[Translation.], December 31, 1865

[Translation.]

Citizen Constitutional President of the Mexican Republic:

I, Citizen Colonel Joaquin Martinez, by the vote of the people mid armed force military commander of the second district of the State of Mexico, and chief of that division in the republican army, appear before you, as in duty bound, and with due respect, through the commissioners for that purpose, Captain Sisto Lopez and Lieutenant Francisco Plaza, and declare that—

Since the evacuation of the capital by the government of the republic, I have used all means and made every sacrifice to provide for the defence of my country, and make war on its enemies in this important section of the republic, which I have governed since April last, when Don Ignacio Ugalde gave up Huejutla by virtue of a wicked treaty concluded with the enemy.

Since that time, citizen President, I bare worked incessantly to annoy the enemy; and if my efforts have not corresponded to my hopes, it is because I have acted alone without help. My division, formed of the forces of the second district, amounts to two thousand men, well armed. The positions they hold cannot be taken, though there is not more than one round of cartridges per man in this division.

When the enemy thought seriously of taking Sierra and Huasteca in September last, my situation was dreadful, because I could not think of opposing such a storm as threatened me; yet, at a great sacrifice, I procured some ammunition, and on the 29th of October, with the hope of defeating the enemy’s plans and obtaining the necessary elements of war, I attacked Huatla and took it, after a stout resistance from the enemy.

This combat gained great glory for the arms of the republic; but I did not get the munitions I expected, finding only two boxes of provisions, which circumstance made our situation worse.

The enemy, seeing their plans frustrated by this defeat, formed others, and sent over 5,000 men upon us at Sierra. The representatives of the towns remaining faithful to our cause made known to me that the inhabitants desired peace, so I was forced to sign the treaty of the 9th of December, a certified copy of which will be presented to the Chief Magistrate by my commissioners, who will inform you of all the causes that compelled me to take the step, and of the sentiments of the people.

You will see from the copy of the agreements, citizen President, that I was only waiting for a more favorable occasion to utilize the services of the loyal people to better advantage, without any regard to myself, for I wanted no guarantee; and if I did not present myself to the supreme government of the republic, and submit myself to its judgment, it was because my absence would cause immense injury by the loss of arms, and the complete dispersion of the forces under my command; for the enemy would leave nothing undone to gain the sympathies of the people, using gold, cunning, and flattery to gain their ends.

From what I have said, the citizen President will see how necessary it is to deign to notice these people, and furnish them with munitions of war, for the want of which they were compelled to capitulate. I am certain that, with sufficient provisions, some pecuniary resources, and the aid of a thousand or fifteen hundred men, three or four thousand men more could be recruited in a short space of time, and all that we have lost be recovered. Moreover, we could get nearer the capital and open the communications with Vera Cruz, Tabasco, Guerrero, Michoacan, and Tamaulipas, and thus the general government could get information from those distant States, and learn how to direct its operations. This is my humble opinion, and what I think ought to be done.

I am sure the government will take my arguments into consideration, and will soon give effective aid to the loyal servants of the country, who have never lost faith in its cause, and are still disposed to fight for the maintenance of their republican institutions and the autonomy of the nation.