and their steadfastness of purpose. They should be informed that lands and water will be assigned them at the end of their period of military service. The cordial relations between France and Spain and the friendly attitude of the Indians made a permanent garrison unnecessary. He next took up in detail the importance of selecting a suitable site for the new establishment with the greatest care. The governor should be ordered to make a thorough exploration of the Trinity mouth area, accompanied by the missionaries from East Texas and other persons of experience, and choose with them the best site for the purpose. The place selected should not only have good arable land, be capable of irrigation, and have timber and pastures, but it should be strategically located to check French incursions and protect the Indians against illicit traders. The question of the sale of cattle to the French in Louisiana had been raised by the Governor in his recent communication. On this point the Fiscal was of the opinion that there was no harm in allowing the Spanish settlers in Texas to sell their surplus cattle to the French, provided only the surplus, over and above all the needs of the Spanish province, was thus sold. But this trade should be strictly for cash. This arrangement would be fair in view of the scarcity of meat in Louisiana and the fact that in the past the French had supplied the Spaniards with grain and other commodities when these were needed. 29 The questions and considerations raised by the Fiscal were submitted to the Junta on February 4, together with all the documentary evidence accumulated on the subject. The viceroy presided in person, but even his august presence did not bring about an unanimity of opinion. As a matter of fact most of the questions were left undecided and only the general policy as to the principles governing the action to be taken was approved, leaving the details and concrete decisions to the discretion of the viceroy. On February 12, 1756, the Marques de las Amarillas drew up a decree, giving detailed instructions for the immediate cccupation of the lower Trinity River. He ordered that the site, where the French had been arrested on tht: Trinity, ht: occupied by a detachment of thirty men under the command of a lieutenant. At the same time, a mission was to be erected 19 /bid., pp. 143-157,
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