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Show THE TEXAS-SANTA FE EXPEDITION 89 ern ports of Mexico to foreign commerce, which for the time being terminated the trade over the Santa Fé Trail. By decree of March 31, 1844, the ports were reopened and about ninety wagons, with perhaps $200,000 worth of merchandise, the caravan employing about two hundred men, crossed the plains to Santa Fé, during the summer and fall of that year.® AuM ratte! Ning PUTTS (ate ee a MUNI ee = Be er PSC e Ly) i -® °2 Gregg, date August J., Commerce of 7th, 1843, and a the ARRASTRA Prairies, ii, the customs i p. 177. The decree was of of Taos, Paso del Norte and Presidio del Norte. The only port in New Mexico was nominally at Taos, the custom house actually being at Santa Fé where all entrances were made. Bancroft, H. H., History of Arizona and New Memico, pp. 329, 338: = al ee . ra P ek Co. * es eae eke ie Ce 2-2. oe > neAtOeee)ee ka iededed ek de d ee ee, Ae dated oe a, MEXICAN Pe tec July and the United August States the Mexican government Minister was complained responsible for to Waddy the Thompson so-called Texan ‘In that in- 'asion; but the reply denied such responsibility, even if there had been any nvasion, which was declared doubtful. Meanwhile, General Monterde marched northward to New Mexico with some 700 men; and he and Armijo flattered themselves that they had saved the country. Good luck and a broad desert rontier had done more to defeat Texan schemes than the zeal of Mexican patriots,’? _ Waddy Thompson was born in South Carolina, in the year 1798. in the his legislature 1842 he was made He went to of his post state minister as an and was to Mexico, advocate a member of congress He served 1835-1841. In which position he filled for two years. of the annexation of Texas but returned PPosed to it, convinced that slavery could not be maintained on soil acquired "om Mexico. He died in Florida in 1868. |