Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress, Part III

[Translation.]

Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter

Mexican Legation in the United States of America, Washington, January 5, 1866.

Mr. Acting Secretary: On referring to my notes of the 25th of October and 20th of November last to your department, relative to the declaration of war to the death made by the French and their agents in Mexico against the citizens of that republic who are defending the independence of their country, and especially to the assassination of Major General Arteaga and several of his companions in arms, conformably to the spirit of that determination, I now have the honor to send you the copy of a letter from that general to his mother, written from Uruapan, dated October 20, 1865, on the evening of the day before his sacrifice.

This important document shows, in the first place, that the assassination of General Arteaga is an accomplished fact, notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to conceal it; and it shows, moreover, that it was premeditated and executed by orders from Mexico, or by command of the French general-in-chief of the invading army, or by the French agent in that city, on whom they try to lay the responsibility of their conduct.

It appears, in fact, as well from the letter I enclose as from the official report of the capture of those officers, which I sent you in my note of the 20th November last, that they were captured since the 13th of October, and it is inferred from the same letter that they were shot on the 21st of the same month, after a period of eight days. If they had been executed according to the usurper’s sanguinary decree of the 3d October, without the interference of the superior French agents residing in the city of Mexico, they would have been tried by a court-martial within twenty-four hours after their capture, (art. 2,) and shot within the next twenty-four hours, (art. 1;) and, besides, the term of eight days was more than enough time to send from Uruapan to the city of Mexico and get an answer about the destiny of the prisoners.

The assassins have not had the manliness to assume the responsibility of their crime, but have tried to conceal it, or impose the guilt of it upon an unhappy traitor officer who has joined the conquerors of his country.

I accept this occasion to renew to you, sir, the assurances of my distinguished consideration.

M. ROMERO.

Hon. William Hunter, &c. &c., &c.

[Untitled]

“Uruapan, October 20, 1865..

“My Adored Mother: I was taken prisoner on the 13th instant by the imperial troops, and to-morrow I am to be shot. I pray you, mama, to pardon me for all the suffering I have caused you during the time I have followed the profession of arms, against your will.

“Mama, in spite of all my efforts to aid you, the only means I had I sent you in April last; but God is with you, and he will not suffer you to perish, nor my sister Trinidad, the little Yankee.

“I have not told you before of the death of my brother Luis, because I feared you would die of grief; he died at Tuxpan, in the State of Jalisco, about the first of January last.

“Mama, I leave nothing but a spotless name, for I have never taken anything that did not belong to me; and I trust God will pardon all my sins and take me into his glory.

“I die a Christian, and bid you all adieu—you, Dolores, and all the family, as your ver obedient son,

“JOSÉ MARIA ARTEAGA

“Doña Apolonia Magallanes de Arteaga, Aguas Calientes.”