The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 41

The Louisiana-Texas Frontier

Calvo's complaint and request he felt hurt at the implied reflection
upon his conduct. He defended himself vigorously against the
charge of inciting a slave insurrection across the border and
protested that all reports of this character were malicious false-
hoods. He sent the testimonial describing his real services and
requested some means of defending himself from "the assertions
of frontier vagabonds and peddlers of news."38 He was very likely
right in thus characterizing those who had defamed him. It was
the policy of such traders as Davenport, who enjoyed special
privileges under the Spaniards, to prevent cordial relations be-
tween the latter and the Americans, and others like Palliet may
have assisted them for personal reasons.
Salcedo, however, was greatly incensed against the Americans
because of their activity in exploring their new acquisition and in
establishing relations with the Indians, and was not inclined to
favor his inquiet neighbors. He thought that Ugarte's defense
ought to allay Governor Claiborne's fears, but regarded himself as
without authority to suspend the decree. He advised the Governor
or Texas to detain all fugitive slaves until he could learn the King's
will, or at least the opinion of Don Pedro Grimarest, the recently
appointed chief of the Eastern Interior Provinces.89 Under the
Treaty of 1795 the United States could ask nothing more and he
requested the viceroy to express his own opinion and to aid him
in every way possible, until Grimarest should arrived.40
Notwithstanding his uncertainty in regard to, international rela-
tions Salcedo maintained very strict ideas of discipline. Ugarte
may have prevented a border war, but in doing so he had violated
the letter of his instructions. Salcedo therefore suspended the
unfortunate official and ordered him to Bexar, where the Governor
of Texas was to examine his conduct carefully. Ugarte must ex-
plain why he had permitted a militia captain to visit Natchitoches
and to be present at the transfer of that post to the Americans; why
he had on two occasions employed his troops to capture and return
fugitive slaves to Louisiana; and how he reconciled such deeds with
8Ugarte to Salcedo, December 26, 1804. Ibid.
89This was the recently created jurisdiction that had been formed from a
part of his own dominions, with the addition of Nuevo Leon and Nuevo
Santander. Grimarest, however, never assumed the command.
40Salcedo to Iturrigaray, January 23, 1805. Ibid.