Edward L. Plumb to William H. Seward, May 23, 1868

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward.

Sir: It will be with unfeigned regret, I well know, that the government and people of the United States will learn that the era of pronun-ciamentos is apparently again returning to this country.

As I have said before, no political movement to erect any other in the place of the constitutional government is now possible. That government is to be maintained, or none can be.

So, all movements to take up arms now are simply attacks upon public order and upon property. Yet such movements have commenced, and there are armed forces in resistance to the government in various parts of the republic.

The latest of these movements are pronunciamentos that have taken place, first, in the mountain range that separates this valley from that of Cuernevaca, under the leadership of Aureliano Rivera; and secondly, in the mountainous district in the State of Queretaro, known as the Sierra Gorda, which was for many years the impregnable retreat of the Indian general, Mejia, who was shot with Maximilian.

This movement is under the nominal leadership of a Colonel Velasquez, who it is stated was formerly an adjutant of General Mejia.

The mountain range of Ajusco, within sight of this city, where Aure-liano Rivera has pronounced, was his former refuge when serving, as he did effectively as a partisan leader, in the liberal cause against Miramon, and afterwards against the French; and the latter alone have been able to dislodge him from it.

Neither of these movements embraces more than a few hundred men, and this number is perhaps likely rather to be diminished than increased; but, like the roving bands of kidnappers now infesting the country, they may be sufficient to remain as festering sores.

While such movements can neither overthrow the government nor build up another, they are capable of much mischief, and their greatest danger is in the aid they render to a general process of disorganization.

But the feature of the pronunciamento of Aureliano Rivera that bears chief importance is the presence, attached to his manifesto, of a number of names, some of them of persons of prominence and influence, who are known to be disaffected to the government of President Juarez, but who as yet have taken no active or open part, and regarding whom it is uncertain whether they are really committed or not.

Three of the persons whose names were so attached have published denials that they had authorized such use of their names; but up to the present time that is the total number of denials that has appeared.

It is also asserted, but denied by him from his prison at Monterey, that this movement, as well as that previously made by Negrete, has the sanction and is in the interest of General Gonzalez Ortega.

Whether the names attached to the proclamation of Rivera have been used with authority or not, there is a probability that if the States become generally disaffected—and there is great opposition to several of the governors, who it is claimed are too much under federal influence—some of the generals mentioned may take an active and influential part against the government.

All of these facts leave an anxious feeling in the public mind.

It is undeniable that there is a great deal of discontent throughout the country, and that the state of insecurity and of commercial and industrial prostration has reached a degree that detracts very greatly from the influence and prestige of the general government, and that if continued may produce serious results.

All the disaffected, also, act against a common opponent. If some relief had been given to the material interests of the country, the present situation might have been different.

Inclosed herewith, I transmit to the department full translations of the proclamations, &c., herein referred to, among which I beg to call attention to certain expressions in that issued in the State of Queretaro.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Ministry of State and the Department of War and Marine–Section First–Circular.

The citizen general of brigade, Don Aureliano Rivera, having disappeared from this capital without the permission of the government, and afterwards having seduced the guard in charge of the road from Tlalpam to Cuernevaca, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Plata, as also that of Ajusco, commanded by Captain Miguel Romero, declaring themselves rebels against the authorities, and taking whatever pretext to cover their true object, which is that of robbing the villages and estates, and of living without other check than that of their own will, the citizen President of the republic has thought proper to direct that, in conformity with the laws, the said General Rivera, Lieutenant Colonel Plata, and Captain Romero, shall be dismissed from the army as unworthy to belong to it by reason of their desertion and crime, publishing this resolution and issuing it in the general order of the day, in order that they may be apprehended and punished as corresponds to their offense. Independence and liberty! Mexico, May 17, 1868.

MEJIA.

The Citizen Governor of the State of——.

Mexico, May 17, 1868.

A true copy:

Aureliano Rivera.

BENEFITS OF PRONUNCIAMENTOS.

Effects coming from Cuernevaca have been already detained in the road by the forces of Aureliano Rivera.

In this capital, since the pronuuciamento of Ajusco, there has been an increase in the price of many articles of first necessity.

Aureliano Rivera.—This individual was in Milpa Alta on the 17th, and harangued the people, saying that his plan was limited solely to driving Juarez from the presidency, as that gentleman had never borne arms as he had, and had only acquired his position by his pen. He added that he had exposed his life and his property without any recompense, and that he should not lay down his arms until Juarez had been driven from the presidency. He recommended that they should not obey the authorities of the district, and declared that he would exercise the functions of prefect. He has decreed a forced loan of $3,000. While in Milpa Alta he supplied the force that accompanied him, giving a dollar to the soldiers and two to those who served as officers.

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According to the Monitor, Aureliano Rivera has decreed a forced loan of $50,000 on the manufactories of Tlalpam and San Angel.

It is stated that the constitutional army has taken the direction of Ameca.

It is reported that Colonel Manuel Inclan has joined the rebels, and that he was received with salutes and appointed chief of staff.

Pronunciamentos in the state of Queretaro.

(By telegraph line from the interior; deposited at San Luis Potosi May 13, 1868; received at Mexico May 14, 1868.)

Editors of the Siglo XIX:

At daylight of to-day the second squadron of public security left for Rio Verde, in consequence of the invasion of that place by insurgent forces, who assassinated the political chief.

The squadron that was in Matehuala arrived to-day.

From Guadalajara there are adverse reports with reference to the troops from this State that are now at that place.

(Deposited at Queretaro May 14, 1868; received at Mexico May 14, 1868.)

Editors of the Siglo XIX:

The peace has been broken in this State. The district of Jalpan has been invaded by an insurgent force, who proclaim “Marquez and the regency.” It is necessary that energetic and active measures should be taken by the general government, that of the State, and those of Mexico, Potosi, and Guanajuato.

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(By telegraph line from the interior; deposited at Queretaro May 18, 1868; received at Mexico May 19, 1868.)

Editors Siglo XIX:

The political situation of the State becomes more and more complicated.

All the sierra is rising in insurrection, and the ranks of the insurgents are augmenting.

San Juan del Rio has been invaded by an organized force, which exacted money and horses, and obliged the town authorities to pronounce.

There is no disturbance, as yet, in the capital of the State, nor in the district of Amealco. The business community has been called upon to arrange measures for its own protection, as the smallness of the garrison renders this step necessary.

Application has been made to the general government, in conformity with article 116 of the constitution, for its protection. If this is not given speedily, the consequences will fall where they belong.

(Deposited at Queretaro May 19, 1868; received at Mexico May 19, 1868.)

Editors Siglo XIX:

The insurgents, to the number of five hundred men, have modified their plan as proclaimed at Jalpan on the 8th instant, and now proclaim Santa Anna as dictator for five years, after which the republic is to be reconstituted by an election.

The revolution extends from Jilitla to Tolimanejo, and appears also to have ramifications in Rio Verde.

This city still remains tranquil.

Kidnapping.

From Toluca, State of Mexico, the following is written to our colleague, the Monitor:

“Some twenty days ago Mr. Anuzaga, when returning with his wife from the village of Tarasquillo, where they had been to mass, to his manufactory, distant a thousand yards from the village, was set upon in the road and attempted to be kidnapped, but saved himself by a vigorous defense, killing one of the bandits. The same week Mr. Sebastian Silva was kidnapped on his estate of Nigini by six bandits, who demanded $20,000 from him. A Mr. Tovies, a drover, was also kidnapped on going to see a lot of animals that were at a village near by, and $8,000 were demanded for his release.

“On the 7th a party of thirty kidnappers entered the village of Colimaya and carried off from the public square, on market day, a Mr. José Albaran, exacting for him $4,000.

“Yesterday, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, the same band went to the estate of Zacango, distant half a league from Colimaya, and carried off Mr. Juan Garcia and his employes, leaving the estate abandoned, and exacting for them $5,000.

“Last week three unfortunate muleteers were carried off from the road leading from here to Temango, and $300 each exacted for their release.

“In the direction of Zinacautepec two persons have been kidnapped, but the particulars are not yet known.”