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Show LEADING 952 FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN THE HISTORY <A copy of this a circular letter was distributed among the people. letter was brought to Santa Fé and delivered to the vicario, Juan Felipe Ortiz, who, although he had been prominently identified with the conspiracy of December, 1846, saw fit to place this letter in the It was used against several of the indihands of Colonel Price. viduals who were indicted and tried at Santa Fé, among others, Don This letter bore date January 20, 1847, Antonio Maria Trujillo. Tafolla and was countersigned by Jesus General by was sent out The letter was addressed to several naAntonio Maria Trujillo.17? tive military officers and was accompanied by certain orders in rela- tion to the revolution and its conduct. All of the indictments *®° in the cases the March term, 179 The letter and the orders are as follows: ‘(To the Defenders of their Country: With the end to shake off the yoke bound on us by a foreign government, and as you are military inspector get eral, appointed by the legitimate commander for the supreme government of Mexico, which we proclaim in favor of; the moment you receive this communl cation, you will place in readiness all the companies under your command, keep- WITH MEXICO 253 1847, of the United States district court, territory of New Mexico, were prepared by Francis P. Blair, Jr., who also conducted the trials which were had before Chief Justice Houghton. There were a great many convicted in addition to the chief conspirator, Trujillo, in passing sentence upon whom, Judge Houghton was very impressive. The age and family connections of the prisoner produced much sympathy for the convicted man, and Governor Vigil, although firm in his belief that the most vigorous punishment should be meted out to the persons responsible for the murder of Governor Bent, asked the president '** of the United States to pardon Trujillo. as well before before WAR Territory as after, aforesaid, with together aforesaid unknown, force and with divers arms, at the county other false traitors, did then and there maliciously, wickedly aforesaid to the and jurors and traitorously levy war against the government of the United States of America and did, then and there, maliciously and traitorously endeavour and attempt to subvert the laws and constitution of the government, to the evil example of all others in like cases offending and against the peace and dignity of the government of the United States. ’ _ The sentence of the court: ‘‘Antonio Maria Trujillo: A jury of twelve ing them ready for the 22d day of this month, so that the forces may be, 00 the day mentioned, at that point. Take the precaution to observe, if the forces of the enemy advance any toward these points, and if it should so hap- citizens, after a patient and careful investigation, pending which all the safeguards of the law, managed by able and indefatigable counsel, have been offered you, have found you guilty of the high crime of treason. What have pen, appoint a courier and despatch him immediately, so that exertions may be doubled, understanding that there must not be resistance or delay in giving the answer to the bearer of this official document. ‘“ By the order of the Inspector of Arms, Don Antonio Maria Trujillo, I herewith send you this despatch (or order) that the moment this comes to hand, you will raise all the forces, together with all the inhabitants that are able to bear arms, connecting them also with persons in San Juan de los Caballeros, by tomorrow, counting from the 22d day of the present month, and not later than eight o’clock in the morning. ‘*We have declared war with the American and it is now time that we shall all take our arms in our hands in defense of our abandoned country. You are held responsible for the execution of the above order. you ‘¢Juan Antonio Garcia. ‘“Sor, So. Dn. Pedro Vigil.”’ 180 The records in the office of the clerk of the District Court at Santa Fe contain the record of this trial and all papers used in connection therewith. The indictment and Judge ‘fUNITED STATES ‘*Territory . Houghton’s sentence were as follows: OF AMERICA of New ‘The Grand Jurors for the district of New United States of America, on their oaths present of the county of Taos, in the Territory of New United States of America, government of the United Should Mexico, on the part of the that Antonio Maria Trujillo, Mexico, being a citizen of the but disregarding the duty of his allegiance to the States aforesaid, and wholly withdrawing the al- legiance, duty and obedience which every true and faithful citizen of the said government and of right ought to bear toward the citizens of the United States, on the 20th day of January, in the year 1847, and on divers others days against be pronounced not have every advantage placed at your disposal that their duty under the laws to their country would permit, you you? appear It would found guilty of the crime alleged to your charge. highly rehave been that old While holding age has not brought you wisdom nor purity nor honesty of heart. out the hand of friendship to those whom circumstances have brought to rule You have your heart. over you you have nourished bitterness and hatred in murderers been found seconding the acts of a band of the most traitorous that ever blackened with a recital of their deeds the annals of history. Not content with the peace and security in which you have lived under the present government, secure in all your personal rights as a citizen, in property, in person and in your religion, you gave your name and influence to measures murder universal to effect you guilty intended pillage, and the overthrow of the govern- ment and one wide-spread scene of bloodshed in the land. For such foul crimes an enlightened and liberal jury have been compelled, from the evidence duty brought before them, and by a sense of their stern but unmistakable you are a citizen. ‘*In the United States District Court, at the March Term, 1847. should Sponsible to find Mexico of death sentence the why to say ‘Your age and gray hairs have excited the sympathy of both the court and the jury, yet while each and all were not only willing but anxious that you upon And you the there of treason only sentence of against remains the law, the government to the court which is that under the painful you which duty be taken of from passing hence to of April next, and that at prison, and there remain until Friday, the 16th day place of 2 o’clock in the afternoon of that day, you be taken thence to the €xecution and there be hanged by the neck till you are dead, dead, dead. And ay * may the Almighty God have mercy on your soul.’’ 181 Immediately after the conclusion of the trial of Trujillo, Governor Vigil addressed a letter to the secretary of state, James Buchanan, in which he says: Justice, ‘A petition was immediately laid before me, signed by the presiding the one of the associate justices, United States district attorney, |