In conformity with what your Excellency desires, and satisfying the private order sent me, asking a report and true statement of affairs under the Governor Don Francisco Morales Sanchez. To assure myself from a responsibility devoid of all partiality, and to the truth of the excesses perpetrated by this Governor and a few other private individuals and priests, of which that Garrison wrote you a complaint, asking that you immediatly depose the Governor and name some one in his place, pro tem., so that your Majesty being informed, may place some one who looks more to your interests. For this purpose you sent me a blank dispatch, that in time, I might fill out with the names of the subject elected and the investigation I had made in this affair. I must say, that they are so strange and extraordinary, and such divers means used in their performance—that the accounts I hear in this garrison chill the soul and congeal the blood in one’s veins. There is no way of hiding the misery and misfortune to which this Garrison is exposed. With the same truthfulness I must expose the fact, that I am positively certain from the reports of the Engineer Don Antonio Arredondo, as an eye-witness, that all the excesses committed by this Governor are strictly true as written you and certified to in a report from this Garrison.
The few Indians of our faith represent and express their lamentable sentiments on a paper written you, and sent through the Rev. Bishop of Micale. Other certificates of priests, military men, and private individuals of that Garrison, which I enclose add such scandalous excesses in the manner of living of that Governor that I cannot find decent words in which to express it. Some of these are signed by the same priests who wrote to Don Antonio Benavides, and there are others, citing what the Governor has perpetrated on the Captain of Grenadiers, Don Felipe Iturricta, whom I sent there. Forgetting his merits and that he was a person of implicit confidence, whom I trusted for his unimpeachable conduct, they have placed him in prison under scandalous circumstances, intending to take from him the management of the troops over whom I placed him. He has been under the most rigorous guard, searching even his food, depriving him of the privilege of writing to ask for a hearing, accusing him of crimes and lack of obedience. They have no other course, in my opinion, than a pretext, as this Officer has fulfilled his duty with promptness and rectitude, showing only the ordinary precautions observed in the regiments for infinite reasons. The guards cannot be excused from the Barracks where the troop is stationed—which is one of the principal rudiments of military tactics—as well for safety as anything which might occur. The Captain insisted on maintaining these principles from which has arisen this trouble, and the assigning of the wrong conception of duty and want of obedience preferred against him. Of the same nature is the other charge: that he had defied the Governor. To this Captain Iturricta replied: if you were not the Governor you could not use such language to me—showing that he respected the office of Governor. The Governor does not seem to recognize the respect due to a man and Officer of standing and distinguished character, and let me add incidentally, placed here by me, as commandante of a detached body, to encourage and hold this fagged out Garrison. They should consider it an honor, for so distinguished a personage to accept this place, and so honorably discharge his duty. Your Majesty will understand all from the report of said Captain and the testimonials stating the circumstances. I also enclose a petition from the Captain in which he implores you to do him justice, a virtue so in keeping with your Royal heart, and not allow an officer of his standing to remain in disgrace. I can positively assure you, that had not the Captain and other Officers been true and faithful to their duty, they could have caused much trouble among the inhabitants of this Garrison, from this unjust act. Although I have reported all the abuses said to have been committed by the present Governor of Florida, and you should place some one of experience and good conduct in his place. I hope that your Majesty with your great experience, will pardon me for troubling you on the present occasion, and look unprejudiced into this affair. All that has been said of the matter, and all that I have been commanded in so important a trust—I am trying to investigate to the very root. Going cautiously, feeling my way, trying to right troubles without any scandal, so that I may send you the name of some worthy subject who can act pro tem. in that capacity—as, from all the information I have expounded it seems urgent you should remove this man, so as to restore the confidence your vassals have in your Majesty, and the responsibility I represent. The engineer, Don Antonio Arredondo, assures me no other expedient can be taken, while the present Governor is so engrossed in his own private interests, as you may infer from the last chapter.
Regarding the Barracks for lodging the hundred men, it is an evident fact, that but for the persistent effort of the Engineer Arredondo, they would have been returned to that Kingdom. All of which he reported to the Viceroy of Mexico that he might take the necessary precautions. Having disposed of the duty of having the Governor removed, I am doubtful of what will be best to do next toward your Majesty’s interests, but I shall act as in my judgment seems best and as circumstances present themselves.
May God preserve you.
CHAPTER XV.
A. D. 1708-1723.
Letter from Francisco Carcoles y Martinez to his Majesty reports all possible measures taken to prevent the enemy from destroying this Province—The Indians, aided by the English who supply them with guns, ammunition, knives and pistols, come from the Indian villages bordering the Carolinas and carry off each day certain persons—Families and Christians taken off to be sold into slavery—More than ten thousand up to the present have disappeared—A treaty urged with the English of the Carolinas, else there will be a continuation of war and the spread of the Holy Gospel impeded—In a second letter the Governor gives an account of certain Friars who are getting up a dispute and lawsuit with the Priest of the Parish concerning the right and whose right to marry soldiers, Spaniards, Indians or mixed Indians—These disputes brought before the Governor to settle, who in turn refers them to his Majesty—Recommends the abolishing of all Heathen customs—By a Royal dispatch, A. D. 1721, the Governor of Florida is commanded to go in person to the Governor of the Carolinas and arrange with him the observance of the Treaty of Peace between the English and Spanish of those Provinces adjoining, which same was carried out as far as possible—A letter from the Governor, Antonio Benavides, reports the sending of clothing and trinkets to pacify the Casiques and Chiefs of the Province of Apalachicola—Find the Indians restless and making preparations for war—English spreading dissatisfaction—A Council of War decides to send a vessel to Havana for arms, men and provisions in anticipation of troubulous times.
The Governor’s Letter.
A. D. 1708.