Guest Column
Texas Declaration of Independence
- By Rudy ‘Tejano’ Pena,
- Tejano Historian
The 59 delegates, who swore and signed, the famous Texas Declaration of Independence document at Washington on the Brazos, March 2, l836…Declared… Texas would be a free independent republic. This was the singleness of purpose that held them together.
These were very treacherous and difficult times for early Tejas settlers. The newly formed government of the Mexican Republic was experiencing enormous turmoil within its ranks. The Mexican leader, who became a dictator, totally disregarded the woes and needs of the citizens of Tejas / Texas.
Generalissimo Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna learned of the unrest among Tejanos, and the recently arrived legal and illegal United States citizens, the Texian. When they decided to rebel against the Mexican government, Santa Anna promptly organized an army and proceeded to Tejas. He was determined to suppress the revolt Tejanos, United States immigrants and some Mexican had initiated. The Mexican General believed providence was on his side, after victories at the Battle of the Alamo and Goliad. He was disastrously wrong.
While Santa Anna was moving north into Tejas and raising havoc among the Tejanos, Texians and some Mexican, valiant gallant men had gathered in a small and bitter cold shelter at Washington on the Brazos. These men were deciding the fate and future of the citizens of the great state of Tejas / Texas. Most of the delegates had come from foreign countries. Texas history sights the names of two illustrious Tejano patriots, among the brave and distinguished signers of the historical document. The heroic act gave birth to the Great Republic of Tejas / Texas.
Of all the delegates, only two were native Tejanos / Texans. There could very well have been more, but with all the fighting going on, others were not able to attend.
The two legendary Tejano patriots were JOSÉ FRANCISCO RUIZ and his nephew JOSÉ ANTONIO NAVARRO. They were delegates from San Antonio de Bexar, representing the dominant Tejano population and some Mexicans under the Mexican government.
DON JOSÉ FRANCISCO RUIZ BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEJAS 28 JANUARY 178
“Texas… shall remain forever free.”
DON JOSÉ ANTONIO NAVARRO BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEJAS 27 FEBRUARY 1795
“I have sworn to be a Texan. I shall not forswear.”
Note: Mexico established it’s republic in 1824. The men cited above were born Tejanos under Spanish government.
Unitedstatesians, who moved to Tejas, became Mexican citizens. Tejanos became Mexican citizens as well. Spanish speaking Tejanos or Tejanas born in Tejas during this period were not Mexican. Currently many original Tejano descendants born in the Lone Star State and other states in the union certainly are not Mexican, Mexican-American, Hispanic, Latino or Chicano. For we are Tejanos and / or Tejanas by the Grace of God. God Blesss Teja
Rudy ‘Tejano’Pena, (tejano_pride@hotmail.com), Tejano Historian http://www.tejanopride.com/
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