Leading facts of New Mexican history, volume 2

Page 292

406 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY NEW MEXICO DURING THE CIVIL WAR 407 the democratic party. Had New Mexico been admitted at the time the chances for democratic success were far greater than they were in Colorado.**° In the campaign of 1877 Don Trinidad Romero **! was elected over Pedro Valdes, and in 1879 Don Mariano 8S. Otero 222 was successful in the contest in which Don Benito Baca was his opponent. A résumé of congressional action in behalf of New Mexico from 1864 to 1880 is found in a note.?3# number, years, was a member of the territorial legislature, delegate to the fifty-fifth congress, and was appointed United States marshal for New Mexico by Benjamin Harrison. He is now a resident of Mora county, New Mexico. 882 Mariano Sabino Otero was born at Peralta, New Mexico, August 28, 1844, He was a descendant of one of the noted families of New Mexico, his father, Juan Otero, and his three uncles Miguel Antonio, Manuel Antonio and Antonio José Otero having been prominent in New Mexican affairs during Mexican and American rule. Mr. Otero received his education at St. Louis University. He held several important county offices, was a member of the legislative assembly and delegate in congress in 1878, which office he filled with credit. He wielded great influence during his career, was shrewd in business affairs, of progressive ideas and in every sense a representative New Mexican. He married Filomena, a daughter of José Leandro Perea. He died at Alburquerque, February 1, 1904. 888 Other than the usual appropriation bills, actions on contested election ordered the clerk to proceed with the calling of the roll. Would Colorado receive the requisite two-thirds vote? That question, and the uncertainty of the answer, caused several hearts in that great chamber almost to cease beating. The whole house was still as the roll call proceeded, for interest in the matter had grown to be intense —the friends and opponents of statehood hoped for and expected the victory. It was not until after the roll call of nearly 350 members had been completed that those who followed the count knew that Colorado had won the day, or rather, the night. : ‘‘As was usually the case on roll call, a number had not voted when their names were called, and after the call had been completed, those, each in his turn stood by his seat to be recognized by the speaker and when his name was called by the clerk, he announced his vote and had it recorded. It was only then, after a proceeding that required more than thirty-five minutes, that the friends of Colorado statehood knew that its future was assured. ‘ ‘““But what of New Mexico? Immediately on the announcement of the Colorado vote by Speaker Blaine — it was the necessary two-thirds, with five or six to spare —the member who had moved in the Colorado bill made the Same motion as to the New Mexico measure. A roll call was demanded and ordered, and the roll was called. As it was being proceeded with it was noted that now and then a democrat who had voted for Colorado voted against New Mexico. Would there be enough to change the Colorado outcome? There was! Those who followed the call knew that enough such votes had been cast to defeat New Mexico, and even before those not voting and who asked to have their votes recorded had been accommodated, it was known that New Mexico was not yet to become a state. It failed to obtain the necessary two-thirds by less than Colorado had received above it.’? 830 Elkins was nominated for his second term in congress without his: consent; in fact he notified the leaders of the republican party that he would not be a candidate for reélection. He was in Holland at the time of his nomina- tion and was not in New Mexico when the election was held. While he received a majority of the votes cast in the election as shown by the official returns and received the certificate of election from the secretary, still he did not receive a majority of the votes cast. He was counted in by the leaders of the republican party. This fact was never known by Elkins. This in formation was imparted to the writer by the leading republican of the terrl tory at the time of the election, who also acted as one of his principal cam: paign managers. $81 Trinidad Romero was born in Santa Fé county, June 14, 1835. His great-grandfather, Cristoval Romero, was a native of Spain, his grandfather, José G. Romero, was born in the city of Mexico and his father, Miguel Romero, was born in Santa Fé county, New Mexico, in 1798. His father took an active part in the public affairs of New Mexico prior to the American period; was present at Apache Pass at the time of the retreat of occupation Governo! Armijo, and was appointed an alecalde by General Kearny prior to that seen departure for California. He married Miss Delgado, a descendant of a note Spanish family, whose immediate ancestor, Manuel Delgado, was an officer ’ the army of Spain, and was located at Santa Fé in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Don Trinidad was one of a family of ten children. In 1855 he married Valeria Lopez, a descendant of one of the noted New cone families. He served ag probate judge of San Miguel county for a number 0 cases, and matters referred to in the text and in other notes, the acts of congress relative to New Mexico during the period 1864-1880 were as follows: 1864-65: Joint resolution to facilitate communication with New Mexico. Joint communication of delegates of the territories approving the constitutiona l amendment abolishing slavery. Act to establish post roads. 1865-66: Bill to confirm land claim of J. S. Ramirez, passed by the senate. 1866-67: Bill to abolish peonage passed congress; also, after much discussion, a bill to prohibit restriction of suffrage on account of race or color. Bill to provide for biennial sessions of the legislature passed the house. 1867: An act legalizing the acts of the legislature at its session of 1866-7. Bill to settle private land claims referred to committee, as also were many other bills earlier and later on this subject; and also bills on war and Indian claims. 1867-68: Resolution for the relief of Navaj6 captives held as peons, passed both houses. Several bills on lands, railroads, claims, and other subjects introduced by Delegate Clever, but not finally acted on; bill for the relief and reservation of Navajés at Bosque Redondo passed by the house and amended by the senate. 1868-69: Act on the Vigil and St. Vrain land grants for the benefit of Settlers. Act providing for biennial sessions of the legislature; also amending the organic act on the passing of bills over the governor’s veto by a twothirds vote; also making the governor the superintendent of public buildings at a salary of one thousand dollars ; also making the salary of the secretary two thousand dollars from 1867. oy 1869: Act repealing the acts of the legislature to impose a capitation tax on bovine cattle introduced from other states and territories. 1869-70: Bill to annul part of a New Mexico law on executions and mortgages; also bill to authorize a state constitution, referred to a committee; act Increasing the salary of justices to three thousand dollars. ; 1870-71: Bill to authorize a state constitution under the name of Lincoln, Teported by the senate committee, but again referred to the senate committee. 4871: . Bill to pay volunteers’ claims, tabled in the house. Bill to confirm Rio Grande land claim, passed both houses apparently, but referred to the house Committee in 1871, 1871: . Act to authorize the legislature to meet on the first Monday in December, and authorizing an election.