San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-15
"reminiscences OF Texas Veteran...The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
pY O. ERHARD.
LXVIII.


The young officers were released
after reaching Chihuhua, and after
ward visited the city of Mexico with
the hope of obtaining redress. They
were unable to effect anything, how
ever they were allowed a hearing
The Texas Expedition to New Mexi-
co began to be agitated, and the
aspect of affairs at Santa Fe was now
too critical for the General Govern
ment to think Of tampering with hel
tyrannical governor.
In his rude palacio in Santa Fe he
is more q despot than anywhere else
maintaining himself proudly, and en-
forcing all the regal homage and
courtly ceremonial exacted by the
veriest tyrant. A guard, musket on
shoulder, marches before the entrance
to his door, denying entrance to all
unless they have first obtained the
the royal permission.
Should his excellency feel in the
humor of walking out, the cry from
the ''centinala" is, "The governor and
commander-in- n-chief appears!" and
this ia echoed and re-echoed from
every guard in and about the bar
racks. When his majesty is in the
street, each dutiful subject takes off
whatever apology for a hat he may
have on his head Should the gov
ernor's wife, gross, brazen-faced
woman, issue from the building, the
form is even more ridiculous, for
then the cry "La gotermadora ! or
"La con,mandante generaIa! resounds
on every side. This woman is con-
tap,inated with every depraved habit
known to human nature; and as her
husband is q debauche by especial
prerogative," she does not scruple to
act as his alcuhuete (his procurer) in
all his amours. In the meantime she
is not without her own lovers, O
couple, truly!
1t is strange how this man has
been able to maintain his despotic
sway among people acknowledg-
ing no law but that Of force. The
are far more dissatisfied
with his administration than they
were with Perez and his cabinet Of
Aureus; yet so far they have dared
to do no more than plot revolutions
against their oppressor. He ccntin-
ues to hold q sway in country where
he has not O real friend upon whom
he can depend even his sycophantic
favorites would prove his bitterest
enemies were he once in adversely.
Could the Texans once have entered
New Mexico, in body, with plenty
of provisions, Armiio would have fled
with his ill-gotten wealth, and the
would have been hailed
by all parties as deliverers.
1 might diversity this hasty bi-
of Don Manuel Armiio, from
the abundant material which 1 have
yet by me unused, with stories Of his
atrocious acts that would bring
blush upon the brow Of tyranny. I
might detail many horrible murders
which he has committed Icould re
late many q thrilling story Of his
abuse Of the rights Of woman, that
would make Saxon hearts burn with
indignant FIRE; for Saxon hearts en-
shrine the mothers Of men. as objects
sacred and apart / might speak Of
his conniving with the Apache Indi-
ans in Their robberies Of his neigh
bors Of TIE State Of Chihuahua. by
furnishing this hardy mountain tnbe
with powder. balls and guns know
ing that they would fail Ike an
eagle, from Their fastnesses. upon his
oun cOuntEyul1 I cculd give q
n-..L.--,-.. - -. r.--.. --Lr-n l..