The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 16
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16 Texas Historical Association Quayrterly.
by which it could be traversed as would enable them easily to carry
on illicit trade with Mexico. In short, the commerce of the north
was threatened with destruction; the valuable mines were liable to
immediate discovery; and the province of Texas was in imminent
danger of being possessed by the encroaching French. To guard
against these dire contingencies, the fiscal recommended two meas-
ures to be pTit into effect at once: the governors of the northern
provinces must be instructed carefully to prohibit the further
entrance of the French upon Spanish territory, and the missions
must be re-established upon the eastern frontier. To accomplish
the latter object Olivares and Hidalgo and one other friar should
be sent without delay into the country of the Tejas to found a mis-
sion for the purpose of instructing the heathen savages in the holy
Catholic faith. Moral or religious considerations had little weight
in fixing this determination; the principal argument in favor of
a second missionary venture was that with the proper instruction
the Indians would become more firmly bound to the Spanish, and
would serve as a barrier against the further advance of the French.
Watchfulness and constant activity alone could save Texas to the
crown of Spain.
The council of war approved the recommendations of the fiscal,
and drew up a plan by which they should be put into effect. The
plan included three prescriptions. The governors of Parral, Nuevo
Leon, Galicia, and Coahuila should be instructed to prevent the
introduction of any goods into their territories by the French, and
the sale of cattle to them; twenty-five soldiers and a captain should
go, with a sufficient number of priests, and establish four missions
among the Tejas Indians; and strict inquiry should be made con-
cerning any French settlements in the country, and a watch kept
upon the movements of the French of Louisiana, and information
furnished the government promptly of any demonstrations hostile
to the interests of Spain. It was provided also that in the organi-
zation of the missions two soldiers should be left to guard each
establishment, and these soldiers were to confine themselves to their
respective missions and to refrain from engaging in private busi-
ness. Each soldier was to receive a salary of four hundred dollars
and the captain five hundred, and each should be paid one year's
salary in advance. Whatever supplies of provisions, munitions,
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903, periodical, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101028/m1/20/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.