The Tornel Decree

In response to growing revolt in Mexico's Tejas region, José María de Tornel y Mendívil, Mexico's Minister of War, issued a decree on December 30, 1835. The Tornel Decree laid out harsh punishment against foreign fighters, largely from the United States, who took up arms against Mexico in the fight for Texian independence. This document set the stage for the massacres at Goliad and the Alamo, further contributing to the Runaway Scrape.

Art. 1. Foreigners who may land in any port of the republic, or may penetrate into it by land, armed, and with intention to attack our territories, shall be treated and punished as pirates, considering that they do not belong to a nation with which the republic is at war, and that they do not fight under any recognized flag. 

Art. 2. In the same manner shall be treated and chastised foreigners who may land in any port, or may introduce, by land, arms and munitions of war, intended for any place in insurrection against the Government of the nation, and with the intent proved to place these arms and munitions of war in the hands of its enemies. -Mexico, December 30, 1835.

Español

1° Los estrangeros que desembarcaren en algun puerto de la republica, penetraren por tierra en ella, armados, y con objeto de atacar nuestro territorio, seran tratados y castigados como piratas, en consideracion a que no pertenecen a nacion con la que esta en guerra la republica, y a que no militan bajo de bandera conocida. 

2°. En los mismos terminos seran tratados y castigados los estrangeros que desembarcaren en algun puerto o introdugeren por tierra armas y municiones, siendo por algun punto sublevado contra el Gobierno de la nacion, y con objeto provado de poner estos utiles de guerra en manos de los enemigos de ella. -Mejico, Diciembre 30 de 1835.