[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
January 22, 1866.
Mr. Acting Secretary: In reference to my
notes of the 25th of October and 20th of November lass, and of the
5th instant, relative to the so-called decree of the usurper of
Mexico, issued the 3d of October, ordering the assassination
[Page 466]
of all Mexicans defending
the independence of their country, and especially to the
assassination of General Arteaga and some of his companions-in-arms,
I now have the honor to transmit to you various documents relating
to this same subject, showing how far the barbarism of the usurper
and his abettors is carried.
The first of these documents is a letter from General Don Carlos
Salazar, of the national army of Mexico, who was captured and
sacrificed at the same time with General Arteaga, to his family, a
short time before his death. In it are found sentiments of the
purest patriotism, and a consciousness of the fulfilment of duty.
General Salazar suffered death with the resignation of a true
martyr. These iniquitous assassinations occasioned an energetic
protest, a copy in English of which is enclosed, of the Belgian
officers who were made prisoners in the battle of Tacambaro on the
11th of April, 1865, and remained in General Arteaga’s hands from
that time, as prisoners of war, addressed to the usurper Ferdinand
Maximilian.
You will here see the great contrast between the conduct of the
Mexican authorities and the usurper’s agents in the treatment of
prisoners taken from the legion of mercenary adventurers, who even
doubted whether the rights of war would be accorded to them or not;
the usurper’s agents, in violation of every principle of justice and
every sentiment of humanity, assassinate every Mexican who defends the independence of his country.
It is not alone in Michoacan that these horrible crimes have been
committed, but wherever French soldiers have dominion similar scenes
are witnessed. There was a like case in Tamaulipas lately, the
particulars of which you will find in the notes exchanged, at the
beginning of this month, between General Weitzel, commanding the
United States forces on the Rio Grande, who protests in the name of
the civilized world against these excesses, and the traitor Thomas
Mejia, the French agent at Matamoras, and a person calling himself
R. Clay Crawford, general of division in the Mexican army.
These communications, of which I enclose copies, have been published
by the papers of this country, and their authenticity is not
doubted.
I profit by this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assurance of
my distinguished consideration.
Hon. William Hunter, &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
“Uruapan,
October 20,
1865.
“Adored Mother: It is seven o’clock at
night, and General Arteaga, Colonel Villa Gomez,with three other
chiefs and myself, have just been condemned. My conscience is
quiet; Igo down to the tomb at thirty-three years of age,
without a stain upon my military career ora blot upon my name.
Weep not, but be comforted, for the only crime your son has
committed is the defence of a holy cause—the independence of his
country. For this I am to bshot. I have no money, for I have
saved nothing. I leave you without a fortune, but God will aid
you and my children, who are proud to bear my name.
“Direct my children and my brothers in the path of honor, for the
scaffold cannot attaint loyal names.
“Adieu, dear mother. I will receive your blessings from the tomb.
Embrace my good uncle Luis for me, and Tecla, Lupe and Isabel;
also, my namesake, as well as Carmelita, Cholita, and Manuelita;
give them many kisses, and the adieu from my inmost soul. I
leave the first my silver-gilt watch; to Manuel I leave four
suits of clothes. Many blessings for my uncles, aunts, cousins,
and all loyal friends, and receive the last adieu of your
obedient and faithful son, who loves you much.
“Postscript.—If affairs should
change hereafter—and it is possible they may—I wish my ashes
to repose by the side of my children, in your town.”
[Page 467]
[Untitled]
“Uruapan,
October 20,
1865.
“My Dear Father: I employ my last
moments in writing to you. I would like to leave an honored name
to my family; I have worked for it, defending the cause I
embraced, but I could not succeed. Patience ! But I believe you
will not be ashamed to own a son who never left the path that
you traced out for me so honorably, by precept and example. I
have always acted honorably, and have no compunctions of
conscience; I have behaved as a man of honor, and am not sorry
for it; no one can complain of me, for I have injured no one. I
hope this will be some solace to your sorrow, and will make you
proud of my memory, ever pure and without a stain. I die
content.
“Give my last adieus to my brother and all my friends, reserving
for yourself the heart of a son sacrificed upon the altar of his
country.
“Don Miguel Villa Gomez.”
[Enclosure No. 3.—Translation.]
The Republica, a liberal journal
representing the interests of the republican army of the
centre, and issued at Nocupetaro, in the State of Michoacan,
has published the following documents in French and
Spanish:
To the General Commanding the Republican
Army of the Centre:
General: Our hearts were filled
with indignation upon learning the outrages committed upon
officers of your army by Colonel Mendez; and we cannot do
less than send the following protest to Maximilian, which we
are convinced will be concurred in by all our brothers. We
beg, therefore, general, that you will cause it to be sent
to the other Zitacuaro prisoners, who will hasten to sign
it, in order that it may be laid before Maximilian’s cabinet
as speedily as possible. Accept, general, the expression of
the respect of your prisoners,
BREUER,
GUYOT,
FLACHAT,
VAN HOLLENBECK.
[Untitled]
Tacambaro,
October 23,
1865.
Sir: We have learned with horror and
dismay of the act committed by Colonel Mendez, who, in violation
of all the laws of humanity and war, has executed a number of
officers of the liberal army taken prisoners by him. In all
civilized countries military officers respect prisoners of war.
The liberal army—to which you refuse to accord even the name of
army— pays a greater respect to those laws than the leaders of
your forces; for we, who are prisoners, are respected by all,
from generals down to private soldiers. Were we not with a
genuine liberal force, the act of Colonel Mendez might provoke a
bloody revenge; and we Belgians, who came to Mexico solely in
order to act as a guard to our princess, but whom you have
forced to fight against principles identical with our own, might
have expiated with our blood the crime of a man who is a traitor
to his country. We hope, sire, that this act of barbarity will
not remain unpunished, and that you will cause the laws existing
among all civilized nations to be respected. We protest most
earnestly against this unworthy act, hoping that the Belgian
name will not much longer continue mixed up with this iniquitous
war.
BREUER,
GUYOT,
FLACHAT,
VAN HOLLENBECK, and two hundred
others.
[Untitled]
Tacambaro,
October 24,
1865.
To the Representatives of the Belgian
Nation:
Gentlemen: The Mexican question has
frequently been discussed by you, but the chief point has been
the legality or illegality of recruiting for the Belgian legion.
Now, however, an event of great gravity obliges us to call your
attention to it anew. The lives of two hundred Belgian prisoners
are involved. Considering the question some time back, the force
was intended solely as a guard of honor voluntarily offered for
the protection of a Belgian princess. The emperor, disregarding
the special service for which the legion was destined and the
neutrality of the Belgian nation, ordered us to take the field,
and being Belgian soldiers, we obeyed, and marched to the front
cheerfully, animated by the love of war. Although we achieved
triumphs, we also, unfortunately, sustained reverses, and two
hundred of us Belgians are prisoners. Without taking our
position into consideration, the emperor recently issued a
decree which may cause terrible results. It announces to the
republicans that after the 15th of November all persons caught
with arms in their hands would be shot.
[Page 468]
At the commencement of this month an imperialist colonel, named
Mendez—an ex-republican, who sold himself to the empire—a man
hating the Belgians, took a large number of prisoners from the
republican army in a fight, including two generals and several
officers of high rank, whom he caused to be shot, without regard
to military law, and without waiting for the expiration of the
period fixed by the decree, stating, after the execution, to
persons who remonstrated with him upon the enormity of the deed,
“What matters it? They can only revenge themselves upon the
Belgians.” This alluded to the fact that all the other (French)
prisoners had been exchanged.
We expected that all the Belgian prisoners would be put to death;
but the republic of Mexico being great and generous, like all
free nations, deferred to act until after learning the action of
the administration of the empire toward this Colonel Mendez.
The emperor is very fond of this man. He has already sacrificed
our brave colonel, and he may sacrifice the lives of all the
Belgian prisoners.
Gentlemen, it is incumbent upon you to intervene. The Belgian
legion desired long since to return to its native country. It
did not wish to take part in this iniquitous war, or to serve
longer under an empire wherein such deeds are allowed to be
committed.
Representatives of the nation, your duty calls you to act
wherever the Belgian name is at stake. This is not a question of
party, but of nationality.
Representatives of Belgium, remember our motto, “Unity and
strength.” It behooves you to speak. We call upon you in the
name of Belgium, whose honest confidence has been abused.
Representatives of Belgium, it behooves you to see that the
blood of Belgians be not sacrificed. In the name of the country
do your duty.
BREUER, On behalf of the Belgian
prisoners taken by the republican
army
General Crawford to General Weitzel
Brownsville,
Texas,
January 1,
1866.
General: Information has just reached
me that a number of soldiers belonging to the army of the
republic of Mexico were this morning captured in battle by the
soldiers of the so-called emperor of Mexico, and that, by the
orders of the traitor Mejia, they are to be shot to death at
daylight to-morrow.
I wish, general, to protest, in the name of humanity, against
this violation of the usages of civilized warfare, and to
request that you, on the part of the republic of the United
States of America, prevent this atrocious murder of patriots in
cold blood by the tools of the Austrian usurper.
The opinions of the people and of the government of the United
States in relation to the inhuman orders of Maximilian are well
known.
To permit the patriotic soldiers of a sister republic, with which
we preserve diplomatic relations, to be butchered within sight
of the flag of the United States, and within sound of an army of
United States troops, is to prove false to every principle held
dear by an American citizen.
As an officer of the army of the Mexican republic I earnestly
ask, general, that you prevent the commission of this dreadful
crime.
I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,
R. CLAY CRAWFORD, General of Division,
Army of Mexico,
Major General Godfrey Weitzel, Com’dg
District of Rio Grande and 25th
Army Corps.
General Weitzel to General Crawford
Headquarters District of the
Rio Grande, Brownsville, Texas,
January 2,
1866.
General: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your communication of yesterday.
I have, notified General Mejia of the opinion which I firmly
believe my government holds on that subject, and have entered
solemn protest in writing against the act. General Mejia replies
that he is obliged to obey the orders of his government. I will
notify my superiors of this; but I have positive, written orders
not to commence hostilities without instructions so to do.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. WEITZEL, Major General
Commanding.
R. Clay Crawford, General of Division,
Army of Mexico.
[Page 469]
[Untitled]
Headquarters District of the
Rio Grande, Brownsville, Texas,
January 2,
1866.
General: I understand that you have
taken seventeen prisoners from the liberal forces, and that you
intend to execute them.
In the name of the entire civilized world I protest against such
a horrible act of barbarity. I believe it will stamp the power
which you represent with infamy forever.
To execute Mexicans fighting in their own country, and for the
freedom of their country, against foreign power, is an act
which, at this age, will meet with universal execration.
I cannot permit this to be done under the eye of my government
without, on its behalf, entering this solemn protest.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. WEITZEL, Major General
Commanding.
Major General Tomas Mejia, Commanding line of the Rio Grande
[Untitled]
Imperial Army Mexico,
Division Mejia, Headquarters
Matamoras,
January 2,
1866.
General: I acknowledge receipt of your
communication dated this day.
I find myself under the necessity of repelling energetically the
participation which you pretend to take in the internal concerns
of this country.
The business to which the protest in your note refers has now
been brought before competent tribunals, and no one has a right
to suspend the proceedings.
For your individual cognition I will add that the persons in
question are accused of having taken by force of arms thirteen
wagons, twenty-six mules and horses, and robbed thirteen
persons.
It would be very strange, general, if in the middle of this
nineteenth century the bandits and fighting robbers were to
receive help and protection from the civilized world.
By the same occasion I see myself obligated to remind you of the
contents of the letter which I had the honor to address you on
the 21st of last December. I shall return without answer all
communications of the character and couched in the language of
the one now before me.
Accept, general, my esteem and consideration.
TOMAS MEJIA, General Commanding line
of the Rio Grande,
Major General Weitzel, Commanding
Western District of Texas, Brownsville,
The following is the letter of the
21st of December, referred to in the foregoing
communication:
[Untitled]
Imperial Army Mexico,
Division Mejia, Headquarters
Matamoras,
December 21,
1865.
General: I have received your letter
dated 19th instant, transmitting me the instructions which you
have received from New Orleans, and informing me that I must
consider as belligerents the Juarist band s of Mexico, without
applying to them the name of bandits, seeing that the government
of the United States recognizes that of Juarez, for whom these
forces are fighting.
Hereafter, general, I will not answer letters of the character
and couched in the language of the one which now occupies
me.
The Mexican authorities do not receive other commands, nor do
they submit to any other will, than that of the government of
Mexico. The conduct of the forces to whom you allude, and the
decree of October 3 last, have defined uniformly the position of
said forces in the country, and in that position will they now
be considered in Mexico.
Accept, general, the assurance of my highest consideration.
TOMAS MEJIA, Commanding line of Rio
Grande.
Major General Weitzel, Commanding
District Rio Grande,
