The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901 Page: 225
366 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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First Period of Gutierree-Magee Expedition. 225
"Our invaders are as yet insignificant; but this which seems
unimportant is much to my mind, especially when we know that the
United States has aided Gutierrez, knowing him to ble a refugee.
We know also that they secretly aided in the overthrow of West
Florida, and that this reunion took place within view -of the judges
of that country. They made no effort to interfere, as they could
and ought; for this sort of attack is the most insulting which one
government can offer to another. Knowing this .and the grave
dangers which may follow the coming of these revolutionisbs, I
desire to find myself entrusted with a sufficient force to drive them
beyond the bounds of their own country. . . . 1 must repeat to
your excellency the necessity of ,sending me by sea some of the troops
from Spain. This is urgent because of the nature of 'the war which
is being waged by the enemy through the medium of incendiary
literature, the doctrines 'therein contained being readily accepted by
the troops -and the peoplee"
Certainly some of Salcedo',s points ,are swell taken. He was wrong,
however, in crediting the government with ,a part in the overthrow
of West Flori-da; but to -one not versed in the mystery ,of this gov-
ernment's actions, the promptitude with which that territory was
annexed to the Anglio-American republic wa.s at least ground for
,suspicion. Nor was Gutierrez, so far ,as we 'know, aidedi by the gov-
ernment. Where the culpability of the administration lay 'was in
its failure to enforce the neutrality laws. We have seen that ,as
early as April 6 the Spaniards knew that Gutierrez was at work on
his scheme. It seems strange that the officers in the United States
learned nothing ,of the preparations 'and 'the enlistments until
August. It happened d by coincidencee that the day Naoogdodhes fell
into the hands 'of the filibusters, August 11, Claiborne issued his
proclamation against the 'enterpri-se.' John Dick, United States
attorney, later offered the excuse that 'though 'it was 'known, it was
not possible 'to act because no assemblage could be found.2 A much
more likely excuse ,would have been that 'the Neutral Ground, which
was beyond the independent jurisdiction ,of the United States, was
made the base for operations. The war with England, too, doubtless
played ,a part in 'withdrawing the attention of the 'authorities. How-
ever, it is probable that the expeditionn was purposely ,overlooked.
'Proclamation, August 11, 1812; MS. No. 689; Archives State of Texas.
'American State Papers, XI 302.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901, periodical, 1901; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101018/m1/247/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.