[TEXAS]. SEGUIN, Juan, et al. Manuscript power of attorney, in the hand of John James, signed by Seguin and 19 Tejanos, notarized by P. L. Buquet with his purple paper seal. Bexar County, Texas. 28 September 1860.

2 pages, 4to, 304 x 193, on a single lined sheet, creased, a few separations to folds, a few faint pencil marks. Provenance: Acquired Dorothy Sloan (11 December 2009, Sale 22, lot 502).

Seeking reimbursement for an 1839 expedition in which they participated. The text begins: “State of Texas County of Bexar. Know all men by these presents, that we the undersigned having full confidence in John James of San Antonio do hereby appoint him our true and lawful agent and attorney in fact for us and in our names to ask for, claim, and secure pay for certain services rendered by us in the Year 1839 to the Late Republic of Texas (say in July) in a campaign against the Comanches under Col Henry W. Karnes, John A. Seguín being Captain of the Company….” With 21 signatures (complete list available on request).

Henry Wax Karnes organized an expedition to drive Comanche out of the area in response to Governor Lamar's call for action against hostile Comanche who had killed for Bexar surveyors in May 1839, William P. Delmour, clerk of the San Antonio court, who was murdered on May 28, and several other men in the area. Two companies of volunteers were raised, one of Mexicans and one of Americans, and Seguín was elected captain of the Mexican force of about 54 men under Karnes' command. The expedition drove the Comanche out of the area. The forces, which were outfitted at private expense, were discharged about three weeks after they were formed. So far as is known, the mens' claims were never audited or reimbursed by the Republic.

The Republic of Texas faced lingering problems relating to the its fight for independence and its Indian Wars, including requests for the reimbursement of many people who were all to happy to volunteer for service with no thought of payment, as is the case here. In the introduction to his book on Seguín, de la Teja comments: “As Tejanos rediscover their contributions to Texas history, as they overcome the barriers that separate Texan and Tejano, Juan Seguín has again returned to serve as intermediary between the two... Juan Seguín is not just a hero for Texans of Mexican descent. All Texans now recognize his unique contribution to Texas history.”

Property from the Collection of Dr. Brant Mittler