December 19, 1832
San Antonio became the first Texas town to present a list of grievances to the legislature of Coahuila y Texas. The document, known as the Bexar Remonstrance, was composed by the ayuntamiento (city council) of Bexar and signed by José Ángel Navarro, alcalde of San Antonio. Among other complaints, it sought repeal of the law banning immigration from the United States and separation of Texas from Coahuila. It said, in part: “And what shall we say concerning evils caused by the general law of April 6, 1830, which absolutely prohibits immigration by North Americans? The lack of troops and other officials capable of supervising it has made it impossible to enforce this law. On the other hand, the law prevents immigration of some capitalists and of some industrious and honorable men who have refrained from coming because of it, but has left the door open to wicked adventurers and others who constitute the dregs of society.”
