Baron De Bastrop Ruled Out As San Antonio Alcalde In 1815.

Baron De Bastrop
Ruled Out As San Antonio
Alcalde In 1815.

San Antonio Express newspaper, Jan. 14, 1940, Sunday.
Some new light on the life of Baron de Bastrop, known in early Texas history, has been brought to light by the WPA workers, under the direction of Ben Baines, attorney who is indexing San Antonio's ordinances for 125 years and translating the first volumes of minutes recorded in Spanish. Other incidents found in these faded tomes relate to life in this frontier city as well as their governmental problems.
According to the records, the city government consisted of a first alcalde, a second alcalde, four councilmen and a secretary. The first alcalde was Don Jose Maria Sambrano. These officers were appointed by the governor and named their own successors.
The first entry in the old volume records the first meeting of the first council on Jan. 1. 1815. Each meeting date was carefully recorded, but in most instances, the records show that the councilmen failed to arrive or that nothing of importance was before them for consideration. Council meeting were held weekly. The first official action of the council was recorded on Jan. 25. The minutes say the councilmen having taken their seats, it was brought to their attention that the "Feast of the Candelaria" would be observed on the second of the following month. The Feb. 2 entry shows no council meeting because of this feast day.
The records of Feb. 23 show the following entry: "The executive body gave attention in today's meeting that it keep mindful of the necessity which exists in this capital of a preceptor to instruct the young in the rudiments of Our Holy Religion and their A B Cs." It then requests the governor to turn over a house "belonging to the rebellious insurgents" to the city for their purpose.
The next problem confronting the council was an official city butcher. The alcalde was authorized to hire one at eight pesos a month.
Another entry shows that a complaint was lodged with the city council that residents along the river were encroaching too much and insufficient room remained for those to serve themselves with water and probably to wash their own clothing.
No council meeting was held on May 25 because of a fiesta.
On June 18, the minutes show the council was informed "by word of mouth" that there was no money in the state treasury to pay the troops stationed in San Antonio and that the people were expected to contribute to the troops' support. No action was taken. On June 25, however, Gov. Col. Don Benito de Arminan made formal application for a loan from the city for the troops. While protesting their poverty to the best of their ability, they were not able to convince the governor that they were too poor. The council finally agreed to assemble 120 cattle for the troops, 50 of them coming from the herd of Don Ignacio Perez. The "could be counted on" the governor was told.
On July 6, Alcalde Sambrano, who was about to journey to the State Capital asked that the city council vote him a power of attorney to act on the city's behalf. The council protested, but finally agreed to do so if the alcalde would agree not to pile up an expense account to burden the people. So it came to pass that Sambrano became San Antonio's first traveling mayor.
On Oct. 5 an entry called attention to the fact that Dec. 12 would be the "Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe" and named Baron de Bastrop and Don Gaspar Flores as committee of two to receive alms for the occasion as they had done in previous years.
An entry on Oct. 12, the council read communication from various persons for permission to gather wild horses. These requests were referred to the governor.
The Dec. 12 entry shows the council named their own successors to serve during 1816.
On Feb. 1, 1816, the minutes register a complaint of new demands for contributions to feed the troops and of other exactions. The councilmen drew a tearful plea that the San Antonians could scarcely provide for themselves, besides they were constantly harassed by hostile Indians. These burdens were called to the attention of the governor. On April 4, the governor replied and offered escorts for field laborers.
On April 18, a communication was received from the governor commanding that March 24 of each year be set aside and a "te Deum" sung in thanks for the restoration of the throne.
Two days later, the council formally declined to furnish the army any more cattle until the others had been paid for. But after further negotiations, they decided to trust the government with a loan of 30 more steers, provided the governor would agree not to molest them again.
On Dec. 16, the council proceeded to elect their successors for the year 1817. Don Francisco Flores was named first alcalde and Don Felipe Neri (Baron de Bastrop) second alcalde. When notice of these selections reached Gov. don Ignacio Perez, he notified the officials that the baron was a persona non grata. The council stood firm on the ground that the baron was a good citizen of long standing. The governor then became emphatic. He wrote in part:
"Gentlemen: I do not want any murmuring whatever. I have brought here the election sheet in order that there may be elected another person as second alcalde instead of Don Felipe Neri, Baron de Bastrop, who lacks the natural gifts necessary for the discharge of his duties and in addition does not know to write."
Don Jose Angel Navarro remined the governor that he had not stated the real reason why the baron was not wanted and did not show that he was incapable of filling the position to which he was elected. The governor replied that he had confidential orders and "the council could not be presumed to know the confidential reasons." The council then named Don Jose Manuel Granados second alcalde in the baron's stead.
The next records show that at the next meeting Don Francisco Montes de Oca told the council that Don Bartolome Perez had reported that Sgt. Manuel Delgado had stated in his (Perez) shop that all members of the San Antonio city government were rascals with the exception of Don Domingo Bustillos. The council held and extended session and discussed this accusation and finally adopted a resolution calling on the sergeant to prove his charge.
Further work by the WPA translators is awaited with interest as at this point in the translation it has not been revealed, whether the charge was true or false.

THE SECOND FLYING COMPANY OF ALAMO DE PARRAS Š1996,1997, Randell Tarin. All Rights Reserved.