Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-23
S. A. PATRIOTS.
New-OrIeans. Oct. o,

Orleans, Oct. %.
INTERESTING & HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
The following articles have been hand
ed us Tor publication by a gentleman late
ly from Matagorda They were origin
ally written IN the Spanish, and the trans
latlon having been made hastily, may be
deficient III precision of style, but is lite
rally accurate.
DECREE.
Citizens Joseph Wanuei dc Tcyrer0, deputy
Of tie Merieai, Republic.
BY virtue of the powers and INSTRUCT
ons given to me by the Mexican congress,
| order and command, that until the said
congress shall sanction a form of gov
eminent more conducive to the welfare
and happiness of this province of Tax
as, the following articles relative to the
establishment of AlatagOrda and GaIven-
ston, shall be observed. The cOnstitu-
tionai decree respecting settlements and
villages in the rest of the province, re-
mains in full force:
1. There shall be civil and military
governor, who shall discharge his func-
tons agreeably to the laws and ordinan-
ces enacted by herepublic, and shall O.
hey the supreme executive power of
the nation there shall likewise be a Sc
cretary TO certify the acts of the COVER
nor.
9. There shall be a collector of the re-
venue and a treasurer, subordinate to the
governor, who shall obey The acts &, de
crees of the congress; the governor shall
appoint the under officers necessary To
the due administration of the treasurer's
office.
8. There shall be a court of admiralty,
taking cognizances of cases falling
under Its jurisdiction, Judging and deci-
ding according to the laws of nations and
OF the admiralty, with a clerk to certify
the acts Of the tribunal
4. There shall be Judge TO act in civil
and criminal eases. His jurisdiction shall
extend III civil cases TO. all sums not ex-
ceeding one hundred dollars, and in Grim
inal cases his powers shall extend no
further than imprisonment; there shall be
a clerk at this court. which shall be de-
nominated the tribunal.
5. There shall be a superior Judge with
his clerk-this Judge shall take cogni-
zance of cases of appeal as we'll from the
iAferor tribunal of justice, as from the
court of admiralty his jurisdiction shall
also extend to all sums above the one
mentioned in the preceding article, and
TO criminal cases where the punishment
may exceed Imprisonment, observing the
l96th article of die constitution, relative
to sentences of death and Punishment;
there shall be an appeal from this court to
the supreme tribunal, according to the
rules prescribed by the laws of the repub-
lie
6. There shall be notary public to
authenticate all contracts, writings, DOW
ers, and other similar instruments, and
an aigauzii mayor To execute sales, sci
cures, and other orders of the court.
'ha eloI
corCiing 10 circumstances. a place be-
tween Matagorda and Galveston for his
own residence and that of the officers APP
pointed for the new establishment.
Given Ill Galveston, the 18th day OF
September, 1916, and 9TH ofAIexican
independence.
JOSEPH MANUEL HERRERA.
A. NJ. NORM,
Secretary all interim &c the legation.
In consequence of this decree the fol-
lowing appointments were made:
Governor of this new establishment, CT
tizcn Louis 1ury.
Clerk of the court, citizen Vincent Ve-
TOs.
Notary Public, citizen Gabriel To,reaS.
Treasurer, citizen John Peter Rousselin.
Aiguazil mayor, citizen Jc0a BaptiSte
OmHi0ni SSeGuS.
COuSioCldtlOiiS nave
the governor and the authorities to take
up their residence for the present at Gal
weston; detachment of soldiers will re-
main at Matagordato protectthe natives of
the province, whoare uniting at that place.
The Spaniards at La Bahin and ST. An
tonic have received orders TO retreat to
the Rio del Norte where it appears they
are determined to make stand.
PROCI AM ALTON
Joseph Manuel de Herrma in tile name Of
the 4Ueriean Republic.
Matagorda is ours. The extensive and
healthy province of Texas is free; its in
habitants, filed with enthusiasm, fly to
the standard of independence. The con-
stitution of the Mexican Republic has su-
perseded the despotism of the Spanish
monarchy. The oppressors fly before
us; there is no obstacle to refard our
march into the interior of the other pro-
vinces. A commodious and safe harbor ::
a respectable land and naval force mag
azines well supplied with arms and am
munition a soil, fertile in all the neces-
sares ofliie--we want nothing but to ex-
terminate our enemies, and drive the mis-
cradle remnant into the ocean. The
troops of the republic advance in every
direction the bands of the tyranf, which
lnlest the provinces of Vera Cruz and O.
axaca, will soon be defeated and driven
out. I'm a short time the flag of Spain
will float no longer on the Gulf of Mex
leo.
Countrymen, YOU may now accumu-
10 tho r..I,,a 10 Iu.ft,,,. r.