[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr.
Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
March 10, 1866.
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor of transmitting
to you, for the information of the government of the United States, the
copy of a note of General
[Page 105]
Alejandro Garcia, second in command of the eastern line, to the minister
of foreign affairs and government of the Mexican republic, containing
the circular to the governors and military commanders of the States
composing that line, showing his favorable opinion of the legality and
expediency of the two decrees issued by the President on the 8th of
November last, one prolonging the presidential term till a new popular
election can take place, and the other ordering the trial of General
Gonzales Ortega, for reason mentioned in the decree.
In this circular General Garcia not only expresses his own opinion, but
that of the governors and commanders on the eastern line, comprising the
States of Vera Cruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Chiapas, and
requested them to take the vote of their people on the subject of the
decrees before mentioned.
The general says he has already received many acts of the majority of the
people adhering unanimously to the President and completely approving
his decrees, and he has no doubt but the same sentiment prevails among
the rest of the people who have not called meetings and passed
resolutions. He adds that the documents are very voluminous, and he will
send them to the department as soon as they are published.
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.
[Translation.]
MEXICAN REPUBLIC—HEADQUARTERS OF THE EASTERN LINE, NO.
2.
Citizen Minister: On the 1st instant I
addressed the following circular to the governors and military
commanders of the States on the eastern line:
[Circular.]
A grave question has arisen in the country, and has even extended
beyond it.
Citizen Benito Juarez, as constitutional President of the republic,
on the 8th of November last, prolonged his powers as such, as you
will see from the decree printed in No. 29 of the official bulletin
of these headquarters, of the present date, which I send to you.
It is assured that General Jesus Gonzales Ortega protested against
that decree in the United States, as president of the supreme court
of justice, which title is denied to him by citizen Juarez, for
reasons you will see in the decree of the same date published in the
official bulletin.
The exceptional condition in which the nation has been placed by this
foreign war has prevented, and still prevents, the exercise of the
chief act of sovereignty, namely, the voting of the free Mexican
citizens for the choice of a supreme constitutional magistrate to
direct its destinies; and although these headquarters have formed
their opinion in the case in favor of the existing order, because it
admits the rights of citizen Benito Juarez to hold his position by
former election, which has always been the regulating rule for
authorities in our general legislation, yet we desire to know the
general opinion of the eastern line in a matter of so much
importance, and direct you to find out the sentiments of all the
Mexicans in your district upon the subject in the most convenient
manner, and let us know if they agree in opinion with these
headquarters, for my information and consequent action.
I have the honor to transmit you this for the information of the
supreme government, expressing the opinion that, judging from the
unanimous vote of a great portion of the people that have sent their
acts to these headquarters, and by the knowledge I have of the line
under my command, I can assure you the people’s will is that citizen
Benito Juarez, now President, shall retain the supreme magistracy of
the republic till the present war permits a constitutional election
of a proper person to succeed him in office.
The letters already received on that subject are too voluminous to be
sent with this despatch. For that reason, and because I expect many
others which I intend to have printed, I do not send them now, as I
desire; but I will send them by the first opportunity, after they
are printed, for the information of the supreme government. I will
also send them to the citizen minister plenipotentiary of the
republic in Washington for his most convenient disposition.
Independence and liberty!
Tlacotalpam, February 14,
1866.
ALEJANDRO GAECIA.
The Minister of Foreign Relations and
Government, Paso del Norte, (or
wherever he may be.)
