Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-09-13

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Of the Spaniards, can be imagined by
those who know anything Of the char
acter of the Spaniards of that day.
Governor Velasquez proceeded immedi-
| ately to organize an expedition for the
settlement and conversion of Mexico.
There were two things wanting-money,
and man bit to command such an en-
terprise. On looking around the COVER
nor thought he saw in fernando COrtez
a man rich enough to defray, in a great
part, the expense of the expedition, and
endowed with the requisite energy and
talents to conduct it.
He sent for Cortez, revealed the pro-
ject to him, and offered him the COM
mand. Cortez accepted it, and agreed to
embark his fortune In the enterprise.
Six large vessels were speedily equipped,
and three hundred men eagerly Volun-
teered to follow leader already known
for his courage and skill The orders
given by Velasquez to the commander
of the expedition enjoined it upon him
to deal gently and literally with the
Mexicans, since the grand objects in
view were, frst, and above all, to convert
them to Christianity; secondly, to open
with them peaceful, honest commerce {;
and, lastly, to get speh a knowledge of
the country and its waters as would be
OF use to future naYigators. He was
directed, however, to impress upon the
Mexicans a lofty idea of the goodness
and greatness of the King of Spain, to
invite them to conciliate that monarch
by presents of gold and pearls, and
acknowledge him as their sovereign lord.
When the feet was ready to sail,
Velasquez awOke to the danger of trust
ing with an important, independent COM
mand, man SO ambitious and resolute
as Cortez, and he determined to remove
him. Cortez, notified in time, hurried
on board, raised his anchors, and put to
sea; SO that when Velasquez ran down
to the beach at the dawn of day, Novem-
Der IL, 1913, to execute his intentions, he
saw the feet standing out to sea, beyond
the reach of his orders.
Touching at several places on his way
for recruits, Cortez found himself, five
months after, near the port now named
Vera Cruz, with one hundred and ten
sailors, five hundred and fifty-three sol
dlers, and two hundred Indians, fourteen
pieces of artillery, and sixteen horses.
D1semDark1ng, ne estab blished himself In
an entrenched camp, and opened rela-
tions with the Cacique of the district,
who treated the strangers with the
utmost hospitality. Their first interview
began with the celebration of the Mass.
after which Cortez invited the Cacique
and his attendants to collation., which,
being ended, eoversion began. Having
learned from the Cacique that MOntezu-
ma, the king of the country, resided at
great city two hundred miles distant,
Cortez asked permission to visit him, to
which the Cacique replied that he would
send his request to the king. A week
after the messengers returned, bearing
to the Spaniards magnificent presents,
and message from Montezuma, declin-
ing the profered visit A second request
ELECTED other costly gifts, and a positive
order from the king for the strangers
not to approach the capital.
C0rtez hesitated not moment. Feign-
ing submission, he prepared at once to
march to Mexico. Some of his followers,
however, not as bold as himself, muir
INJURED, and plotted against him. Then
1t was that, besides repressing the
mutiny with the strong hand, he resolved
to make all turning back impossible.
He caused all his vessels, except the
smallest, to be scuttled and sunk. From
that hour, there was no safety except in
the total conquest of the country. Leav-
ing at Vera Cruz sufficient garrison, he
began his immortal march, August 16,
1913, with the following forces four
hundred foot soldiers, fifteen hOrsemen,
thirteen hundred Indian warriors, one
thousand Indians to draw the cannOns
and carry the baggage, and seven pieces
of artillery.
To relate the conquest of Mexico
requires volumes. That great empire fell,
like Peru, because it was divided against
itself. At what an enormous sacrifice Of
life the conquest was made, what perils
Cortez escaped, what an amazing energy
and genius he displayed, how much wis
dom and humanity were united in him
with bigotry and cruelty-to know these
things, the reader must repair to one of
the many works which relate the con-
quest of Mexico.
For twenty-one years, if We deduct
one short, triumphal visit to Spain,
Cortez lived in Mexico, and for Mexico,
fighting, organizing, governing, explor-
ing, eVangelizing. He explored the
Isthmus of Darien, and discovered Cal
ifornia. He acquired incaleulable wealth,
and expended the greater part of it in
explorations and blishments, from
which he neither received nor expected
any return. Falling into disfavor with
the king, he returned to Spain, and, after
living in obscurity for seven years, died
in 1547, aged sixty-two years. He left
large sums for the establishment in
Mexico of three great institutions, a
hospital, college for the education of
missionaries, and convent. His will
contained one passage so curious that we
will conclude by copying it. After
recommending his heirs to treat the
Indians with humanity, he proceeds
thus -
at has been long a question whether
we can, in good conscience, hold the
Indians in slavery. This question not
having yet been decided, order my son,
Martin, and his heirs, to spare no pains
to arrive at knowledge of the truth on
this point, for it is a matter which
interests deeply their conscience and
mine"
Who would have thought to find such
a passage in the will of Cortez2 Moth
ing is more certain than this, that Cortez,
in all that he did in Mexico, fully
believed that he was an instrument in
the hands of benevolent God; for he
found Mexico Pagan, and left it Catholic.
Massacre, rapine, devastation, the be-
trayal and murder of king, the fall of
an empire-these were as nothing in
view of result like this So thought