[Mexico]. [Texas]

Secretaria de Guerra y Marina... "El Presidente Interino de la Republica Mexicana, a los Habitantes de Ella, Sabed: Que el Congreso General Ha Decretado Lo Que Sigue. Art. 1o. "El Gobierno Excitara el Patriotismo de los Mexicanos y Desplegara Todos los Recursos de Su Resorte para Continuar Vigorosamente la Guerra Sobre Texas..." [caption title and first lines of text]

Mexico City: May 20, 1836. Broadside, approximately 12 x 8 inches. Short tear at upper right corner, unobtrusively repaired on blank verso. Minor dust soiling at edges. Very good plus. Item #1864

Rare broadside and first promulgation of this decree promising that the Mexican government will do all within its power to obtain the release of Santa Anna following his capture at the Battle of San Jacinto. It reads, in part:

"Art. 1.o El Gobierno excitará el patriotismo de los Mexicanos y deplegará todos los recursos de su resorte para continuar la guerra sobre Tejas, hasta dejar bien puesto el honor nacional, asegurar los intereses todos de la República y obtener la libertad del General Presidente.

2.o Se tendrá por servicio muy distinguido, que el Congreso tomará en consideracion para premiarlos dignamente, la cooperacion con éxito de cualqiuera nacional ó extrangero, al logro de la libertad del mismo Presidente.

3.o El Gobierno llenerá los objetos del art. 1.o sin embarazarse por ninguna estipulacion que el Presidente en prision haya ajustado ó ajustase con el enemigo, la cual como nula, será de ningun valor ni efecto...."

The third provision judiciously stipulates that any promises or agreements made by Santa Anna while prisoner would not be binding on the Mexican government, thereby condemning the Treaty of Velasco to failure. Three further articles also give the central government wide-ranging financial powers over departmental income to help finance the war against the Texans, and promises to pay for recruiting flags in places that wish them.

"This law was passed the day after the capture of Santa Anna had been announced by President ad interim Jose Justo Corro.... On the same day the president declared a national state of mourning to continue while Santa Anna was a prisoner" - Streeter, who knew only of his copy, now at Yale. We locate a second copy at BYU. A very good example of this rare and significant Mexican document of the Texas Revolution.
Streeter Texas 879.

Price: $4,750.00