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Content Enable editor Use plain text Code entry In practice, however, the junta was a significant political institution. The governor inevitably called this body together in extreme crises and in cases where it was clear he would have to strain royal law severely or disregard it completely. For the governor the approval of his actions by the junta was absolutely essential if he was to avoid being charged with disloyalty for disobedience of the king’s decrees. If challenged by his superiors on this score, he could claim his policy was based on the junta’s decision, not purely on his own responsibility. Working with a junta he could avoid taking individual responsibility. Trading with Carolinians to obtain badly needed supplies [11/22/1717], requesting arms and ammunition from the French in Mobile [6/16/1725], and misappropriating funds from the treasury [6/1/1722] were actions which defied established law; and in each case a junta supported the governor by approving his actions. The governor, of course, did not intend to share his wide powers with such a council, but this was the practical result of his use of the junta system. The junta met often enough to become an established political institution. Since the governor needed the agreement of prominent colonial leaders for any irregular practices, the junta was both a reassuring and necessary convenience that enabled the governor to pose a stronger case in vindication or extenuation should his behavior be challenged by his superiors in Spain. For this protection the governor had to share some of his extensive authority. Use of the junta tempered his one-man rule in the colony and extended political power to various officials in Saint Augustine, who came to have at least a partial voice in colonial politics. (Tepaske GSF)

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