OBSERVACIONES DEL DIPUTADO SALIENTE MANUEL CRECENCIO REJON, CONTRA LOS TRATADOS DE PAZ, FIRMADOS EN LA CIUDAD DE GUADALUPE EL 2 DEL PROXIMO PASADO FEBRERO, PRECEDIDAS DE LA PARTE HISTÓRICA RELATIVA A LA CUESTION ORIGINARIA

Queretaro: Imprenta de J.M. Lara, 1848.. 62,[2]pp. Original printed wrappers, later stitching. Wrappers somewhat worn and soiled, vertical tear into border of front wrapper, spine heavily chipped. Presentation inscription on verso of front wrapper. Faint vertical crease, small stain in upper margin of last few leaves, occasional underlining in pencil. Overall very good. Untrimmed. A presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the verso of the front wrapper. A strident criticism and call for opposition to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American War, penned by tireless advocate of Mexican independence Manuel Crecencio Rejón. Rejón believed that the treaty, which he saw as capitulating to the United States' duplicitous and aggressive schemes to take over Mexico, would spell the death of the still adolescent Mexican Republic and its continued sovereignty. Much of the pamphlet is dedicated to describing how the Americans manipulated and encouraged the Texan rebellion in order to quickly annex the new "nation," using it as a springboard to begin a war with Mexico by which they could win even more territory by force. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did just that, ceding the Mexican states of Alta California, New Mexico and Texas, which today form the current states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and part of Wyoming: in all, about fifty percent of Mexico's total territory. Rejón concludes by urging his readers that if, despite all his arguments, the cessation of lands to the United States holds, "in that case we must continue the war at all costs, imitating the heroic conduct of our sister republic Argentina, who without our resources and with a small population of one and a half million has acquitted herself with glory against the two colossal powers of Great Britain and France, as well as Uruguay and Paraguay" [our translation].

Rejón was a long-time Mexican congressman who early in his career was a fierce proponent of Mexican independence from Spain and opponent Iturbide's imperial aspirations. In 1841 he was responsible for the addition of the Writ of Amparo into the Mexican Constitution, a fundamental constitutional right to protection against abuses which remains one of Mexico's most important and which was later adopted by many other Latin American nations. This pamphlet was part of his final crusade against the treaty which threatened the Mexican independence he had championed for so many years; unfortunately for Rejón, he died the following year before he was able to build significant enough opposition to challenge the treaty.

A rare and important pamphlet from the end of the Mexican-American War: Rare Book Hub records only two other copies sold at auction since the 1967 auction of Eberstadt inventory at Parke Bernet. TUTOROW 4139. GARRETT, p.98. HOWES R186, "b." SABIN 69161.