This is the 4-page issue of the Richmond Enquirer for April 19, 1836 containing Stephen Austin’s Louisville speech defending the Texas Revolution. This early publication of Austin's famous speech revealed its objective of "freedom” as “a new republic or by becoming a State of the United States.” The speech, which occupies half of page 1 and a small portion of page 2, includes the complete text of the Texas Declaration of Independence of November 1835 which held out the possibility of Texas remaining part of Mexico if the 1824 Constitution were reestablished. Austin was one of three Texas commissioners en route to Washington at the time and was unaware of the Declaration of Independence of March 2.

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Condition: B

The spine has been reinforced with archival tissue, and there is some minor foxing and soiling. A few manuscript notations and a small stamp are confined to the top margin of the first page.