Las Cruces, Aculco, and in the remainder of his movements to Guadalajara.[1]
Hidalgo's object was to establish a national independent government; and besides the appointment of ministers of state, he reorganized the audiencia by the appointment of oidores,[2] and nominated Pascasio Letona as envoy plenipotentiary to the United States, with the object of making, if possible, a treaty of alliance and commerce with that republic.[3] But these efforts were doomed to failure. The unfortunate Letona, having proceeded on his journey as far as Molango in la Huasteca, Vera Cruz, excited suspicion by trying to change a gold ounce, and was arrested. His baggage was examined, his credentials as a revolutionary ambassador were discovered secreted in his saddle, and the justice of the town sent him with his papers to Mexico. Letona, well knowing the fate awaiting him, took poison before arriving at the capital, and was buried at Guadalupe. It was indeed dangerous to serve Mexico at this juncture.
While Hidalgo remained in Guadalajara he issued several edicts which he deemed essential to the cause. He proclaimed the emancipation of slaves, the restoration of their lands to the Indians,[4] and prohibited pillage and all excess on the part of his followers [5]—all wise and humane measures, and proving that he did not delight in robbery and murder, as his enemies have charged.
- ↑ Gallo y Hom. Ilust. Mex., in. 395-8; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., i. 146-7.
- ↑ The new audiencia was composed of Chico, president, and José" Ignacio Ortiz de Salinas, Pedro Alcantara de Avendaño, Francisco Solorzano, and Ignacio Mestas, oidores. Zerecero, Mem. Rev. Mex., 172.
- ↑ A copy of Letona's credentials, dated Dec. 13, 1810, can be found in Bustamante, Campañas de Calleja, 79-81, and in many other works. Pascasio Ortiz de Letona was a native of Guatemala, and was a devoted student of the natural sciences, especially of botany. He was residing in Guadalajara as protégé of the royal official Salvador Batres, and was made a mariscal de campo by Hidalgo. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 83.
- ↑ Already mentioned in chap, v., this volume.
- ↑ In this proclamation he points out that these robberies were carried on without discrimination, the property of Americans, 'mis amados americanos,' being frequently appropriated. Copy of document in Negrete, Mex. Sig. XIX., ii. 399; Mex. Refut. Art. de Fondo, 25-6.
