a 
wee Te” te — eer arama SI igh tate oor ic at ts tin ete ee ey oe ae OF se fice, 5 
: Se 
27 | <0 ix 
.600 men had collected at the pass which debouches into the Veras, 
two miles distant, and were to oppose our march. In the morning, 
orders were given to prepare to meet the enemy. At 7, the army 
moved, and just as we made the road leading through the town, 
_ Major Swords, of the quartermaster’s department, Lieutenant Gil- 
to that place he and his staff would follow, and from that point, 
did, as follows: . 
‘Mr. Alcalde and people of New Mexico: I haye come amongst 
you by the orders of my government, .to take possession of your. 
country, and extend over it the laws of the United States. .We 
- consider it, and have done so for some time, a part of the territory 
of the United States. We come amongst you as friends—not as 
enemies; as protectors—not as conquerors. We come among you 
. a 
for your benefit—not for your injury. 
- 
tells him is best. Its laws protect the Catholic as well asthe Pro-> 
_ and their reli ion; and not a pepper, nor an onion, shall be dis-- .— 
vel government respects your religion as much as the Protestant: = 
‘ E 
riel 
_ faith; but at least one-third of my army are Catholics, and ro 
_ Spect a good Catholic as much as a good Protestant. cease y 
. “Henceforth I absolve you from all allegiance to the Mexican’ 
government, and from all obedience to General Armijo. He is no 
longer your governor; [great sensation.] Iam your governor.» I) 
shall not expect you to take up arms and follow me, to fight your 
own people who may oppose me; but I now tell you, that ees : 
who remain peaceably at home, attending to their crops and their. 
rotected by me in their property, their persons, __ 
turbed: or eics by, my troops without pay, or by the consent of ~~ 
the owner. But listen! he who promises to be quiet, and is found oe 
in arms against me, I will hang. — . we 
‘“‘From the Mexican government you have never received pro- 
tection. . The Apaches and the Navajhoes-come down from ther 2 
mountains and carry off your sheep, and even your women, when- . 
ever they please. My government will correct all this. It will” 
eep off the Indians, protect you in your persons and property;. 
and; I repeat again, will protect you in your religion. I know you 2 
are all great Catholics; that some of your priests have told you ally 
sorts of stories—that we should ill-treat your women,-and brand 
them on the cheek as you do your mule on the hip. Ft is all false. 
eligion, and allows each man to worship. his Creator as his heart 
testant; the weak as well as the strong; the poor as well as the- 
+ Tam not a Catholic myself—I was not brought up ine a 
Ir 
m= 
