[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
Mexican Legation In The United
States, Washington,
April 7, 1865.
Mr. Secretary: Pursuant to my intention to
communicate to the government of the United States, through your
respected channel, the principal documents which may come to my
hands, and which may serve to give an idea of the policy observed by
the forces and the agents of the French government in Mexico, I have
the honor to accompany with this note some of those published in
numbers 9 and 10 of “El Correo de Mazatlan”
the organ of the so-called government of the ex-Archduke Maximilian
in the State of Sinaloa. I will take the liberty to briefly call
your attention to these evidences brought to light by the agents
themselves of the French intervention in my country.
The first is a decree from the French General Castagny, issued on the
25th of January last, in which, referring to another decree upon the
same subject, from the general-in-chief of the French forces in
Mexico, and to the instructions of Maximilian, a court-martial is
established in Mazatlan, from which there is no appeal, to
pronounce, at discretion, sentences which are to be executed within
twenty-four hours against every republican guerilla, and even
against any prisoner made from the regular forces who defend the
independence of their country, for it is known that the former, and
even in many cases the latter, are called by the invaders of Mexico
“armed malefactors,” against whom apparently the decree of which I
speak is levelled. This barbarous system of trying by foreign
courts-martial, and without subjecting to any law or rule, as they
pass sentences at discretion, has already carried to the gallows
hundreds of victims, among them many such as Señor Chavez, the
constitutional governor of Aguas Calientes, and General Ghilardi,
the companion-in-arms of Garibaldi. These are the “armed
malefactors” whom the invader seeks to exterminate.
The second point in evidence, which I accompany with this note, is
another decree from the same General Castagny, removing the
political and civil authorities of Mazatlan, appointed by the French
agent which preceded the said general at Mazatlan, and constituting
other persons in their places, under the threat that, if any one of
them should not accept the position to which he has been designated,
he will suffer a penalty of imprisonment for six months, agreeably
to the law issued upon the subject by the intervention.
The existence of this so-called law, and the necessity of threatening
its execution in the decree to which I refer, are the best proofs
which can be imagined of the want of popularity with which the cause
of the intervention contends in Mexico.
The third evidence comprises several communications which have passed
between the so-called political prefect of Sinaloa and the
Licentiate Don Ladislao Gaona, from which it appears that this
advocate did not immediately accept the appointment which was
conferred upon him of judge of the first instance, and
[Page 598]
though he excused himself
upon the plea of infirmity, he was Ordered to be imprisoned, and
compelled to accept the office.
The fourth and last evidence which I have the honor to transmit,
although of a later date, constitutes from its tenor a very singular
document. It is a proceeding subscribed by sundry persons of the
city of Aguas Calientes, who were compelled by the political prefect
to protest that they would not be hostile to the new order of
things. But the fact is to be noted that the majority of the
signers, not satisfied that it should appear in the instrument that
they acted by order of the prefect, took care to set forth before
each of their signatures that they complied with that act solely
through the fear of the pains with which they were threatened. What
is most singular in this document, which reveals what has taken
place in drawing up all the acts of adhesion to the empire, should
be brought to light as a proof of the spontaneity with which it is
being accepted in Mexico. I forbear from the reflections which these
documents suggest, because they cannot be concealed from the
well-known penetration of the government of the United States, which
I have no doubt will properly estimate them.
I avail myself of this opportunity to repeat to you, Mr. Secretary,
the assurances of my very distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Enclosure No. 1.—Translation.]
[From the Correo de Mazatlan, 28th
of January, 1865—Volume 1, No. 9]
Gregorio Almada, superior political prefect of
the department of Sinaloa, to its inhabitants:
Know ye, that his excellency Major General De Castagny has
directed to me the following decree:
“Expeditionary Force of
Mexico, 1st Division of Infantry,
General Staff.
“General de Castagny, commanding the 1st division of the
Franco-Mexican army:
“In virtue of the constituent decree of the general-in chief,
issued the 20th of June, 1863, in virtue of the orders from his
Majesty the Emperor Maximilian, and using powers conferred upon
him, decrees as follows:
“Article 1. A court-martial is hereby
established in Mazatlan.
“Art. 2. This court is invested with
discretional powers to judge, without appeal, every person who
belongs to the gangs of armed malefactors.
“Art. 3. This court shall pronounce
sentence by a majority of votes and at one session.
“Art. 4. Sentences shall be executed
within twenty-four hours, counting from the moment of their
passage.
“General Commanding the First
Division, “DE CASTAGNY.
“Mazatlan, January 25, 1865.”
Therefore I order this to be printed, published and circulated,
and that it he duly obeyed.
Mazatlan,
January 28,
1865.
Superior Political Prefect,
GREGORIO ALMADA.
Secretary General of the Prefecture,
Gregorio Moreno.
[Enclosure No. 2.]
[Taken from the same paper as the
preceding.],
Gregorio Almada, superior political prefect of
the department of Sinaloa, to its inhabitants:
Know ye, that his excellency Major General de Castagny, has
directed to me the following decree:
“Expeditionary Force of
Mexico, 1st Division of Infantry,
General Staff.
“General de Castagny, commanding the 1st division of the
Franco-Mexican army:
[Page 599]
“Considering that the authorities of Mazatlan have been elected
by a small portion of the population, and, moreover, have taken
little pains to do their duty, it is decreed, that the fo lowing
persons are provisionally appointed to office till their
nominations are ratified by his Majesty the Emperor
Maximilian:
“Political prefect.—Don Gregorio
Almada.
“Municipal prefect—Don Francisco Gomez
Flores.
“City Council.—President, Don Vicente
Alvarez de la Rosa. Councilmen: 1. Angel Lopez Portillo. 2. Leon
Villasenor, (doctor.) 3. Manuel Hidalgo. 4. Miguel F. Castro. 5.
Fortunato de la Vega. 6. Juan Ramirez. 7. Jesus Macias.
“Syndics.—1. Don Matias Acosta. 2. Don
Santiago Rivero.
“Alcades.—1. Don Manuel Castellanos. 2.
Don Francisco Muro. 3. Don Vicente Maldonado.
“Any ofthe persons above mentioned who refuse to perform the
duties of the offices assigned to them shall suffer six months’
imprisonment, according to the provisions of the law.
“General Commanding the First
Division, “DE CASTAGNY.
“Headquarters In Mazatlan, January 27,
1865.”
Therefore I order this to be printed, published, and circulated,
and command that it be duly obeyed.
Mazatlan, January 28, 1865.
Superior Political Prefect, GREGORIO
ALMADA.
Secretary General of the Prefecture,
Gregorio Moreno.
[Enclosure No. 3]
[Taken from the same paper as the
preceding.]
Gregorio Almada, superior political prefect of
the department of Sinaloa, to its inhabitants:
Know ye, that his excellency Major General de Castagny, has
directed to me the following decree:
“Expeditionary Force of Mexico, 1st Division of Infantry, General
Staff.—No. 1355.
“General Castagny, commanding first division of the
Franco-Mexican army, considering it of great importance to
organize the judicial power as soon as possible, and respecting
the recommendations of the superior political prefect, decrees
as follows:
“The persons mentioned below are hereby appointed to office till
their nominations are ratified by his Majesty the Emperor
Maximilian, as officers of the supreme court: Minister,
Licenciado Don Jesus Betancourt; attorney, Licenciado Don José
Maria Loreto Iribarren. The other officers required in the
supreme court of justice shall be appointed by the political
prefect, taking into consideration the minister’s
recommendations.
“The following persons are hereby appointed by the political
prefect till their nominations are ratified by his Majesty the
Emperor: First judge of first instance, Licenciado Ladislao
Gaona; second judge of first instance, Licenciado Jesus
Bringas.
“Mazatlan, January 27, 1865.
“General of the Division, “DE
CASTAGNY.
“Political Prefect, “Don Gregorio Almada, Present.”
Therefore, I order this to be printed, published, and circulated,
and command that it be duly obeyed.
Mazatlan, January 28, 1865.
Superior Political Prefect, GREGORIO
ALMADA.
Secretary General of the Prefecture,
Gregorio Moreno.
[Page 600]
[Enclosure No. 4.]
[From El Correo de Mazatlan, the
official paper of the department of Sinaloa, February 8,
1865, volume 1, No. 10.]
Superior political prefecture of
the department of Sinaloa.
As the same causes still exist that I explained to the superior
political prefect of the department in my conference with him
yesterday, why I should be excused from accepting the place of
2d judge of first instance, to which I have been appointed by
General de Castagny; and as I am again suffering from another
attack of malignant coast fever, from which I have already
suffered much, making a change of air necessary to my recovery,
as my physician says, I make known this to you that you may
inform the superior political prefect of the department that,
for reasons given, I cannot accept the aforesaid
appointment.
L. GAONA.
To the Secretary of
the Superior Political Prefecture of the Department,
Present.
Mazatlan, January 30, 1865.
[Enclosure No. 5.]
Superior Political
Prefecture Of The Department Of Sinaloa,
Mazatlan,
February 2,
1865.
Excellency: Your official letter of yesterday has informed me of
the decree against Ladislao Gaona, who, despite his confinement,
still refuses to serve as second judge of first instance for
this port, to which he was appointed by your excellency’s
decree, promulgated the 28th of January last.
I now transmit the resolution to Mr. Gaona, and will see that it
is enforced, and will recommend to you, when required, a person
to fill his place in the above-mentioned office.
God grant you many years.
Superior Political Prefect, GREGORIO ALMADA.
Secretary General, G. Moreno.
His Excellency General of the Division, De Castagny, Present.
[Enclosure No. 6]
Superior Political
Prefecture Of The Department of Sinaloa,
Mazatlan,
February 2,
1865.
His excellency General De Castagny, of the division, informed me
officially yesterday, that not withstanding your disrespectful
refusal of the second judgeship of first instance, to which you
were called by a decree of the 28th of January, 1865, he will
give a proof of his indulgence by granting you three days from
yesterday to reflect upon the serious consequences of your
resistance to the decree, and if you remain contumacious, to
imprison you for six months for not respecting his commands as
you ought.
I communicate this to you for your information.
Superior Political Prefect, GREGORIO ALMADA.
Secretary General,
G. Moreno.
Licenciado Don Ladislao Gaona, Appointed
Second Judge of First Instance at this Port,
Present.
[Enclosure No. 7.]
Superior Political
Prefecture of the Department of Sinaloa,
Mazatlan,
February 2,
1865.
Sir: Don Ladislao Gaona writes me
officially as follows:
“Mazatlan, February 2,
1865.
“In reply to your note of to-day, I have the honor to say that I
did not at first accept the judgeship offered me for the sole
reasons given at the time, and not intended as contumacious. I
now accept the place.
“The Superior Political Prefect of
this Department, Present.”
[Page 601]
I send you a copy of the above note, that you may order Mr.
Gaona to be liberated and to take charge of the office to
which he has been appointed.
God grant you many years.
Superior Political Prefect, GREGORIO
ALMADA.
Secretary General,
G. Moreno.
His Excellency General of the Division, De Castigny, Present.
[Enclosure No. 8.]
Mexican Empire, Second
Justice of Letters, Mazatlan,
February 3,
1865.
I have this day taken possession of the second judgeship of first
instance, by order of your note of the 29th January last, and
have the honor to inform you of it.
The SUPERIOR POLITICAL PREFECT of this Department, Present.
[Enclosure No. 9.—Translation.]
[From the Pajaro Verde,
Mexico, 25th day of
August, 1864.]
PROTESTS.
We, the undersigned, in compliance with the order of the head
prefect of the department that persons holding office under the
constitution of 1857 shall present themselves at the prefecture
and prove that they are not hostile to the imperial government,
protest on our word of honor that we will behave like honest
citizens, will live in a peaceful manner, and will engage In no
act of hostility against the present government.
FELIX DE LA PAZ, and twenty others.
I signed because the penalty established in the circular of
August 10th last is very severe, and I am told that it will be
enforced.
FRANCISCO B. JAYME.
I signed this protest for the same reason that the Licenciate
Jayme did.
MIGUEL GUINCHARD.
I protest that I have been hostile to no government up to this
time, and I sign the present protest because of the penalty
imposed by the circular of the 10th of last August.
GUILLERMO R. BRAND.
Aguas Calientes, July 18, 1864.
Although we have served none of the governments of the country,
nor have joined any political parties, we sign this present
paper to avoid the serious consequences that might occur in case
of refusal.
J. REFUGIO GUINCHARD.
Although I never held any office, I have been summoned by the
prefect to ask me tobe neutral. I protest to be so to avoid me
further troubles.
A.C. BERRUECO.
Not being employed by the government, but being partial to the
liberals, I am called upon to make this protest that I will live
in peace. I hereby declare to remain neutral under all
circumstances.
TRINIDAD PEDROZA.
JESUS H. ASCON.
For the sake of suffering imprisonment or exile, I signed this
protest.
BRUNO DAVALOS.
Although I am partial to the liberal party, I have never shown
any hostility to the present government, and I sign this protest
to save myself from banishment or worse evils.
LUZ G. BRAVO,
ANTONIO CORNEJO.
FRANCISCO ROSALES.
There are a great many other remarks like the preceding ones.
