| 1781 August 31 |
Juan Ventura Morales, a treasury official, declares that slave funds are to be used only to apprehend fugitive slaves. Morales states in a letter to the Cabildo that attention to his duties prevents him from collecting the tax. The Cabildo names Juan Arnoul, regidore-receptor de penas to collect slave funds and the mayordomo de propios would make disbursements. |
| 1783 January 1 |
In the annual elections the Cabildo elects MoralesAlcaldes Ordinarios, Segundo - Primer is Francisco Le Breton |
| 1791 January 1 |
In the annual elections the Cabildo elects Juan MoralesAlcaldes Ordinarios, Primer - Segundo is Pedro Marigny |
| 1796 |
Juan Ventura Morales serves as acting Intendant from 1796 until 1799. |
| 1797 June 16 |
Morales calls a meeting of the Junta de Hacienda Real at New Orleans which includes Morales, Don Manuel Serrano, Assessor of the Intendancy, Don Gilberto Leonard, Treasurer of the army, Don Cayetano Valdes, Secretary of the Intendancy. They decide that all colonization expenses up to this time should be paid, but governor Gayoso and the Baron de Bastrop should be told to forget any future colonization without permission of the crown. |
| 1798 |
As acting vice consul of the U. S. in Louisiana Daniel
Clark works in concert with Evan Jones and writes to the U. S. Secretary
of State
. He negotiates with the Intendant Morales and the Cabildo to improve the
favorable trade. Until this time American vessels had been forced to pay a 15% duty on Louisiana goods exported in American ships. This is reduced to 6%, including imported goods of American origin. Morales is also persuaded to drop all export duties on goods going to American settlements upriver. Madrid orders a return of the duties but this is successfully protested by colonial representatives. Morales is strongly supported by Clark and Jones. Clark convinces Morales that reversing the policy would only hurt the colony and would encourage smuggling. |
| 1799 | Spring
Juan Ventura Morales is acting Intendant when news arrives in the province that the land office, until now the governor's duty, is shared by the Intendant. He draws up a list of rules and asks governor Gayoso for troops to enforce his decrees. The governor, backed by the planters and the Cabildo, refuses, particularly to the article that gives the intendant sole power to grant land. Morales writes to his superiors complaining about the governors extravagance and temper. Morales was mostly concerned about the governor refusing to agree to his power over land grants. Since Gayoso soon dies the Cabildo and the Intendant take their cases to the crown. The Intendant eventually gains the power, but the governors refuse to enforce it. |
| 1799 April 20 |
On April 20, 1799 the Spanish crown revokes the decree of November 18, 1797 allowing its American subjects to use neutral foreign ships to import and export their goods. The Cabildo, as well as the merchants and the civil and military governors join in urging acting Intendant Morales to suspend enforcement of the new decree. He sends representatives from all quarters to support his action. |
| 1799 October 24 |
Juan Manuel de Salcedo is appointed to the office of Governor of Louisiana but will not arrive for over a year. Vidal and Governor-General Salcedo will refuse to enforce the list of rules giving the Intendant sole power to grant land drawn up by Juan Ventura Morales. |
| 1799 December |
Abraham Morehouse presents to ad interim governor Casa Calvo a petition requesting the rights and privileges from the Baron de Bastrop's grant. The next day Casa Calvo recommends to Morales that they be granted. |
| 1801 |
Juan Ventura Morales serves as Intendant from 1801 until the end of the Spanish Era in November 1803. |
| 1801 January 18 |
Late in the month the Intendant, Morales, is firm, the deposit is not restored. Many ships are waiting in the river to resume commerce at the port of New Orleans. |
| 1802 |
Gov. Salcedo gives permission to Carlos (Charles) Smith of Maryland to settle in Rapide (Alexandria) with his slaves after he has taken an oath of loyalty. Acting Intendant Morales orders Commandant Martin Duralde to seize Smith's slaves. Salcedo counters the order, but warns that no slaves that had been participants in Virginia mutinies would be allowed to settle. |
| 1802 October |
While Daniel Clark is away from New Orleans Morales closes the river to American shipping. Because of the weakness of the Spanish control in New Orleans most Americans there believe that Morales is not the source of this decision. Perhaps it is from Paris. But for some the order is final confirmation that the colony is changing hands. |
| 1802 November |
Wm. C. C. Claiborne mentions a letter received this morning, with translation, dated 11/15/02 from the Governor-General of Louisiana. Governor Salcedo assures Claiborne that the Spanish king has not issued the order to stop deposit, but that the Intendant, whose department is independent of the general government, at the same time in conformity with the King's commands (peace having been published in Europe since May 4) suspended the commerce of neutrals. Morales, the Intendant has also determined the propriety of suspending the deposit to put a stop to an infinitude of abuses which were generated by that right. "Particular cases cannot operate against a general privilege granted by a solemn truth, but aught not to include any vicious principle which if it is found that a pernicious evil tendency has made necessary to annul it." |
| 1803 March 4 |
Claiborne sends a proclamation by Intendant Morales to Madison. The port of New Orleans is partially open. In reality the action has backfired on the Spanish who are dependent on American wheat for their supply of flour. |
| 1803 March 4 |
Clark has returned to New Orleans from Natchez. In the office of Pedro Pedesclaux Daniel Clark signs Sp. Power of Attorney with Juan Ventura Morales. pp-v43p180 |
| 1803 Late April |
By an order from Morales all communications with Americans on the Tombigbee River and in Mobile is cut off. |
| 1803 May 5 |
Daniel Clark writes to Claiborne,
currently the governor of the Territory of Mississippi. He says Morales has
told him (through Wilkinson) that the U.
S. may not always be a friend of Spain and it was in the best interest of
Spain that all American settlements in Spanish territories be discouraged
. Clark convinces the Spanish to reassess the Tombigbee order, warning that the Americans may resort to violence to reopen markets and supply lines. |
| 1805 July 20 |
In July of 1805 Morales again stops movement of goods through the port of Mobile, saying that the Treaty of San Lorenzo (Pinckney's Treaty) prohibits foreign commerce on the Mobile River. Claiborne sends his secretary John Graham to Mobile to negotiate and to see if the Spanish are increasing their garrisons there. |
| 1805 October 15 |
Casa
Calvo, in company with Juan Ventura Morales, leaves New Orleans for the
old post of Adaise (or Los Adaes), near
Natchitoches. |
| 1805 November |
Madison orders the deportation of Casa
Calvo and Morales.
Juan Ventura Morales is now the Intendant of Spanish West Florida. Vincente Folch is the Governor and Carlos DeHault de Lassus is commandant at Baton Rouge. Former Louisiana governorCasa Calvo, is now the Spanish Commissioner to determine the Western Boundary of Louisiana. These Spanish officials have continued to live in New Orleans after the transfer with a detachment of 50 Spanish Regulars. Morales is encouraging land speculation in West Florida, enriching himself on land that is claimed by the United States. Casa Calvo is spreading rumors that land west of the Mississippi will be traded for the Floridas. The marques, through traveling with the Intendent, finds him to be a disgusting and worrisome character. |
| 1806 January 25 |
Early in January 1806 the two Spaniards Casa
Calvo and Morales return to Natchitoches
and on the 25th William
C. C. Claiborne writes to Morales "I believe it a duty to remind you that
the departure from the territory of yourself and the gentleman attached to
your department will be expected in the course of the present month."
January 30 Morales informs Claiborne that he is leaving New Orleans with his secretary Cayetano-Valdez and Domingo Heitas who is a doctor and pharmacist. |