The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 28
454 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
President's message. While the Spaniards actually had no guard
there in 1803 they certainly maintained a small one two years
later, and its commander caused the Indian agent, John Sibley,
considerable uneasiness.15
As we have already seen, there was a general fear among Span-
ish officials, both in the Old World and the New, that the occu-
pation of Louisiana by the Americans would facilitate their en-
trance into the Internal Provinces. Casa Calvo, Folch, Salcedo,
and their fellow officials felt apprehensive that the vast unguarded
area extending without natural barriers from Hudson's Bay to the
Gulf of Mexico would, through its numerous water-courses, afford
a series of open highways to Mexico. Even with such a well
defined limit as the Mississippi, it had been impossible to keep the
restless British and American adventurers upon their own terri-
toryr. When, therefore, this limit was likely to be placed anywhere
between that river and the Rio Grande, and when it was likely to
be a. mere conventional line unmarked by strong natural features,
this task seemed well nigh hopeless. Yet the authorities of the
Internal Provinces, the region most exposed to these unwelcome
inroads, assumed with determination the task of protecting their
sovereign's dominions from the foreigner. If they seem to exhibit
the customary Spanish thoroughness in formulating decree and
laxity in enforcing it, these conditions were due to the miserable
resources at their disposal.
Shortly after the transfer was consummated the Spanish offi-
cials gained an important recruit-in advice, if not in deeds,
General Wilkinson, who had taken part in that act as the colleague
of Governor Claiborne, called upon Vizente Folch when the latter
chanced to be in New Orleans. In the course of a long conversation
he made many "reflections" upon the consequences which might be
expected to follow the cession of Louisiana, and promised to com-
mit them to writing for perusal by Captain-General Someruelos at
IHavana." At the end of the interview Wilkinson brought up what
"Madison to Armstrong, November 10, 1806, MSS., Instructions, Vol. 6,
Bureau of Indexes and Archives, State Department; Annals 9th Cong., Sd
Sess., 1077 et seq. Jefferson's Works (Memorial Edition), VIII, 193.
"The Mississippi State Department of Archives and History contains a
copy of the "Reflections," which Robertson lists as No. 4885. He likewise
published this in Louisiana under Spain, France and the United States,
1785-1807, II, 325-347. This copy, as I am informed by Mr. Roscoe R.
Hill, is made from a triplicate, one accompanying Folch's Reservada No. 3.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/32/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.