Raphael

Mexican Broadside Enlisting Privateers To Fight Texans

1836 · réf. 52758 — Mexico City: Palacio del Gobierno Nacional 1836. Fine. Official printed government notice of Mexico's continuing efforts to maintain control over Texas immediately after the loss at San Jacinto - here working with privateers to harass Texans at sea. When Mexico finally won its independence from Spain in 1821 its territory included modern-day Texas settled by a mix of Tejano Mexican and Texian Anglo-American populations in addition to indigenous tribes and enslaved African Americans. Tensions between the Tejano and Texian factions increased and finally erupted into full-scale violence in 1835 beginning what is now called the Texas Revolution. Its most famous battle at the Alamo occurred a few months before this broadside was issued. The decisive battle of the war San Jacinto occurred on 21 April a Mexican defeat that led to the formation of the Republic of Texas. While the Mexican general Santa Anna negotiated a surrender the Mexican government deposed him for it and refused to recognize an independent Texas. After San Jacinto Mexico avoided pitched battles but continued to take action to undermine and antagonize the new Texas nation. This broadside was one such effort issued just over a week after the defeat at San Jacinto. It announces the formal employment in the navy of private ships to aid in attacking Texans at sea and forming a blockade "para terminar la guerra con los colonos de Tejas é impedir el contrabando en los puertos y costas de la República". Privateers were necessary because the Mexican government did not yet have a robust navy a weakness that the United States would later exploit in the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Ephemeral broadsides like this survive in few numbers; many of this era during José Justo Corro's interim presidency show only two or three institutional holdings via OCLC. This particular imprint shows three institutional holdings in the US Baylor Texas A&M and Brigham Young. A rare piece of Texana. 12'' x 8.25''. Single letterpress broadside printed recto only. A bit of faint wrinkling. Crisp and bright. Palacio del Gobierno Nacional unknown