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Show 290 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY TERRITORY per mines he was visited by Mangas Coloradas, or Red Sleeve, chief of the Apaches, accompanied by twelve or fifteen of his tribe. Mangas Coloradas claimed that he was a friend of the Americans and that his people desired peace. He remembered having met General Kearny and Colonel Cooke several years before. He seemed to understand the causes for the war with Mexico and its results.214 Under the provisions of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the residents of New Mexico were privileged to leave the territory or remain either as citizens of one country CHANGE OF BY NEW CITIZENSHIP or the other, but all those who failed to MEXICANS make known their choice within one year were to become citizens of the United States. The Mexican government made an appropriation to aid those of New Mexico who preferred to retain their Mexican nationality. All told probably one thousand five hundred or two thousand New Mexicans, during the years 1848-50, withdrew with their slaves and possessions to Chihuahua. Padre Ramon Ortiz and Manuel Armendaris came from Chihuahua, representing the Mexican gov- ernment, and endeavored in every way possible to persuade the people to leave New spring of 1849, limits of New Mexico and Colonel Mexico retain their nationality.2*° Washington, mentioned in this civil and military article, turnell’s map of Mexico, edition of New York See Bartlett, J. R., Personal N arratiwe, are those laid In the governor, down in Dis- 1847.7? ete. + U. S. and Mex. Boundary Sur- vey (1854-1855), Report of Wm. H. Emory, Wash., 1857; Report of the i oy July, 1852, U. 8. Gov. Doc., 32a congress, Ist sess., Sen. secretary Ha. Doe. ; also Sen. Ez. Doc. 121, 324 cong., 1st sess. This contains port on Boundary Line between the United States and Mesico. There was @ quarrel between Graham’s Re- all of those connected with this survey, growing out of Jealousies between the military, civil, and scientific branches of the commission. : *14 Bartlett, J. R., Personal Narrative » p. 301, vol. i,i says: ‘‘Our : goed ? protectioion of ‘ the Mexicans he did not seem to relish; and could not ceeeniel why we should aid them im any way after we had conquered them, or what business it was t0 — 7 ions on Mexico, we : far vo depredat ion leld them from the syns aug: i tre H. H., History of Arizona and New Mesico, pp. 472-473, says: pei that in the first county visited, that of San Miguel emigrants oe eagerly agreed to go, and del Vado, 90 that the whole number0 the territorial authorities, to reach 80,000; but that frightened: .a themely So Prospect, threw obstacles in the way. deat Ous of ' For this reason, 0F nancial difficulties, or because the people, on reflection, became less quitting the land of their birth — to say nothing of the possibility OF NEW MEXICO 291 issued a proclamation calling upon all those who desired to make their election, as provided for in the treaty, to do so in the manner therein pointed out. They were directed to appear before the prefects of their respective counties on or before the first day of the month of June following and make their election in writing in order to retain the rights of Mexican citizenship or lose the privilege. The clerk of the prefecture was required to attach a certificate to the record in which the names were enrolled and to send the same to the secretary of the territory, who was directed to have them published and to send a copy to each county. The law was substantially complied with in these particulars, a large number availing themselves of this privilege.?1¢ The first New Mexico legislature convened at Santa Fé, June 2, 1851. Seven of the members-elect were priests. Rev. Antonio José Martinez was elected president of the THE LEGISLATURE OF 1851 council at the first session, and at the second session, which met in December following, Rev. J. Felipe Ortiz, vicario of the diocese, was chosen to fill that position. In his message to the assembly, Governor Calhoun fathat the honest presbitero little was accomplished. ’’ Mexico. Col. Leyes greatly exaggerated y Decretos, 1848, p. 309. the original The enthusiasm — very governor of New Mexico compelled Padre Ortiz to suspend his personal visits to the different counties, alleging that there was danger of revolt. He consented at first to the appointment of Sub-agents, but this privilege was also suspended as soon as it became evident that the desire to emigrate was so general among the people. Ortiz also claimed that unfair advantage had been taken of the inhabitants preventing them from making the declaration required by the treaty. ; , 716 Davis W. W. H., El Gringo, pp. 331-332, says: ‘‘At the fall elections in 1853, many whose names were found on this record as having elected to retain the rights of Mexican citizens, offered to vote, and upon being challenged, swore that they were citizens of the United States. Several of those who voted under these cireumstances were afterward indicted for false swearing, and upon the trial of the first case called, out of some forty in all, these questions came Up. he record Mexican citizen, was and offered in evidence to prove that the that in swearing at the polls that he defendant was a was a citizen of the United States he had perjured himself, and became liable to the pains and ee in such cases. The court, after listening to lengthy arguments upon oth sides, overruled the offer, declared the book not a legal record and of Course, hot evidence — that the proceedings i legal and without authority, and on the part of Colonel Washington that those who had made an election St this manner had not parted with their rights as citizens of the United ates. This decision disposed of all the indictments pending, all of which Were nol. pros’q,?? Galle the printed transcript citing oe ate enship, of testimony in the election contest of Otero versus found many names of prominent men who declared their Mexican among others, Don Miguel Pino. |
