537
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
that now is the proper time for them to come, or to contribute by their means. In much haste, Ever truly Thine, Anson Jones [Addressed]; Col. Daingerfield. [Source]: Hardin-Simmons University L:brary, Abilene, Texas. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE BLOCKADE OF MEXICAN PORTS, MARCH 26, 1842 1 By the President of the Republic of Texas, A Proclamation of Blockade: TO ALL T'O WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Know Ye, That I, Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the same, by virtue of my authority, and the power vested in me by Law, and for the purpose of more effectively prosecuting the war in which Texas is now engaged with Mexico, Do hereby order, decree and proclaim that all the Ports of the Republic of Mexico, on its eastern coast from Tobasco in the state of Tobasco to Matamoras in the state of Tamaulipas, including those ports and comprising the mouth of the Rio Grande de) Norte and the Brazos, Santiago and also all the inlets, estuaries, and passes on the said Eastern coast of Mexico-are from and after the date of this proclamation in a state of actual and absolute blockade by the armed vessels of this Nation. And for the purpose of carrying this order, decree and proc- lamation into complete effect, an armed naval force now is and will continue to be kept at or near the said ports, inlets and passes of the eastern coast of Mexico-entirely sufficient to enforce this decree. For any breach, or effort at breach of this blockade, the offend- ing vessel and cargo will be liable to confiscation, and the officers and mariners of such vessel will be subject to all the penalties attached to breach of blockades. This decree shall take effect as to vessels sailing from New Orleans, within three days after its publication in that city and within five days as to vessels from any neutral port of the Gulf of Mexico, within twenty days as to any port of the United States, north of the Gulf of Mexico and in forty-five days as to ve sels sailing from any of the ports of Europe. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and the Great Seal of the Republic at the city of Houston on the 26th day
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