The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 53, July 1949 - April, 1950 Page: 120
538 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Martinez, in his report to Spain, cited the several revolutionary
projects and their defeat. Passing to the effects on the province,
he stated:
However, since 1813 when this Province was reconquered, it has
advanced at an amazing rate toward ruin and destruction, owing to
the unrelenting hostility of the savage nations, and also the reckless-
ness and violence of the troops, who, deprived of supplies, naked
and starving, have drained the resources of the country, and laid
their hand on everything that could sustain human life; so that if
the revolution has partially ruined this Province, the disorder that
prevails since it has been reconquered and the little attention brought,
since the beginning, to the destructive war by the Indian savage,
have driven it to the highest of destruction."
Martinez reported that the soil was excellent, but production
was limited because there was no interior market, and no export
of produce because there were no ports opened and the land
routes to Monterrey and Santa Fe were too long and too dan-
gerous. The only trades were those of shoemaker, carpenter,
blacksmith, and mason, but there was not enough business even
for these few. There were no improved roads, no schools, only
one jail, and that in poor condition. Several quarries and mines
had been discovered but there was no capital to work them.
Martinez mentioned that assayed samples from a vein north of
the capital showed ore containing silver with an alloy of gold.6
The four missions were falling into ruin, one being entirely
deserted, and the three around Bahia were accomplishing very
little. The report closed with the rather gloomy statement that
"If the powerful and benevolent hand of the Supreme Govern-
ment fails to encourage and protect the other branches of the
public service, the whole Province will share in the fate of the
missions."'
Martinez recommended that a port on San Bernardo Bay
should be opened to stimulate commerce and agricultural pro-
duction. He also pointed out the necessity of making peace with
the Indians, a campaign against those who refused and a line of
"Martinez, "A Report on Texas, May i, 1821," Nacogdoches Archives, transcripts,
University of 'Texas, XXI, 28.
Ibid., 34.
7lbid., 35.120o
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 53, July 1949 - April, 1950, periodical, 1950; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101126/m1/168/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.