In 1829 the president of Mexico issued a decree, or order, abolishing slavery. Texans tried to persuade Mexican officials to exempt, or excuse, Texas from the decree. Although never put into effect in Texas, the decree caused fear among many of the Anglo American slaveholders. They believed that it was only a matter of time before the decree would apply to them, too.

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On April 6, 1830, the Centralist government in Mexico issue a law based on many of Mier y Terán's recommendations.

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Decree of
april 6, 1830

1. Suspend all Empresario contracts

2. No more U.S. immigration

3. No new slaves

4. More Mexican soldiers

5. More European immigrations

6. Tax on custom duties

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Law of april 6,1830

The first serious conflict over Mexico's actions occurred at a Mexican garrison in the port town of Anahuac. It’s commander, John Davis Bradburn, quarreled with the colonists living at Anahuac. Colonists accused him of taking supplies and refusing to give up runaway slaves. Bradburn believed in the strict enforcement of all Mexican laws.

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​Settlers Protest at Anahuac

The tax collector at Anahuac attempted to collect customs duties (taxes) on goods imported into Mexico from the U.S. This angered the merchants (Store Owners) because they would have to travel long distances to process the paperwork for such goods to cross the border into Mexico.

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The final blow occurred in May 1832. Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack, for interfering in his efforts to enforce the laws. About 160 settlers marched to Anahuac, demanding Travis's and Jack's release.

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at anahuac

A small skirmish, or fight, occurred between the colonists and Bradburn. Bradburn agreed to release the prisoners if the colonists retreated from Anahuac, but not all the settlers withdrew so he refused to release them and called in extra troops. In need of more firepower, the colonists made camp at Turtle Bayou, between Anahuac and Liberty, and sent John Austin to Brazoria to bring back a cannon.

While the colonists waited for John Austin and the cannon, they wrote a number of statements known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions on June 13, 1832. In the formal statements, called resolutions the colonists:

1. We are loyal to Mexico.

2. We support the Constitution of 1824

3. We support Santa Anna over the current President Bustamante

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Turtle Bayou Resolutions

Before John Austin and his group returned with the cannon, Colonel José de las Piedras arrived at Anahuac.  While he sympathized with Bradburn, his men were outnumbered by the Texans, so he removed Bradburn from command and released Travis and Jack. Bradburn resigned and left Texas.

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Meanwhile, a clash occurred at Velasco John Austin tried to load their cannon on their ship. Mexican commander Colonel Ugartechea thought them to be rebels and would not let them pass. Fighting erupted between the Texans and the Mexican troops and lives were lost on both sides

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​clash at velasco

Ugartechea ran out of ammo and surrendered. Austin's group then sailed on to Anahuac with the cannon, only to discover that Travis and Jack had already been freed.

clash at velasco