|
 |
El Paso
Museum of History
to Host Historical
1836 Document:
The Secret Treaty of Velasco
July 16, 2009
6:00 – 8:30 pm |
|
In
cooperation with the El Paso Public Library,
the El Paso Museum of History will host an
opening preview of the original “Secret
Treaty” of Velasco. The Treaties of Velasco
are two documents signed at Velasco, Texas,
(now Freeport, Texas) on May 14, 1836,
between Mexican dictator Antonio López de
Santa Anna and the Republic of Texas interim
president David G. Burnet in the aftermath
of the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21,
1836).
The "public" treaty was to be published and
implemented immediately after it was signed.
A second "secret" treaty was to be
implemented after the terms of the public
treaty were fulfilled. In essence, the
secret treaty provided for Santa Anna's
immediate release in exchange for his
recognition of Texas as an independent
nation. The treaties were violated by both
parties. The Texas army blocked Santa Anna's
release and the Mexican government declared
void all of Santa Anna's acts while in
captivity. Together, the treaties somewhat
loosely established the southern Texas
border at the Rio Grande, but this issue
would not be finally resolved until 1848,
after Texas statehood and the conclusion of
the Mexican War.
The treaty will be on loan from the El Paso
Public Library, the oldest continuous public
library in Texas, to the El Paso Museum of
History through September. With respect to
this original document's preservation and
protection, after the July 16th preview, it
will be available for public viewing in
half-hour increments at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm
and 4:00 pm during regular museum hours.
El Paso Museum of History 510 N. Santa Fe
Street El Paso, TX, 79901 (915)
351-3588 |
|
|
|
