[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr.
Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
March 1, 1866.
Mr. Secretary: To give a slight idea of the
events which characterize the present contest of the Mexican republic
against its invaders, I have the honor to enclose with this note three
documents that have been delivered to me by a special commissioner. They
relate to events that happened in December last, in Huasteca and Sierra,
States of Mexico and Tamaulipas.
The first of these documents is a manifest of Colonel Joaquin Martinez,
military commander of the second district of the State of Mexico, and
chief of the division of the same, addressed to the President of the
republic. You will see from it the immense sacrifices the patriots of
that part of the country have been making for a long time to maintain
the struggle in defence of the independence and institutions of Mexico;
and you will also see that the people have endured all sorts of
sufferings, have abandoned their fields and their interests, stopping at
nothing, to resist the foreign enemy and its partisans. In many
encounters they had to fight with little ammunition; yet, thanks to
their courage, they have often obtained signal advantages over their
enemies, who had all the elements of war in abundance. This unequal
situation could not be continued long; and it was for want of ammunition
that Colonel Martinez found himself obliged to surrender with the forces
under his command, and to sign the treaty made with Don Vicente Rosas,
chief of the intervention forces, on the 9th of December last.
The second document is a circular from Colonel Martinez, addressed to the
principal chiefs of the republican forces, explaining his conduct in the
same terms used to the President.
The third document is the treaty signed by Colonel Martinez with the
interventionist chief, Rosas, on the date mentioned. In its articles it
is to be seen that, notwithstanding the so-called decree of the usurper
of the 3d of October last, not only have they been obliged to accord
belligerent rights to these forces [Page 93] of the republic, but also to render justice to the valor and merit of
Colonel Martinez and the subordinate officers of his command, by
permitting them to retire to their homes without giving any pledge not
to take up arms again in defence of the republic.
It is also to be observed that the people of the district who had been
fighting against the so-called empire were allowed to retain the arms
they had used on that occasion.
These circumstances led Colonel Martinez to state in his communication to
the President that, if he could count upon a supply of ammunition, these
same people, led by the officers who had thus submitted without
compromising themselves for the future, would again rise; and, provided
as they are with arms, would renew the struggle against the invader, and
would gain greater advantages than ever in favor of the national
cause.
Before concluding, I wish to call the attention of the government of the
United States to the fact that the recent capitulations or surrenders of
the national forces in Mexico were caused by want of resources in
general, and especially of arms, ammunition, and the other elements of
warfare.
Such was the cause of the capitulation of the forces at Huasteca,
referred to in the annexed documents, of the evacuation of Tlapacoyan,
and of the surrender of Papantla, mentioned in my note of the 23d of
February last to your department.
Other similar occurrences have happened, and it is feared more may occur
in future from like causes.
I avail myself of the occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the
assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c.,
&c.
No. 1.
[Translation.]
Citizen Constitutional President of the Mexican
Republic:
I, Citizen Colonel Joaquin Martinez, by the vote of the people mid
armed force military commander of the second district of the State
of Mexico, and chief of that division in the republican army, appear
before you, as in duty bound, and with due respect, through the
commissioners for that purpose, Captain Sisto Lopez and Lieutenant
Francisco Plaza, and declare that—
Since the evacuation of the capital by the government of the
republic, I have used all means and made every sacrifice to provide
for the defence of my country, and make war on its enemies in this
important section of the republic, which I have governed since April
last, when Don Ignacio Ugalde gave up Huejutla by virtue of a wicked
treaty concluded with the enemy.
Since that time, citizen President, I bare worked incessantly to
annoy the enemy; and if my efforts have not corresponded to my
hopes, it is because I have acted alone without help. My division,
formed of the forces of the second district, amounts to two thousand
men, well armed. The positions they hold cannot be taken, though
there is not more than one round of cartridges per man in this
division.
When the enemy thought seriously of taking Sierra and Huasteca in
September last, my situation was dreadful, because I could not think
of opposing such a storm as threatened me; yet, at a great
sacrifice, I procured some ammunition, and on the 29th of October,
with the hope of defeating the enemy’s plans and obtaining the
necessary elements of war, I attacked Huatla and took it, after a
stout resistance from the enemy.
This combat gained great glory for the arms of the republic; but I
did not get the munitions I expected, finding only two boxes of
provisions, which circumstance made our situation worse.
The enemy, seeing their plans frustrated by this defeat, formed
others, and sent over 5,000 men upon us at Sierra. The
representatives of the towns remaining faithful to our cause made
known to me that the inhabitants desired peace, so I was forced to
sign the treaty of the 9th of December, a certified copy of which
will be presented to the Chief Magistrate by my commissioners, who
will inform you of all the causes that compelled me to take the
step, and of the sentiments of the people.
[Page 94]
You will see from the copy of the agreements, citizen President, that
I was only waiting for a more favorable occasion to utilize the
services of the loyal people to better advantage, without any regard
to myself, for I wanted no guarantee; and if I did not present
myself to the supreme government of the republic, and submit myself
to its judgment, it was because my absence would cause immense
injury by the loss of arms, and the complete dispersion of the
forces under my command; for the enemy would leave nothing undone to
gain the sympathies of the people, using gold, cunning, and flattery
to gain their ends.
From what I have said, the citizen President will see how necessary
it is to deign to notice these people, and furnish them with
munitions of war, for the want of which they were compelled to
capitulate. I am certain that, with sufficient provisions, some
pecuniary resources, and the aid of a thousand or fifteen hundred
men, three or four thousand men more could be recruited in a short
space of time, and all that we have lost be recovered. Moreover, we
could get nearer the capital and open the communications with Vera
Cruz, Tabasco, Guerrero, Michoacan, and Tamaulipas, and thus the
general government could get information from those distant States,
and learn how to direct its operations. This is my humble opinion,
and what I think ought to be done.
I am sure the government will take my arguments into consideration,
and will soon give effective aid to the loyal servants of the
country, who have never lost faith in its cause, and are still
disposed to fight for the maintenance of their republican
institutions and the autonomy of the nation.
Independence and the republic!
Headquarters, in Tlamiltepec, December 31,
1865.
JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
No. 2.
[Circular.—Translation.]
REPUBLICAN ARMY, DIVISION OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF THE
STATE OF MEXICO— COLONEL-IN-CHIEF.
I enclose to you, for your information, a certified copy of the
treaty or agreement made on the 9th instant by the commissioners of
these headquarters and those of the chief of operations in the
Sierra and Huasteca. This document secures peace to the people and
honor to our arms; for it allows officers and men to retain their
arms, and the former to go where they please, and engage in any
service.
I have no intention to declare that I have done a good act; but I
must say I have done honor to our arms in a struggle in which the
people have shed their blood profusely, and sacrificed their
domestic interests with singular unselfishness.
Although my duty as governor and a public man prompted me to continue
the contest, another internal voice counselled me not to make vain
sacrifices. In looking at the people on the line who were faithful
to our institutions, I saw suffering depicted in their countenances,
and misery was visible in the faces of all the inhabitants. The
mother prayed for her son; the old man, decrepit with age, expressed
his longing for peace in his face; the wife asked for her husband,
who was on guard, or in some other urgent service, and could not
provide for his family at home. In looking through the ranks of the
division I saw joy depicted in every countenance, a laurel crown of
victory, glory, and content on every brow; but on examining the
munitions their scarcity was astonishing—there was scarcely a ration
apiece for our men, and we hardly knew where to find food for the
next day. As a contrast to this, honorable terms were offered. I
accepted them, and my conscience is quiet.
Large forces were now approaching our lines; the liberals prepare to
meet them; a conflict takes place, and the enemy are vanquished at
Huatla. Here we obtain a few supplies. But the storm returns with
greater violence: the public authorities of the circumjacent towns
hear it, and beg me to move away from them, to quit a country
already impoverished by war, and the people in almost a starving
condition. A conference takes place on the 30th of November; a
council of war is held on the 4th and 5th of December at Acapa; the
terms are arranged and the treaty is signed.
If our provisions had not given out, if our ammunition had not
failed, we would have shown the world that we could die like the
Spartans at Thermopylae; but our position was desperate, and reason
and common sense told me it was wrong to make more useless
sacrifices.
This is a faithful account of my acts; history will judge of them,
and the public, that sees and observes everything, will declare that
I have done my duty.
Therefore I hope the forces under your command will see things as
they are, and not attribute any blame to me, and I promise to do
what I can to quell any disturbances that may arise.
That the work may be resumed with more vigor, it will be necessary to
give the forces a little rest. During this interval, I advise all
and every armed citizen to observe the greatest circumspection; and
let there be subordination, discipline, and respect to morality. Let
the world see that the defenders of independence are good citizens,
compelled to war by duty. Let the world know that there are yet
worthy imitators of Escamilla and Rizo.
[Page 95]
Death is certainly preferable to subjugation; but at present the
common mother of Mexicans, the land of Hidalgo and Morelos, requires
our preservation, that our services may be made use of at another
time.
I tell you of all this that you may know what has taken place, and
that it was done by a council of war. No single person is
responsible: I gave my reasons, and will accomplish what I promised,
in accordance with a vote of the majority.
Independence and the republic! Molungo, December, 1865.
JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
A certified copy:
No. 3.
[Translation.]
Treaty of the 9th of December, 1865.
In the town of Nonvaleo, on the 9th of December, 1865, assembled Don
Juan Ortiz Monasterio, military commander of Zacualtipan, and Don
Jesus Ruiz, chief of the garrison, commissioned by the
general-in-chief of the first territorial division, Don Vicente
Rosas; and Don José Felix Lubian, and Don Jesus Martinez,
commissioned by Colonel Joaquin Martinez, chief of the forces and
militia of Sierra and Huasteca, according to an agreement made in
the conference of the 30th of the previous month, to settle the
terms of a treaty to put an end to the war in these districts, who
have agreed upon the following articles, to wit:
Article 1. The inhabitants of the towns of
Sierra and Huasteca, acknowledging the authority of C. Colonel
Joaquin Martinez, lay down their arms and submit to the government
established in Mexico.
Art. 2. In consequence of the preceding
article, Colonel Joaquin Martinez and all his subordinates, as well
as the civil authorities, shall have passports to return to the
bosom of their families; and they shall not be molested on account
of political opinions, nor for acts they have been obliged to commit
in defending the cause they had embraced.
Art. 3. The people shall retain their arms,
ammunition, and other implements of war, in order to enable them to
organize a civil guard, in conformity to a relative decree.
Art. 4. The authorities of Sierra and
Huasteca shall be chosen from among those who profess principles of
independence, liberty, and reform, so there may be no conflict with
the political sentiments of the inhabitants, no exercise of revenge,
persecution, nor other excesses so common after struggles like that
which has just taken place.
This present agreement shall be signed by the commissioners of both
parties, and be ratified by Señors Rosas, Landa, and Martinez, to be
observed and consequent peace established.
JOSÉ FELIX LUBIAN.
JESUS MARTINEZ.
JUAN ORTIZ MONASTERIO.
JESUS RUIZ.
Using the power vested in me, I ratify and approve this treaty.
VICENTE ROSAS, Commanding General of
the First Territorial Division.
Colonel-in-chief of the forces of Sierra and Huasteca, with due
power, I ratify and approve this treaty.
JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
I certify to this copy:
