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Show THE WAR WITH MEXICO 233 The leaders of this revolution were men of restless and unsatisfied ambition. Their inactivity lasted but a brief period. A second and still more dangerous uprising was plotTHE ASSASSINATION OF ted. The experience gained in the failure GOVERNOR BENT AT TAOS of the first attempt prompted the most absolute secrecy in the formation of the plans for the second. Everywhere in the northern counties the people secretly began to arm and equip themselves; this was not known to the military authorities, and on the 19th of January, 1847, the rebellion broke out in several parts of New Mexico. On the 14th of January, Governor Bent had left Santa Fé to visit Taos; five days later he was foully assassinated in his own residence in that village.1°° Early on the morning of the 19th of January, the insur- afterward, owing to the fact that a sufficient number of those outside of the city had not been notified, the day for the uprising was postponed until Christ- mas eve. ‘‘An officer, forGeneral Price in his report of February 15, 1847, says: merly in the Mexican service, was seized, and on his person was found a list of all the disbanded Mexican soldiers in the vicinity of Santa Fé. Many other persons supposed to be implicated were arrested and a full investigation proved that many of the most influential citizens in the northern part of the territory were engaged in the rebellion.’’ Dofia Tules Barcelo, a woman of shady reputation, was the person who notified Donaciano Vigil of the intended uprising and gave him the names of : the ones most prominent in the affair. 169 Governor Bent knew of alarmed for his personal safety; the discontent but prevailing, but he misjudged those whom in was no wise he had always assisted and underestimated the influence of the treacherous men who had professed for him the warmest friendship and whom he had personally known A few days prior to his departure for Taos he for more than twenty years. ‘‘You are now governed by new statutory issued the following proclamation: Do not abuse the laws and you also have the free government promised to you. great liberty which is vouchsafed you by it, so you may gather the abundant Those who are blindly opposed, as well fruits which await you in the future. as those whose vices have made them notorious, and the ambitious persons who aspire to the best offices, also those persons who dream that mankind should bow to their whims, having become satisfied that they cannot find employment in the offices which are usually given to men of probity and honesty, exasperated [Tomas Ortiz and the old revolutionist, Diego Archuleta] have come forth They held a meetas leaders of a revolution against the present government. ing in this Capital Some foolish and about imprudent the middle men who of last month, were urged which to follow was attended the standard by of re- bellion. Their treason was discovered in time and smothered at its birth. Now they are wandering about and hiding from people, but their doctrines are Scattered broadcast. among the people, thereby causing uneasiness, and they There is still another pretext with still hold to their ruinous plans. Which they want to alarm you and that is the falsehood that troops are com- What help could the ing from the interior in order to re-conquer the country. department of Chihuahua, which is torn by factions and reduced to insignifiI urge you to turn a deaf ear to Certainly none. ‘ance afford you? |