Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 132.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
May 23, 1868.
Sir: It will be with unfeigned regret, I well
know, that the government and people of the United States will learn
that the era of pronun-ciamentos is apparently again returning to this
country.
As I have said before, no political movement to erect any other in the
place of the constitutional government is now possible. That government
is to be maintained, or none can be.
So, all movements to take up arms now are simply attacks upon public
order and upon property. Yet such movements have commenced, and there
are armed forces in resistance to the government in various parts of the
republic.
The latest of these movements are pronunciamentos that have taken place,
first, in the mountain range that separates this valley from that of
Cuernevaca, under the leadership of Aureliano Rivera; and secondly, in
the mountainous district in the State of Queretaro, known as the Sierra
Gorda, which was for many years the impregnable retreat of the Indian
general, Mejia, who was shot with Maximilian.
This movement is under the nominal leadership of a Colonel Velasquez, who
it is stated was formerly an adjutant of General Mejia.
The mountain range of Ajusco, within sight of this city, where Aure-liano
Rivera has pronounced, was his former refuge when serving, as he did
effectively as a partisan leader, in the liberal cause against Miramon,
and afterwards against the French; and the latter alone have been able
to dislodge him from it.
Neither of these movements embraces more than a few hundred men, and this
number is perhaps likely rather to be diminished than increased; but,
like the roving bands of kidnappers now infesting the country, they may
be sufficient to remain as festering sores.
While such movements can neither overthrow the government nor build up
another, they are capable of much mischief, and their greatest danger is
in the aid they render to a general process of disorganization.
But the feature of the pronunciamento of Aureliano Rivera that bears
chief importance is the presence, attached to his manifesto, of a number
of names, some of them of persons of prominence and influence, who are
known to be disaffected to the government of President Juarez, but who
as yet have taken no active or open part, and regarding whom it is
uncertain whether they are really committed or not.
Three of the persons whose names were so attached have published denials
that they had authorized such use of their names; but up to the present
time that is the total number of denials that has appeared.
[Page 466]
It is also asserted, but denied by him from his prison at Monterey, that
this movement, as well as that previously made by Negrete, has the
sanction and is in the interest of General Gonzalez Ortega.
Whether the names attached to the proclamation of Rivera have been used
with authority or not, there is a probability that if the States become
generally disaffected—and there is great opposition to several of the
governors, who it is claimed are too much under federal influence—some
of the generals mentioned may take an active and influential part
against the government.
All of these facts leave an anxious feeling in the public mind.
It is undeniable that there is a great deal of discontent throughout the
country, and that the state of insecurity and of commercial and
industrial prostration has reached a degree that detracts very greatly
from the influence and prestige of the general government, and that if
continued may produce serious results.
All the disaffected, also, act against a common opponent. If some relief
had been given to the material interests of the country, the present
situation might have been different.
Inclosed herewith, I transmit to the department full translations of the
proclamations, &c., herein referred to, among which I beg to call
attention to certain expressions in that issued in the State of
Queretaro.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Pronunciamento of Aureliano Rivera.
[From the Diario Oficial, May 14,
1868.—Translation.]
AURELIANA RIVERA.
Some of the papers of this capital having asked for information as to
what has occurred with respect to the pronunciamento of Aureliano
Rivera, we proceed to satisfy the public curiosity, stating what we
know:
Until recently that individual was in this capital, without giving
ostensible proofs of distrust to the government, which has always
extended to him favors and distinctions; and although the
authorities had information that he was conspiring in connection
with others, it did not desire to proceed against him, in order not
to act too hastily, or to lead it to be said that it has violated
individual rights; for all of which reasons it was thought prudent
to wait until the data should be sufficient to justify a
determination of that character, and with this our esteemed
colleague, the Siglo XIX, will find explained the conduct of the
government.
Escaping the vigilance of the authorities, Rivera lately disappeared,
and proceeding to Ajusco there pronounced against the constitutional
order, founding the motives of his disobedience in certain reasons
that do not merit being taken into serious consideration, and which
have already served as a pretext to others for the maintenance of
anarchy and the neutralization of the efforts that are being made to
complete the organization of the country.
It is stated that some few disaffected persons have gone with him,,
but the movement, according to our information, is entirely without
importance, and the necessary measures have already been taken to
restore to its normal state the order disturbed in the locality
where Aureliano Rivera desires to impose his authority, and to light
the torch of discord.
A printed proclamation has reached our hands, which we insert below,
and by it will be seen the plan which Aureliano Rivera proposes to
follow.
In this document there is nothing which specially calls attention,
except the singular fact that it mentions certain individuals, of
whom some are discharging public trusts, and who we trust will state
that it is not true that they are complicated in the insurrection
that Aureliano Rivera has instigated.
[Page 467]
The following is the proclamation to which we refer:
TO THE NATION.
When, a few months ago, the heroic Mexican people struggled against
the French invasion, to assure their independence, and against the
insensate pretensions of the criminal empire, to guarantee the
republican principles proclaimed since the era of our first
emancipation, 1810; when, a few months ago, they generously shedlin
torrents their blood upon the altar of the country to reconquer by
this means the precious rights that an insolent foreigner had
usurped, we believed in the triumph and we had full faith in the
victory of the people.
But with pain we have seen that later it would be necessary to
continue the struggle against domestic oppressors, who have
pretended to repel the European tyrants in order to supplant them
themselves.
With pain we have seen that the constitution and the laws we have
applauded are already mortally wounded by those who owe to them
their titles, their consideration, and the fullness of their
authority.
Don Benito Juarez, who, by an incalculable misfortune, came into the
exercise of power at a time of disturbance and of revolution; who
has governed always with dictatorial powers, and who for a long
series of years has held the supreme power in his hands without
check, without giving an account of its exercise, and without other
limits than his will or his ambition; Don Benito Juarez was the man
most fit to snatch from the worthy Mexican people their guarantees,
and those faculties that the politicians call inalienable and
imprescriptible; Juarez was the man most fit to break to pieces the
constitution that has always been our hope and our salvation, and to
plunge us into a sea of evils and of infinite calamities.
And so, in fact, it has been. Who does not know the history of events
in Mexico during the past two years? Juarez usurped the authority
that terminated in his hands, and declared that he would continue to
be President, sometimes denominated provisional, at others national,
at others simply depositary of the powers of the republic. He
himself could not determine, for in reality he was nothing, or, if
anything, he was an usurper.
Juarez, in abuse of the power he did not have, and with which he had
invested himself, continued to command the people without authority
from the people, without legality, without election, the source of
all legitimate power, making the republic his patrimony and the
Mexicans his slaves.
Juarez, the enemy already of the constitution he had broken, resorted
to every means that aided his ambition to continue in the triumphal
chair of the presidency, setting at naught the other constitutional
powers, and to the humiliation of the free men of this land.
Juarez issued the election convocatorio; prophetic convocatorio! When
he had no right to issue it; when he was not the constitutional
President of the republic; when he had oppressed and deprived of
liberty those to whom by law that function belonged, and while
premeditating frauds, violence, and all the exercise of a tyrannical
power in order to insure his re-election, and to be a weight for
fifteen years on the patience of the good people of Mexico.
Juarez has intervened directly and criminally in the elections, and
corrupted them to his advantage; he has deprived the people of their
suffrages, and of those whom they elected, and he has instituted a
congress, vicious in its origin, in order that its majority might
protect and give absolution to his outrages against the national
sovereignty.
Thus, many States are to-day without the governors of their election;
but in exchange they have those imposed by Don Benito.
The people do not see in the seats of congress the men of their
choice, but those who were ordered to be elected by the usurper of
the public power.
The constitution is violated, justice is offended, and the sanctity
of the rights of the people is outraged. We are not free, Mexicans,
for a dictator commands us; we are not a republic, for the
fundamental law does not exist, but the caprice of a man who has
made himself a despot to our reproach.
Such grave considerations, whose truth is patent, and whose
transcendency reaches those least accustomed to reflect upon them,
impel us to take arms for the purpose of vindicating our justice,
and to redeem our rights.
We are not ambitious of anything for ourselves; we do not wish to be
presidents, nor ministers, nor deputies, nor governors.
Sons of the people, having shed our blood for liberty, we seek
nothing but that the law shall rule, and that its decrees shall be
complied with; that there shall be placed in the palace the
magistrate called by the constitution, be he whom he may; and that
it shall be he that shall convoke the people to hold their
elections.
That in all the bounds of the republic there shall be free elections,
without the interference of power, without its violating them,
without its corrupting them, and without their being forced in its
favor.
[Page 468]
That the vote shall be sacred, and that then the public order shall
proceed with the President that the people shall have given, be this
whomsoever it may.
We protest that if Don Benito Juarez shall be the elected of the
people, we will obey him sincerely; we will love him as the man
invested with the legal power; we will sustain him as the first
magistrate of the nation, and the arms we raise to-day to overthrow
him we will then employ to defend him.
The question with us is not one of persons as is seen; it is of
principles; and if we reject Juarez, it is because legal justice,
public opinion, and constitutional right reject him. We are certain
that our belief is the belief of the people, our judgment the
judgment of the republic.
Our support is therefore everywhere, and the heroes who have shed
their blood to lay the foundation in this dear country of the rule
of the law, and of political morality, will place themselves, we do
not doubt, at our side, and will hasten to swell our ranks, making
the last effort in favor of liberty and of peace.
Viva the constitution of 1857! Viva the holy respect for the law!
Viva the people who are the only sovereigns!
Mexico,
May 5, 1868.
Generals E. Huerta, N. Negrete, J. N. Cortina, J. N. Mendez, B.
Tellez, P. Vega, A. Martinez, V. Jiminez, J. Trepeda, S. Canales, F.
Chavarria, S. Escandon, P. Noriega, G. de la Cardena, J. Toledo;
Colonels Catarino Fragoso, Leon Ugalde, R.Flores, A. Sautaré, M.
Rivera, Juan Togno, José Juclan, C. Sotomayor, R. Ros; Lieutenant
Colonels C. Arena, J. Leon; Captain Miguel Romero, and a thousand
signatures more, which will be published afterwards, as it is not
convenient they should now appear.
I respond with my signature for the preceding.
Letter from General Juan N. Cortina.
[From the Diario Oficial, May 15,
1868.—Translation.]
Messrs. Editors of the Diario Oficial:
Dear Sirs: In the number of yesterday there
has been published in the paper you worthily edit the so-called
manifesto to the nation, signed by Don Aureliano Rivera, disowning
the supreme powers of the republic.
In this manifesto I have seen, with great surprise, that use is made
of my name; and, although my conduct and my loyalty to the person of
the actual President of the republic would be the most solemn
protest against that unjustifiable abuse, I am under the necessity
of requesting you to publish the most solemn denial that can be
given to that gratuitous and evil-intentioned supposition.
I am now at the head of the brigade of Tamaulipas, which has been
intrusted to me by the supreme government, and these forces will be
one of its firmest supports against all anarchical or revolutionary
movements, whoever may be their authors or whatever may be their
tendencies.
Neither with Don Aureliano Rivera, nor with any other leader who
attempts to disturb the legal order, am I connected, nor am I bound
by compromises of any kind to combat the constitutional flag, the
sole principle that I propose to sustain.
Far from my friends, I believe it necessary to make known to them
this determination, in order that they may not be surprised by the
reprehensible abuse of Don Aureliano Rivera in using my name as one
of his partisans, in the stupid enterprise of overturning the order
that the people have freely established.
Those who, like myself, have defended the independence and the
constitution of 1857, have a right not to be judged by their
countrymen as miserable leaders in personal contests without flag,
like that just proclaimed by Don Aureliano Rivera, who has so badly
corresponded to the considerations that have been extended to him by
the kindness of the actual President of the republic.
In order that public opinion may not be led astray, and my friends
and compatriots of Tamaulipas, and of the frontier in general, may
rectify their judgment with respect to myself, I beg that you will
be pleased to publish this communication, assuring you of the thanks
of your friend and obedient servant,
[Page 469]
Letter from General Chavarria.
[From the Siglo XIX, May 15,
1868.—Translation.]
Señor Don Feliciano Chavarria sends to us the following letter:
Editor of the Liglo:
Dear Sir and Friend: I will thank you to
publish in your paper the following lines, which have for their
object to state to my fellow-citizens that I reside in this capital,
that I am discharging the trust of deputy to the congress of the
union, and serving at the same time in the municipality, and that,
consequently, my signature to the revolutionary proclamation of
General Aureliano Rivera, published yesterday afternoon by the
Diario Oficial, is apocryphal.
There is nothing that authorizes said chief to use my name in the way
he has. for far from being in accord with him, I am always disposed
to maintain and defend the legal order.
I am, very truly, your friend and servant,
Letter from the ex-Governor of Puebla.
[From the Diario Oficial, May 19,
1868.—Translation.]
Tetela de
Ocampo,
May 16, 1868.
Mr. Editor of the Diario Oficial, Mexico:
Dear Sir: In number 135 of the paper which
you edit, corresponding to the 14th of the present month, I have
seen a document bearing the names of various chiefs.
As among these names I find my own, and as I have not signed the said
document, I beg of you that you will be pleased to make this known
to the public by inserting the present letter in your paper, which
favor will be duly recognized by your obedient servant,
Order from the Minister of War against Negrete and Aurellano
Rivera.
[From the Diario Oficial, May 18,
1868.—Translation.]
Ministry of State and the Department of War and
Marine–Section First–Circular.
The ex-General Don Miguel Negrete, after having deserted the defense
of the national independence, withdrawing to foreign parts became a
traitor to his country, placing himself at the service of
Maximilian.
As a consequence of his evil conduct he had no place in the army.
When the latter acquired its glorious triumph, and saved the
independence and the republican institutions of the country, he
remained a fugitive; and humiliated by his bad conduct, and awaiting
only to find in a disturbance of the public order the means by which
his crimes should remain without punishment, he sought proselytes in
order to raise whatever flag if it was only the flag of rebellion.
The only aid upon which he has been able to count, after a year of
continuous effort, has been the public robbers of the highway. Of
these he has made himself a chief, and leading a company of bandits,
as has appeared in the official reports that have been published, he
has been already twice attacked and beaten by the forces of the
government, and completely put to rout.
The citizen President of the republic, animated by the desire to
re-establish peace and the public order, and to extend to society
the security that it merits, and which is so necessary to repair the
great suffering it has experienced during the war, has thought
proper to direct that all the authorities and the forces of the
nation be required to apprehend Miguel Negrete and his accomplices
wherever they may present themselves, in the understanding that any
dissimulation or tolerance that may be used in this connection will
make said authorities or forces responsible as co-operators and
protectors of the crime of rebellion.
Independence and liberty!
Mexico, May 17, 1868.
MEJIA.
The Governor
of the State of——.
[Page 470]
Ministry of State and the Department of War and Marine–Section
First–Circular.
The citizen general of brigade, Don Aureliano Rivera, having
disappeared from this capital without the permission of the
government, and afterwards having seduced the guard in charge of the
road from Tlalpam to Cuernevaca, under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Abraham Plata, as also that of Ajusco, commanded by Captain
Miguel Romero, declaring themselves rebels against the authorities,
and taking whatever pretext to cover their true object, which is
that of robbing the villages and estates, and of living without
other check than that of their own will, the citizen President of
the republic has thought proper to direct that, in conformity with
the laws, the said General Rivera, Lieutenant Colonel Plata, and
Captain Romero, shall be dismissed from the army as unworthy to
belong to it by reason of their desertion and crime, publishing this
resolution and issuing it in the general order of the day, in order
that they may be apprehended and punished as corresponds to their
offense. Independence and liberty! Mexico, May 17, 1868.
MEJIA.
The Citizen Governor
of the State of——.
Mexico,
May 17, 1868.
A true copy:
E. BONITEZ, Chief Clerk ad
interim.
Aureliano Rivera.
[From the Siglo XIX, May
19.—Translation.]
BENEFITS OF PRONUNCIAMENTOS.
Effects coming from Cuernevaca have been already detained in the road
by the forces of Aureliano Rivera.
In this capital, since the pronuuciamento of Ajusco, there has been
an increase in the price of many articles of first necessity.
Aureliano Rivera.—This individual was in
Milpa Alta on the 17th, and harangued the people, saying that his
plan was limited solely to driving Juarez from the presidency, as
that gentleman had never borne arms as he had, and had only acquired
his position by his pen. He added that he had exposed his life and
his property without any recompense, and that he should not lay down
his arms until Juarez had been driven from the presidency. He
recommended that they should not obey the authorities of the
district, and declared that he would exercise the functions of
prefect. He has decreed a forced loan of $3,000. While in Milpa Alta
he supplied the force that accompanied him, giving a dollar to the
soldiers and two to those who served as officers.
[Untitled]
[From the Siglo XIX, of May
20.—Translation.]
According to the Monitor, Aureliano Rivera has decreed a forced loan
of $50,000 on the manufactories of Tlalpam and San Angel.
It is stated that the constitutional army has
taken the direction of Ameca.
It is reported that Colonel Manuel Inclan has joined the rebels, and
that he was received with salutes and appointed chief of staff.
Pronunciamentos in the state of Queretaro.
[From the Siglo XIX, city of
Mexico, May 15,
1868.—Translation.]
(By telegraph line from the interior; deposited at San
Luis Potosi May 13, 1868; received at Mexico May 14, 1868.)
Editors of the Siglo XIX:
At daylight of to-day the second squadron of public security left for
Rio Verde, in consequence of the invasion of that place by insurgent
forces, who assassinated the political chief.
The squadron that was in Matehuala arrived to-day.
From Guadalajara there are adverse reports with reference to the
troops from this State that are now at that place.
[Page 471]
(Deposited at Queretaro May 14, 1868; received at
Mexico May 14, 1868.)
Editors of the Siglo XIX:
The peace has been broken in this State. The district of Jalpan has
been invaded by an insurgent force, who proclaim “Marquez and the
regency.” It is necessary that energetic and active measures should
be taken by the general government, that of the State, and those of
Mexico, Potosi, and Guanajuato.
[Untitled]
[From the Siglo XIX, May 20,
1868.—Translation.]
(By telegraph line from the interior; deposited at
Queretaro May 18, 1868; received at Mexico May 19, 1868.)
Editors Siglo XIX:
The political situation of the State becomes more and more
complicated.
All the sierra is rising in insurrection, and the ranks of the
insurgents are augmenting.
San Juan del Rio has been invaded by an organized force, which
exacted money and horses, and obliged the town authorities to
pronounce.
There is no disturbance, as yet, in the capital of the State, nor in
the district of Amealco. The business community has been called upon
to arrange measures for its own protection, as the smallness of the
garrison renders this step necessary.
Application has been made to the general government, in conformity
with article 116 of the constitution, for its protection. If this is
not given speedily, the consequences will fall where they
belong.
(Deposited at Queretaro May 19, 1868; received at
Mexico May 19, 1868.)
Editors Siglo XIX:
The insurgents, to the number of five hundred men, have modified
their plan as proclaimed at Jalpan on the 8th instant, and now
proclaim Santa Anna as dictator for five years, after which the
republic is to be reconstituted by an election.
The revolution extends from Jilitla to Tolimanejo, and appears also
to have ramifications in Rio Verde.
This city still remains tranquil.
Plan proclaimed by the insurgents of the state of
Queretaro.
[From the Siglo XIX, city of
Mexico, May 22,
1868.—Translation.]
At the town of Jalpan, in the Sierra Gorda, this 8th day of the month
of May, 1868, the chiefs and officers who are undersigned, being met
for the purpose of concerting a plan which shall put an end to a
system commenced with scaffolds erected for heroes, after having
taken into consideration the iniquitous cruelty with which Don
Benito Juarez and the leaders of his party have forced themselves
into power; the organization of the authority they exercise, founded
in laws such as that of the 25th of January, which has resuscitated
in the midst of the nineteenth century the age of barbarity and of
the most infamous feudalism; that in the name of that same law has
sacrificed noble victims, who, in place of a scaffold, merited an
altar raised to their civic virtues and to their heroism; that among
those victims vilely immolated is found his Excellency General
Thomas Mejia, who has gloriously associated his name with this
sierra; considering that a government such as the present, which, on
being conquered and in defeat, sought, as in the year 1859, a refuge
and aid in the folds of the North American flag, offers no
guarantees for the future, but, on the contrary, threatens the
sacrifice in a scandalous manner of our territory and our
nationality for the benefit of our common enemies, the Anglo-Saxons;
that, before a day so unfortunate for our couutry shall arrive, it
is necessary to intrust its interests to the worthy hands that will
save it, as on another unfortunate occasion—after having taken all
this into consideration, we have agreed, in the most solemn manner,
upon the following plan:
Article 1. The sanguinary government of Don
Benito Juarez is disowned, as well as all the authorities, general
or local, emanating from the late elections held under the
conveatoria of the 14th of August last.
Art. 2. The system which shall rule in the
nation shall be the republican, and its chief shall be the
well-deserving of his country, his excellency the general of
division Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
Art. 3. Colonel José Velasquez is hereby
recognized as the chief of the forces of the Sierra Gorda.
[Page 472]
Art. 4. Copies of the present act shall he
remitted where it shall correspond.
Viva his Excellency Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna! Viva the people
and the army!
A true copy from the original, which remains in this bureau,
taken for the ends to which article 4 of the same relates.
Jalpan,
May 12, 1868.
JOSÉ MARIA VEGA.
Kidnapping.
[From the Siglo XIX, city of
Mexico, May 19, 1868.]
From Toluca, State of Mexico, the following is written to our
colleague, the Monitor:
“Some twenty days ago Mr. Anuzaga, when returning with his wife from
the village of Tarasquillo, where they had been to mass, to his
manufactory, distant a thousand yards from the village, was set upon
in the road and attempted to be kidnapped, but saved himself by a
vigorous defense, killing one of the bandits. The same week Mr.
Sebastian Silva was kidnapped on his estate of Nigini by six
bandits, who demanded $20,000 from him. A Mr. Tovies, a drover, was
also kidnapped on going to see a lot of animals that were at a
village near by, and $8,000 were demanded for his release.
“On the 7th a party of thirty kidnappers entered the village of
Colimaya and carried off from the public square, on market day, a
Mr. José Albaran, exacting for him $4,000.
“Yesterday, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, the same band went to the
estate of Zacango, distant half a league from Colimaya, and carried
off Mr. Juan Garcia and his employes, leaving the estate abandoned,
and exacting for them $5,000.
“Last week three unfortunate muleteers were carried off from the road
leading from here to Temango, and $300 each exacted for their
release.
“In the direction of Zinacautepec two persons have been kidnapped,
but the particulars are not yet known.”
