The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 90, July 1986 - April, 1987 Page: 220
492 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 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:
220 Southwestern Historical Quarterly
The preceding paragraph clearly indicates the general view of Texas
by Mexico (and Spain) until Mexican independence was realized in
September, 1821. Throughout the period 1820-1834 internal and ex-
ternal events relating to the maintenance of the territorial integrity of
the nation continued to condition the view of Texas and its population.
Maintenance of territorial integrity through population (or coloniza-
tion) was a constant factor drawing attention to Texas, which during
this entire period was considered the proving ground for its successful
realization for all of its frontiers.
Not until March 1, 1821, did Texas receive attention in Mexico or
Spain. On that date the Spanish minister for overseas affairs, in his re-
port to the Spanish Cortes, stated that the distribution of land in Amer-
ica was of the greatest importance both politically and economically
and that the king expected the most marvelous results in both aspects.
"The populating of Texas," the minister said, "required the most ur-
gent circumspection as well as the greatest prudence in the matter of
the distribution of the land of that immense territory."
The Committee on Overseas Affairs of the Cortes, chaired by the
Mexican deputy Jose Miguel Ramos Arizpe, representing the Eastern
Interior Provinces, which included Texas, and with another Mexican,
Francisco Fagoaga, serving on it, began at once to draw up a Project for
the Colonization of the Americas, which was read to the Cortes on June
6, 1821, and debated in that body between June 16 and 26.3 Twelve
Mexican deputies participated actively in the debates, whereas only five
peninsular deputies raised any questions in regard to the thirty-one ar-
ticles. This activity in the Spanish Cortes reveals the thinking of those
Mexicans in regard to Texas.
In the debate on proposed article 8, providing that land granted for
settlement had to be vacant land not belonging to any particular per-
son, Deputy Juan Bautista Valdes, representing the provinces of Nuevo
Le6n, Coahuila, and Texas, urged the greatest circumspection in the
admission of all classes of foreigners, because the Spanish monarchy
ran the "great risk of dismemberment of that part of America in which
Texas" was located. He argued that Texas, "being the most fertile and
the richest of all the land immediately adjacent to the United States,
had always excited [that country's] envy and that this measure would
afford [the U.S.] the easiest and most advantageous method to obtain
2"Memoria leido a las Cortes por el secretario de la gobernaci6n de ultramar," Diario de las
sesiones de las Cortes: legislatura de I821 (3 vols.; Madrid, 1872), I, 125-126. Translations are by
the author unless otherwise noted.
3"Proyecto de decreto sobre el fomento y aumento de poblaci6n y repartimiento de terrenos
en la Espafla ultramarina," Diario de ... las Cortes, III, 2,082-2,083.
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 90, July 1986 - April, 1987, periodical, 1986/1987; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117152/m1/273/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.