Primary Sources, Black History

Join The Gist of Freedom as we present The Book Reading: Black Abolitionists By Benjamin Quarles~ Schools, Celebrations and International Emancipation Observed and Celebrated! Vicente Guerrero, Mexico’s first black president Texas President Sam Houston lamented that ". . . two valuable negro boys for which I had paid in cash $2100 previous to my visit to Nashville, ran away to Mexico. Just two and a half months after Mexico abolished slavery Mexican officials attempted to curb the number of newcomers. In 1830, foreigners could not cross the border without obtaining a passport issued by Mexican agents.(6) Texans did not respect the MEXICAN border in their pursuits of Freed Blacks. In 1855, Captain James Callahan of the Texas Rangers under the orders of Texan Governor Elisha Pease entered Mexico in an attempt to recapture slaves. Callahan insisted that the purpose of his excursion was to pursue Indians rather than recapture fugitive slaves. The Mexican government with the help of Native Americans, however,