5 Years After 1813 Revolution.
San Antonio Express newspaper, Sunday, Feb. 18, 1940.
Arms taken from the residents of San Fernando de Bexar (San Antonio) following the revolution of 1813 were restored to them five years later, the translation of the minutes of the city council to 1818 reveals. The work of translating these records is in the hands of a force of WPA workers under the direction of Ben Baines, attorney. The records show that the question of pensions was before the people at that time also.
The minutes of the council meeting of May 6, 1818, show that don Vicente Micheli petitioned for a certificate showing the loss of goods during the 1813 revolution. The council voted to give him the certificate and also to testify as to his honorable conduct and his behavior at the time the rebels ruled the city. He was loyal to the legitimate authorities, the council testified, and besides he was not in the city at the time.
Maria Guadalupe Luna addressed a communication through the council to the viceroy of the dominion asking for a pension saying her husband, Jose Alcala, had died in action for the government.
An entry on May 14 records a request for permission to go out and gather up cattle from the ranges near the city to meet the emergency recited in a previous council meeting. The request came from Lieut. Col don Juan Manuel Sanbrano and others. It was recalled by the councilmanic entry that the governor of the province had prohibited the roundups which the owners of some ranches had been carrying on. The council certified to the provincial government that the applicants had agreed to abide by the law and gather no cattle that did not belong to them.
On May 16, 1818, the minutes show, the governor granted the roundup permit provided that the roundup was supervised. the council named councilman don Alvino Pacheco to accompany the persons making the roundup "to personally oversee all that might take place during the roundup."
Council meetings showed no proceedings until June 25, 1818,when a communication from the governor was read which prohibited the alcaldes and notaries from collecting fees for making certifications for military authorities in the process of collecting their salaries.
On July 7, 1818, the minutes record a communication from the viceroy, don Juan Ruiz de Apodaca, stating that the commanding general, don Joaquin de Arredondo, had been instructed to return arms taken from the citizens of San Fernando de Bexar following the revolution of 1813 and that the militia company of this capital be dissolved "because it is advisable to do so for the good of the province and replacing the company if necessary from some other post where not needed."
The council meeting of July 23 records a memorial by Lieut. Col. don Juan Manuel Sanbrano asking that permission of the authorities be given for the city to take steps to find a supply of meat, lard, candles and soap.
The council minutes then put into use for the first time officially the word "maverick." The minutes says the councilmen agreed the only practical plan to meet the emergency was to have a roundup and get all the beef cattle needed and supply itself with the other commodities. The minutes then states:
"Inasmuch as it is ordered by the governor... on March 6... that no owner of a ranch in the district, mark nor brand any maverick that may be picked up in his pastures until the commanding general decides to whom it belongs." This order was made to restore peace among cattle owners who had fallen out over unmarked cattle taken up and branded in these roundups. the council also asked the governor to send an escort of soldiers on the roundup for the safety of the ranchers and "so that all mavericks taken amy be restored to the owners and given their marks and brands." It was proposed that all mavericks be distributed among the ranchmen in the same ratio of their herds and in that way keep down quarrels.
The council recalled that the governor had not acted upon the request in his hands for sometime and they asked for an immediate decision declaring the food situation was desperate.
The minutes of the council meeting of July 26 record the permission of the governor of the province for the roundup and the plans for the auspicious event. The council called all the stockmen into conference and again recounted the need of the people for beef, lard, candles and soap and asked the cattlemen's advice on the best methods to pursue in the roundup. The cattlemen agreed to the plan and made suggestions.
The minutes two days later showed the councilmen were taking no chances. They decided to reduce the agreement with the cattlemen to writing and requiring each and every one to come in and affix his signature. The draft of these rules and regulations as recorded in the councilmanic minutes became the law and practice of the range.
