Mr. Otterbourg to Mr. F. W. Seward
No. 35.]
Consulate of the United States,
City of Mexico,
June
27, 1867.
Sir: At the moment of the surrender of the city
to the liberal army, several prominent persons sought refuge in this
consulate. Those compromised by their connection with the so-called
empire, with the exception of one individual, whose admittance was
sanctioned by competent authority, I, with violence to my own feelings,
declined to receive.
Many ladies asked protection under my roof, in fear of the outrages which
might be perpetrated during the night of the occupation by a supposed
disorderly rabble.
These alarms, however, subsided when the few troops which entered the
city were seen to conduct themselves with perfect order, and to be held
in proper control. The night of the 20th passed undisturbed, unless by
the report of fire-arms, which were discharged by the soldiery in their
flight from the trenches and barracks. By the morning of the 21st D.
Juan José Baz, political prefect, had taken every precaution conducive
to the peace and security of the capital, interrupted by the soldiers of
Ouiroga, who were caught while attempting to rob and instantly shot.
The enclosed devices, dictating measures of police and retributive
justice, manifest a spirit of moderation little anticipated by the
friends or enemies of the constitutional government.
An order to the several European representatives and consuls to lower
their flags, then hoisted upon their respective consulates and
legations, was the sole instance of active interference with the
previous customs or habits of the capital.
The necessities of the army, for which the funds were necessary, urgently
demanded attention. I offered to General Diaz to supply the money for
his immediate wants, through a loan to which only certain capitalists
would be allowed to contribute, each, a certain amount, to be returned
without payment of interest, at the expiration of a reasonable term. A
strong representation was made to him of the danger to the
constitutional government, if by a repetition of forced loans and
contributions it should attract to itself any of the odium belonging to
the military power, which had exasperated and impoverished the citizens
by extortionate demands upon their property. General Diaz recognized the
propriety of these considerations, and expressed his readiness to accept
a voluntary loan upon these terms, from the parties who do not fall
under the displeasure of the government.
The capitalists, to whom I applied to make my offer effective, readily
contributed towards a voluntary loan on hearing the reasons advanced in
its favor, of which the most forcible appeared to be that they would in
this manner receive a guarantee against impositions of forced loans or
extraordinary contributions in the future.
Enclosures Nos. 1 and 2 furnish copies of my note placing S at General
Diaz’s disposal, and his acknowledgment thereof, leaving to my
discretion to
[Page 432]
designate with
the contributors the guarantee and mode of reimbursement of their
respective shares in the entire amount.
It would be both premature and difficult to attempt to characterize the
actual situation of Mexico, which would appear rather from the men
provisionally directing its affairs, than from any deeper indication, to
be entering upon a new era.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, U. S. Consul in charge of
United States Legation.
Hon. F. W. Seward,
Assistant Secretary of State Washington, D.
C.
Mr. Otterbourg to General Diaz
Consulate of the United States,
Mexico,
June 24, 1867.
The consul of the United States has the pleasure to inform the
citizen General Don Porfirio Diaz that he has succeeded in procuring
$200,000 towards an amount necessary to cover the immediate
necessities of the liberal army, for the supply of which he was
requested to employ his intervention.
The very just representations which the consul was enabled to make as
a motive for this loan, removed at once every difficulty in the way
of the parties invited to assist by their friendly contributions in
the fulfilment of the end proposed.
Acquainted with the desire of the United States government to see
established in Mexico a permanent government, the consul of the
United States begs to assure the citizen general that he shall be
ever ready, within the scope of his duty, to further the wishes of
the United States government, and aid in the settlement of peace and
order in Mexico.
With assurances of the highest consideration,
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, United States
Consul.
The Citizen General D. Porfirio Diaz,
Commanding Eastern Army of Mexico.
[Translation.]
General Diaz to Mr. Otterbourg
Mr. Consul: I have received your note of
yesterday, in which you are pleased to communicate to me, that by
common consent of the proprietors and mercantile establishments
named in the list accompanying your note, you have collected the
amount of two hundred thousand dollars as a voluntary loan without
interest for the purpose of furnishing it to the national army, in
order to meet their most pressing necessities.
Profoundly grateful to you and to the persons who have generously
contributed to its success, I return you all the warmest thanks,
while there remains to me alone to request of you that, together
with the same persons, you will do me the favor to point out the
internal revenue or custom-house dues which you may desire to be
devoted to the early reimbursement of this amount, in order that it
may be set apart with that object with the strictest and most
religious punctuality.
Accept, Mr. Consul, the assurance of my attentive consideration.
Marcus Otterbourg,
Consul of the United States, Mexico.
[Translation.]
Citizen Juan J. Baz, political chief of the capital of
the republic, to its inhabitants makes known:
That considering the present condition of the capital, and how
necessary it is to avoid all causes of disorder, he decrees as
follows:
Article 1. The introduction and sale of
pulque, rum, and beer in this city is prohibited tor three days.
[Page 433]
Article 2. The above articles may be
introduced on the fourth day, but can be sold only from 6 to 3
o’clock.
Article 4. Any one who injures buildings,
gardens, or public monuments. besides paying for the damage done,
shall be fined from $25 to $100, or be imprisoned for one month or
one year.
Article 5. Games of chance are prohibited,
under the penalties fixed by the police regulations of 1856 and
1857.
Article 6. It is forbidden to carry arms
without license, under the penalties fixed by laws of the above
period.
Therefore, I order this to be printed, circulated, published, and
observed.
Independence and liberty! Mexico, June, 1867.
[Untitled]
Juan José Baz, political chief of the capital of the republic, to its
inhabitants makes known:
That the citizen general-in-chief of the eastern army, in a circular
of the 27th April, of the present year, decreed, among other things,
as follows:
1. Homicide, arson, rape, and robbery shall be punished with death,
without regard to the rank of the person who commits the crime.
Robbery is the taking of property, without orders from the
general-in-chief, under any pretext whatever. Homicide is the
killing of a person by another, who has no right to punish outside
of the law.
2. Robbers or thieves, taken in the act, shall be instantly executed
by the political chiefs of the districts where the crime is
committed, under act identifying the person and the crime he is
guilty of.
Ordered to be printed, promulgated, circulated, and enforced.
Independence and liberty! Mexico, June, 1867.
[Untitled]
Citizen Juan José Baz, political chief of the capital
of the republic, to its inhabitants makes known:
That from the publication of this order all inspectors and
sub-inspectors that were in office in May, 1863, shall serve as
policemen now, and present themselves at the deputation for orders.
Those that have served the empire are excluded from this
regulation.
JUAN J. BAZ.
Mexico,
June 21, 1867.
[Untitled]
Citizen Juan José Baz, political chief of the capital
of the republic:
In obedience to the law decreeing the dissolution of religious
communities, the members of such shall quit their convents within 48
hours, and present themselves to the officers appointed by this
department.
That this may be generally known and obeyed, I order it to be
printed, published, and circulated.
Independence and liberty!
Mexico, June 21, 1867.
JUAN JOSÉ BAZ.
[Untitled]
Citizen Juan José Baz, political chief of the capital
of the republic, to its inhabitants makes known:
The citizen general-in-chief ordered me yesterday to form a municipal
board to preserve order in the capital of the republic, and the
following citizens have been named for that purpose:
Antonio Martinez de Castro, Manuel Maria Zamacona, Rafael Dondé, José
Maria Lafra-gua, Lucia Padilla, Augustin del Rio, Manuel Yillamil,
Manuel Inda, Francisco Montes de Oca, Ignacio Baz; Cipriano Robert,
secretary; Pantaleon Tovar, treasurer.
Therefore, I order this to be printed, published, circulated, and
duly enforced.
Independence and liberty!
Mexico, June 21, 1867.
JUAN JOSÉ BAZ.
