[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr.
Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
December 29, 1865.
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit you
the copy of a communication I received to-day from Mr. Lerdo de Tejada,
minister of foreign affairs of the Mexican republic, dated in the city
of Chihuahua the 21st of November last, informing me of the return of
the constitutional government of Mexico to that city.
I also send you a supplement to No. 121 of the official paper of that
government, published the same day with the circular of the minister of
relations to the state governors, informing them of the restoration of
the federal government in Chihuahua, and an article describing the
enthusiastic demonstrations with which President Juarez was received by
the inhabitants of that city.
Recent events in Chihuahua give the best proof of the instability of the
edifice the French are trying to erect in Mexico. On the last of August
a considerable French army approached the city, and the national
government was compelled to abandon it; the invading army took
possession of, but could not hold it, and soon afterwards left;
constitutional order was established the same day, without the aid of
any armed Mexican force, in the place or near it; the chief of the
nation soon returned, and was received with the greatest demonstrations
of joy, as the true representative of national independence, a blessing
they now appreciated the more as it was so near being lost.
I must also remit to you the copy of a letter written from Chihuahua, the
27th of October, by the Mexican citizen Jesus Escobar y Armendariz, who
was formerly attached to this legation, and was a victim of French
persecution on account of his patriotism in Chihuahua, the 16th of
September last, the anniversary of Mexican independence, and to whom I
referred in my note of the 12th of November last to your department.
The simple account Mr. Escobar y Armendariz gives of the sufferings he
endured by reason of his love for his country, and his resolute
determination not to submit to the absurd pretensions of the invading
tyrant, show the exact feelings of the Mexican people in regard to
French intervention, and that like him, there are many other citizens
whose sufferings are not known to us.
I profit by this occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances
of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Page 47]
No. 1.
[Translation.]
Department of Foreign Relations and
Government, Bureau of Relations–Section for America–No.
393.
Chihuahua,
November 21, 1865.
As you will see by the circular issued yesterday from this
department, and inserted in the printed paper accompanying this
note, the President of the republic left Paso del Norte the 13th of
this month, and reached this city yesterday, where he has determined
to fix the residence of the national government for the present.
You will also see in the same paper an account of the public
demonstrations on the reception of the President, which furnishes a
new proof of the patriotic sentiments of the generality of Mexicans
against French intervention.
I protest to you my attentive consideration.
Matias Romero, Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the
Mexican Republic.
No. 2.
[Supplement to No. 121 of the official paper of the constitutional
government of the Mexican republic, Chihuahua, November 21,
1865.—Translation.]
Department of Foreign Relations and Government.
[Circular.]
The citizen President of the republic left El Paso del Norte the 13th
of this month, and arrived in this city to-day, where he has
determined to locate the national government for the present.
The foreign invader remained but a few days at a time at any place in
the very patriotic State of Chihuahua, and soon withdrew, without
leaving a single officer to organize a government. He has thus been
obliged to confess his inability to extend his dominion over the
State and keep it; and that if, unfortunately, he found a few
ungrateful children in Mexico, he found the great majority rejected
the foreign yoke, that has only been imposed where bayonets could
penetrate. The temporary plan of intervention will soon disappear
from every part of the territory.
The President of the republic has returned to this capital amid the
greatest patriotic demonstrations of its citizens; and he will
continue to do his duty, as he always has done, in adversity as in
prosperity, sustaining the cause of independence and the
institutions of the republic.
Independence and liberty!
Chihuahua, November 20, 1865.
LERDO DE TEJADA.
Citizen Governor of the
State of——.
No. 3.
[Translation.]
Reception of the President of the
republic in the city of Chihuahua.
The return of the President of the republic to, the capital of this
State, where he arrived yesterday morning, has given a new impulse
to the well-known patriotic sentiments of the inhabitants of this
city.
The governor of the State, the city council, and a large number of
distinguished citizens went out as far as Nombre de Dios to receive
the supreme magistrate of the nation.
This procession met that from El Paso, with the supreme government.
The President’s carriage, containing himself and Governor Luis
Terraza, took the lead.
Crowds of people afoot, on horses, and in carriages, joined the
procession all along the road and went as far as the northern limit
of the city. There were many ladies in carriages. On the way from
the city boundary to the national palace streamers of national
colors were fixed on staffs at intervals. The national guard,
composed of merchants and artisans, formed a square and received the
chief magistrate of the nation with great honor. The doors and
windows of the houses were decorated with curtains. The houses, the
streets, the roofs, the squares, the church of San Francisco, and
the college were crowded with people, who gave unequivocal evidence
of the pleasure they took in a celebration which seemed a solemn
vindication of outraged national rights. The ringing of bells, the
bursting of rockets, and
[Page 48]
other demonstrations of political enthusiasm completed the beautiful
picture we are attempting to delineate.
The entry to the national palace presented a still more imposing
sight, as beautiful as unusual. The principal ladies of the city,
numbering more than fifty, elegantly dressed, were arranged in two
rows, waiting for the President of the republic. Venerable matrons
and young beauties contributed their homage of exquisite delicacy to
the representatives of patriotic nationality, which it was almost
impossible to behold with dry eyes.
When the patriots and ladies had assembled in the principal hall,
young Julio Jaurrieta read a feeling and sympathetic poem to the
President, congratulating him on his constancy and abnegation. The
interpreter for the ladies’ congratulations had the special
recommendation to be one of those deserving young men who provoked
the anger of the French and suffered their insults for having
celebrated the 16th of September last with expressions of dislike to
foreign rule.
President Juarez, deeply moved, expressed his thanks for these
attentions, and praised the ladies of Chihuahua, saying no nation
could perish whose inhabitants had mothers, sisters, and daughters,
such models of virtue and patriotism.
Before the ladies withdrew, the President of the republic requested
them to join him in a toast, in which he wished again to express his
gratitude for the attentions of the fair sex, examples worthy of
imitation by those who ought always to respect the supreme
authority.
The poor of the city, in their turn, came to greet the President, who
was much pleased at this demonstration of esteem.
At two in the afternoon a sumptuous table was spread by the governor
and military commander of the State, to welcome the President’s
return to the city. It was attended by the refugees accompanying the
President and the notabilities of the city.
This banquet, elegantly arranged and served, was prepared by the
first ladies of the city, who wanted to offer this additional
testimony of their esteem for their worthy President.
At table many toasts were drunk to the President of the republic, to
the ministers of relations and government of justice and the
treasury, to the State governor, General Ignacio Mejia, Judge
Laureano Muñoz and many others.
Most of the toasts were in honor of Chihuahua, for her noble conduct
in opposing the invasion and French intervention, not only with
arms, but morally, refusing to act with them in any way, so that
they had to retire without organizing a government, and followed by
a few vile traitors. The other toasts were to the happy return of
the President of the republic to the city; for the prompt conclusion
of the difficulties; to the memory of Generals Meoqui and Ojinaga;
to the men who celebrated the 16th of September; to their
distinguished companion and patriot Jesus Escobar y Armendariz, the
victim of French fury; for the punishment of the unfortunate
Ojinaga’s assassins; and for brave citizens everywhere who are
disposed to sustain the glorious work of preserving national
independence.
The dinner closed about dark, and the greatest cordiality and
animation reigned through the entire repast. At night the whole city
was illuminated.
The 20th of November, 1865, will be a memorable day in the history of
Mexico, on account of this celebration, showing the good will and
enthusiasm, the exquisite delicacy of the capital of the State of
Chihuahua, after letting the invaders know that brute force is not
enough to subject national will, in receiving the President of the
republic, whose athority, without coercion, rests solely upon the
love of the people, a love which he will always try to win and to
merit, with the firm determination to consecrate all his cares and
labors to the post that has been conferred upon him, and to defend
the independence and sovereignty of the nation.
No. 4.
[Translation.]
Mr. Escobar to Mr. Romero
In prison for the love of my
country, Chihuahua,
October 27, 1865.
Much Esteemed Friend: On the 16th of
September a mass was said at the tomb of Hidalgo, attended by the
greater part of the citizens of Chihuahua. The ladies clad in
mourning, a flag at half-mast, and black crape in token of a
nation’s mourning, and that of the State for the death of the young
governor, Ojuraga, were the sole adornments of the altar; tears and
flowers were the offerings to Hidalgo.
This was worth more than a victory to the national cause, although I
was the victim. I was dining with twenty of my friends, on the
evening of the 16th, celebrating, in our way, the anniversary of
independence, when the police fell upon us, with orders to arrest
me—me only—as the leader of the movement; but my friends would not
leave me, but all agreed to go to prison with me. Then the judge
came, seized our flag, the prime offence, and sent us to jail, where
we remained eight days, when all were set at liberty but me, who had
to pay
[Page 49]
a fine of one
thousand dollars. General Brincourt sentenced me to one month’s
close confinement at hard labor, and could not be induced to release
me, though the merchants liberally offered large sums of money to
procure my discharge. So I had to sweep the streets for a month; at
first the square, and then the street where the general lived.
Ladies came out to give me flowers, and I was having a good time in
the streets where I had to work, when, to stop it, an order was
issued, commanding any lady to be taken to prison who offered me
flowers, or any other attention; and the time was discounted, and 1
had to begin again every time I admitted such attentions. So these
attentions were postponed till I should be liberated; but, alas, who
could tell when that would be? When my term of service was out,
instead of being set at liberty, I received an order of banishment
because (and the judge read the despatch
to me) I had openly refused to submit to the
empire. In fact, I had told the general frankly I could not
adhere to a government so opposed to my principles, particularly
when he had said he would respect opposing opinions, and not
prosecute those who entertained them; and he positively promised,
after confessing that I was subject to no penalty for what I had
said, that I should not be molested provided I kept the peace. This
was necessary, as I had to be tried by court-martial on the 1st of
this month if I did not present myself. The fact is, I am yet in
prison, waiting for my order to depart, without knowing where I am
to go; but most probably with the general and his troops, who have
begun to evacuate to-day, and will all be gone by the day after
to-morrow. Mazatlan has also been evacuated; the object seems to be
to concentrate the forces against the firm resistance of the native
patriots. All the government officials of the empire leave with the
French, as they would not be safe a single day without them. They
have a great dislike to me, and who knows what is to become of me in
their hands? My friends think me in great danger, but I can remain
calm and firm, and will not hesitate an instant, as I consider it my
holy duty to resist. If they release me, I will instantly quit them.
I greet you with, my friends. I have time for no more; it is
scarcely prudent to do this.
Adieu, my good friend; and may our country remain independent.
