|
a ACADIAN REBIRTH article
Cultures
of Acadiana |
Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, April 27, 1999
O'Reilly let disgruntled Acadians move from Natchez
Threat of Indians and sterile lands influenced governor
by Jim Bradshaw
Even though some Acadians participated in the demonstrations that ultimately resulted in the unplanned departure of Gov. Antonio de Ulloa, most of them had few complaints against the Spanish government.
As Carl Brasseaux points out in his book, "The Founding of New Acadia," "Acadian loyalty to the Spanish regime was predicated largely upon the governor's apparent willingness to provide a new homeland in which the exiles could gather. This fact is most clearly reflected in the circumstances surrounding the establishment of St. Gabriel in 1767. Acting upon Ulloa's authorization, settlers corresponded with their kinsmen in Maryland, notifying them of the Spanish regime's willingness to accept them. Spurred by this encouragement, Maryland exiles secured passage to Louisiana. Upon arrival they were exasperated to learn they could not be settled at Cabannocee (St. James); instead they were to be settled near Fort Gabriel, twenty-five miles up-stream. They voiced their objections indicating they had no intention of establishing themselves at this frontier post."
Ulloa told them they could go to Fort Gabriel, or go back to Maryland. In 1769, when he reported on his version of the New Orleans revolt, he wrote, "A group of Acadians arrived in the month of July or August 1767. We destined them for Fort Gabriel, but, as they pet it into their heads (that we) must permit them to remain vagrants in the city ... (or to) occupy lands contiguous to those of the other Acadians who were established opposite the Cabannocee coast, we had all of the trouble in the world to subject them to our arrangements. It was necessary to tell them that, if they did not wish to take themselves there, it would be necessary to expel the from the colony, as (their attitude) was unprecedented, for His Majesty, who satisfied all of the needs of a destitute nation, must be allowed to prescribe these conditions."
The Acadians had no option but to give in to Ulloa's orders, and, according to Brasseaux, "once they were established at St. Gabriel, ceased grumbling, apparently realizing that the communities at Attakapas and Cabannocee were readily accessible by boat."
When Alejandro O'Reilly replaced Ulloa as governor, he overcame whatever ill will remained when he allowed the disgruntled Acadians at Natchez to move closer to family and friends.
According to Brasseaux's book, O'Reilly "lent a sympathetic ear to the grievances of the Natchez settlers. In a petition dated October 18, 1769, the 'Acadians established above Fort San Luis de Natchez' notified O'Reilly that they were 'continuously exposed to assassination' by local, warlike Indians and requested permission to join their relatives at St. Gabriel. San Luis Commandant Jean Delavillebeuvre and post Engineer Guy Dufossat, in an addendum to the petition, agreed that the Acadians' position was untenable. As the nearest farm was one league distant from the fort, settlers were vulnerable to raids by the two thousand Indians the British had recently amassed near Natchez, and the lands upon which the exiles were established were also acknowledge to be 'quite sterile.' In early November, (Charles-Philippe) Aubrey (former French acting governor) advised O'Reilly that the Acadian requests were 'just' and 'sound.' Acting upon the aforementioned recommendations in late December, 1796, the Spanish governor permitted the Natchez residents to select lands 'twenty to thirty leagues ... above (New Orleans).' The Acadian dream was now realized, and the exiles were wedded to the Spanish regime."