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Show 250 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY ‘‘T hope, therefore, that, your minds being now relieved of past fears, you will think only of the security and protection of the law; and, uniting with your Government, will afford it the aid of your intelligence, in order that it may secure to you the prosperity desired by your fellow-citizen and friend. ‘““DONACIANO VIGIL. ‘Santa Fé January 25, 1847.” These proclamations and a circular entitled ‘‘Supreme Government of the Territory,’’ in which Governor Vigil calls attention to the events transpiring during the preceding ten years and the character of the men who were leaders in the conspiracy, had a good effect in the restoration of peace and order and in preventing any outbreaks in other portions of the territory, other than the activities of Cortéz and his band on the eastern side of the mountains. This Cireular,*’* commenting upon the causes of the revolution of 1837 and also as to the conduct of the people of Taos toward the foreign residents of Taos during the Texas troubles of 1843, declared that the vicious element in that portion of New Mexico, ye the year various points from the duty the principal 1843 rose and sacked in the valley of Taos of punishment of this culprits, approved, or the tithe granaries situated at and the government, shrinking excess and castigating, at least, for the same reason, so com- pletely overlooked it, that no notice was taken of the affair. Encour- aged by the impunity which attended this crime, in the beginning of July, in the same year, they re-assembled with criminal views of a more enlarged nature; for they proposed to themselves and attempted, in the first place, to kill the few Americans and French who had married and settled among them; and not consummate this, owing as well to want of although they did unanimity among themselve s as to their failing to effect a surprise, they sated their rapacity by plundering the stores and houses of the wealthiest foreigners. The local authorities, with the view of quieting the com- plaints of the injured individuals, commenced some proceedings which, from the mode in which they were carried on, necessarily le to no result. On this application was made to the government, but with the same result; and finally, after much expense and trouble, through the indifference and connivance of the said authorities and of the government, the injured parties were ruined, creants who perpetrated the crime were left to enjoy, andin the misabsolute Impunity, the fruit of their plunder. ; *78 The two Proclamations and the circular letter are ‘nsurrection against the Military Government in New to be found in full in Mexico and California in 1847 and 1848, Sen. Doe. 442, 56th cong., Ist sess. THE WAR WITH MEXICO 251 “The apathetic and criminal conduct of the previous administrations with respect to popular commotions gave so much encouragement to the perpetrators of these crimes that those who originated the plan of the revolution which has just been quelled found no dif. fieulty whatever among the people of Taos, already adepts in such proceedings. “According to statements made by the Indians of the town of Taos, who have appealed to the clemency of forees employed in the restoration of order, the commander of the the same Diego Archuleta who, in the middle of December, last year, planned a revolution in this city, which, being discovered in time by the government, was quelled before it burst forth, is the individual who, before flying from the country, aided by the so-call ed generals Pablo Montoya, Manuel Cortéz, Jesus Tafoya, and Pablo Chavez, instigated them to the insurrection and proceedings which they carried into execulion, and persuaded them that they might enter Santa Fé without a and might subsequently, with little trouble, destroy or me out of the country all the forces a the’ individuals mentioned are, So of the government. far as now known, the chiefs a and of murderers and thieves. Diego Archuleta fled in a dada y ‘gang from the Territory before the commenceme Taf, ee which he himself planned and counselled ; Chaveznt of and ae, oh Be enn Montoya was execut ed at Taos, and the asbaie, je ne 1s wandering a fugitive in the mounta ins. There are alle € disposal of the tribunals variou s individuals arraigned fall Pilces, upon whom, if guilty, the judgment of the law will at wre Be ment troops triumphed over the rebels successively Tee ser, ai Embudo and Taos where the victory was decisive. rebels; the - ed in the field and town of Taos about two hundred He oct a oer begged for their lives and a pardon, which eupations ed ; a them; and . they were left at liberty 'n the security and peace The f : which to pursue their they themselves had : ments oe “S outlined in the proclamations and the logical arguPeop] Overnor Vigil easily had a salubrious effect upon the Merch ‘ ry. At the same time, during the month of ad been Say the vigorous prosecution of the individuals who district i rs arms against the American authority by the Be number i iharped i P arsine : ° the cong let tank P. Blair, was productive of good results. persons who had been arrested or captured A were ant of testimony sufficient to indict them for ‘“treas- sovernment of which they were not citizens! Prior at Taos and the murder of Go vernor Bent and others, |