The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939 Page: 2
446 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Mina began his career as a guerrilla with twelve men, a nucleus
that developed into a formidable force.2 His exploits were so
exasperating that the French made great efforts to effect his
capture, and succeeded in doing so on April 1, 1810.3 But the
name of Mina was not so easily eliminated as an inspiration to
the Spanish patriots. Mina's division accepted the leadership of
his uncle, Don Francisco Espoz. This change was approved by
the patriot government, which, it is said, also permitted Espoz to
add the illustrious name of his nephew so that he became known as
Espoz y Mina.4 The restoration of Ferdinand VII was expected
to mark the consummation of those liberal gains which were
declared in the Constitution of 1812; but it was not to be. Gen-
eral Mina has left an impassioned statement of the disappoint-
ment suffered by his fellow liberals:
When the dignity of man and our old laws were re-estab-
lished on our soil, we believed that Ferdinand VII, who had
been our companion and victim of the oppression, would hasten
to repair with the benefactions of his reign the misfortunes
that had oppressed the state under his predecessors. We owed
him nothing . . .
We were confident, however, that he would always be aware
of the cost at which he had been restored to the throne, and
on which, together with his liberators, he would heal the
deep wounds which the nation was still suffering on his
account . . .
Could it be believed that the decree given at Valencia on
May 4, 1814, would be indicative of the treatment that the
ingrate prepared for the entire nation? . . .
The Constitution was abolished and the very one whom
Spain had ransomed with rivers of blood and with immense
sacrifices, made her bow again under the tyranny and fanati-
cism from which illustrious Spaniards had rescued her.5
2Mina, "Boletfn," AGI PC, leg. 1900.
3Julio Zfrate; La Guerra de Independencia (Barcelona, 1888), p. 558.
4Mina, "Boletin," AGI PC, leg. 1900. The confusion caused by this fact
led to charges that Xavier Mina was impersonating his uncle later. Espoz
y Mina won a great reputation as a guerrilla. A colorful, fanciful account
of his exploits is the "Account of the Celebrated Guerilla, Colonel Don
Francis Espoz y Mina, translated from the Spanish of Colonel Don Lorenzo
Ximenes" (The Annual Register-London, 1811-LIII, 353-57).
sMina, "Boletin," AGI PC, leg. 1900. This quotation is a portion of
Mina's address to his troops at Soto la Marina on April 25, 1817. For an
account of the printer of the "Boletln," see Lota M. Spell, "Samuel Bangs,
the First Printer in Texas," Hispanic American Historical Review, XI,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939, periodical, 1939; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101107/m1/10/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.