Santo Domingo, placed them on horses, and caused them to ride through the streets with their long un kempt hair and beards and tattered garments, so that the people might see how they had been treated. Masses of thanksgiving to God and the virgin of Guadalupe were celebrated, at one of which the preacher was Canon San Martin, late commander of Bishop Bergosa's sacred legion. The ceremony of swearing obedience to the suprema junta as the representative of Fernando VII. was performed with great pomp, the ceremonial used at the acts of swearing allegiance to kings being followed. Morelos, who had been raised by the junta to the rank of captain-general, was in attendance with his new uniform, which had been presented him by Matamoros.[1] A civil government was organized; a new ayuntamiento was formed, composed of natives of the country, well known by their honorable record, who were required to accept the positions they were called to. In every one of his acts Morelos gave evidence of his desire to establish peace and order. José María Murguía, a citizen of intelligence, administrative ability, and sterling character, was made intendente.[2] With the money he obtained from the booty, a battalion of infantry called the Oajaca, and a regiment of cavalry named Los Valles, were organized and the artillery was put in order.
With the view of making himself master of all this rich province, and of that portion of the intendencia of Puebla bordering on it then extending to the Pacific
- ↑ This historic uniform, which was magnificently embroidered with gold, is said to be kept in the museum of the artillery department at Madrid.
- ↑ When the royalists recovered the city Murguía was pardoned; and later became a deputy to the Spanish córtes of 1820-1821. He was the author of an excellent work on the statistics of Oajaca, in several folio volumes. Morelos' decree naming the ayuntamiento is of Dec. 5, 1812. The acts of the first sittings set forth the oath the members took ‘to uphold the mystery of the immaculate conception of our lady; the catholic religion; and to recognize, respect, and obey his majesty the suprema junta gubernativa de América en representacion de nuestro augusto soberano el Sr D. Fernando VII. (Q. D. G.).' Id., 329.
