The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937 Page: 85
348 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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THE
SOUTHWESTERN HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
VOL. XL OCTOBER, 1936 No. 2
The publication committee and the editors disclaim responsibility for views expressed
by contributors to THE QUARTERLY
THE FREE NEGRO IN THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
HAROLD SCHOEN
III
MANUMISSIONS
Although the Mexican government reluctantly tolerated slavery
in the early years of Texas colonization, it could never be recon-
ciled to the institution. Mexican statesmen of this period learned
their political philosophy from the French Revolutionists. "Lib-
erty, Equality and Fraternity" characterized the spirit of their
own Great Revolution and provided them with an aurora of
generosity and benevolence which seems inseparable from reform
movements. Liberty became a part of their religion and they
joined it with God to glory in their national motto-"God and
Liberty." That it was merely a word without significance to the
Indians and mixed-bloods living in peonage, we could hardly
expect them to see or admit. In the abstract and by its proper
name, they abhorred slavery as the antithesis of liberty.'
This philosophy expressed itself in a long series of conflicting
laws designed to extend the blessings of liberty to all slaves, but in
each case by various subterfuges, the Texans were able to circum-
vent the wholesale operation of the law. After the establishment
of the Texas Republic, the status of some Negroes was affected by
'We should not, however, accuse the Mexicans of insincerity. This type
of ideology based on a blind use of antonyms is not unusual particularly
in revolutionary movements for freedom. The Mexicans, at least, were not
forced into the rationalization of their northern neighbors that Negroes
were not of the human species in order to logically exclude them from the
benefits of that noble but meaningless proclamation that "all men are
created equal."
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 40, July 1936 - April, 1937, periodical, 1937; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101099/m1/99/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.