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Stephen F. Austin Document Signed. ...
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Description
The Election of Representatives to the Coahuila and Texas Legislature is Recorded by Stephen F. Austin and Four Prominent Tejanos of the Texas Revolution
Stephen F. Austin Document Signed. One page, 8.25" x 13.5",
San Fernando de Béxar; September 5, 1830.Manuscript document in Spanish recording the election of Juan Martín de Veramendi and Rafael Manchola as representatives to the Coahuila y Tejas legislature. Signed, "Estevan F. Austin." Also signed by Ramon Músquiz, José Antonio Navarro and José Miguel de Arciniega. Housed in a custom quarter brown morocco with brown cloth slipcase.
Translated into English, the document reads, in part, "In the city of San Fernando de Bejar, capital of the department of the same name, September 5, 1830, the Electoral Assembly of this party met for the second time, presided over by the political chief of this department Ramón Musquiz and in compliance with that which is stated in article 106 of the political constitution of this state, in the same form held the election for representatives of this party on the morning of this day so that they may go to the state capital for the election to choose the representative to the general congress and the citizens Juan Martin de Beremundi by a plurality of ten to eight and Rafael Manchola with a win of fourteen against four have been constitutionally named by the voters..."
A manuscript heading at top reads, "Sello 4o una cuartilla" and is signed by Jose Gaspar Maria de Flores adding his rubric. This holograph notation is done in place of using imprinted sealed paper, which was scarce but required for official copies. The notation of the "fourth seal" indicates that this copy was made for public posting or other official distribution.
From 1824 to its independence in 1836, Texas formed part of the Mexican state, Coahuila y Tejas. Under the Constitution of 1824, Texas was offered the possibility to separate as its own state when it acquired a large enough population. At the time of this election, this stipulation was becoming an increasingly contentious point between Texas settlers and the Mexican government as the region struggled for more autonomy. Only four months earlier, the Law of April 6, 1830 formally restricted U.S. emigration into Texas, further exacerbating the question of representation.
Although Stephen F. Austin's name and role in Texas independence are so well-known, his fellow signers on this document have often been overlooked or underappreciated. Each of the four Tejanos signing here was instrumental in his own way in achieving Texas independence.
Ramon Músquiz (1797- 1867), merchant and political figure, established a business in San Antonio in 1823, became involved in the political scene in Béxar, served as political chief of the Department of Texas in 1828, lobbied in favor of Anglo-American colonists, and mediated disputes between the Texas colonists and Mexican authorities. Músquiz was present at the fall of the Alamo and assisted in identifying the bodies of the Alamo defenders.
José Antonio Navarro (1795- 1871) was a native son of San Antonio. He participated in the 1813 Gutiérrez-Magee expedition, supported Austin's colonization venture, represented Texas both in the Coahuilatecan and national legislatures, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, and participated in the Texas Revolution. Afterward, he was an advocate for wronged Tejanos and served as the sole Hispanic delegate to the convention for annexation in 1845, where he helped write the first constitution of Texas as a state. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Navarro defended the right of Texas to secede from the Union in 1861. Although he was too old to join the Confederacy, he sent four of his sons to serve.
José Miguel de Arciniega was a legislator, military explorer, and alcalde of San Antonio de Béxar. He also acted as a spy on behalf of Mexico between 1816 and the early 1820s. He served with the provincial deputation of Texas, which allowed abandoned mission lands to be distributed to settlers. He held elected offices in the 1820s and 1830s and took over as political chief when Músquiz fell ill. Arciniega was appointed land commissioner for Stephen F. Austin's colonies in November 1830, laid out the town of Bastrop in 1832, and received a Spanish grant of 48,708 acres in 1835. General Cós chose Arciniega to be his interpreter in negotiations for the surrender of Béxar in December 1835.
Gaspar Maria Flores de Abrego (1781- 1836) was also a native of San Antonio and proved a strong ally of Stephen F. Austin and his colonists. He was one of thirty-five signers of an 1835 anti-Centralist memorial drafted at a meeting held on October 13, 1834, which is considered to be the first revolutionary meeting in Texas. At a January 1836 meeting of soldiers and citizens to address concerns about Santa Anna and Mexican intent with regard to Texas, Flores served on a committee that included James Bonham, James Bowie, and Juan Seguin. As the Texas Revolution progressed, Flores and Seguin took charge of organizing the safe exit of families into East Texas.
Condition: Creased along the center fold and toned throughout. Bottom edge is frayed slightly affecting the signatures. Top edge is a bit rough, with a few tiny tears. Pencil notations to recto and verso.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
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