[Mexico]. [Arms]. [Tornel y Mendivil, Jose Maria]

Jose Maria Tornel y Mendivil, Disputado al Congreso de la Union por el Estado...En los Ultimos Sucesos de la Capital Estraviaron Muchas Armas de Municion, Pertenecientes los Cuerpos del Ejerecito...[caption title and beginning of text]

Mexico City: January 5, 1829. Broadside, 12 x 8.25 inches. Light wear, center horizontal fold, pinholes along left edge. Very good. Item #2994

A rare decree issued by Jose Maria Tornel y Mendivil, Governor of the Federal District, attempting to regulate the disbursement and possession of guns in Mexico in 1829. Tornel notes that in recent times, weapons belonging to the army have been "misplaced" around Mexico City. Collecting the weapons is "extremely urgent, because the destiny of these weapons is to serve internal tranquility and the defense of the republic against external enemies." The order reserves the right of access to weapons for those "enlisted in the permanent, active, or local militia." Tornel authorizes the commanding general and local militia leaders to collect weapons held by civilians without a license to carry them. The bottom of the decree is signed in type by Tornel and his secretary.

The presidential election of September 1, 1828 saw Guerrero come in second. Two weeks later Santa Anna rose in support of Guerrero in Vera Cruz. In November of that year in Mexico City, Guerrero supporters took control of the Acordada, a former prison transformed into an armory, and days of fighting broke out in the capital. These are no doubt the "recent events" referred to in the present decree that led to arms being scattered around the city. An interesting moment in the history of gun control in Mexico, and a rare decree. OCLC reports just a single copy of this decree, at the Bancroft Library.

Price: $950.00