Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-03-25
HISTORIC CHARACTERS.
A New Mexican Correspondent Button.
holes a Notable Parsonage and
Secures Readable
Column.
The GaIlegos Family-Gen. Prices
Invasion and the Action Of GOV.
Armijo Scenes in
the Historic Capital.
Correspondence New Mexican

WV 49, Ala A'AhiNh @tt cN'
At Ell Rito had the pleasure Of meeting
the Hon. Pablo Gallegos and his esti-
mable wife, Dona Manuelita, sister of
Mrs. Gaspar Ortiz, of Santa Fe. This
gentleman is hf7toricsl figure in this
territory. Both he and his wife have
reached a ripe old age and yet they are 80
well preserved that some Of their children
look older than they. At the breaking
out OF the Mexican, war Mr.. Gallegos was
already prominent man in this country.
He was at thSt time Judge Of
the district OF the north, the
country now embraced in the coun-
ties Of Rio Arribs, San Juan, Taos and
a good slice Of Colorado. He related to
me the proceedings of a very interesting
meeting held at Santa Fe when it was
definitely ascertained that the American
troops were actually marching toward
New Mexico. Don. Manuel Armijo was
at that time the governor OF New Mexico,
and at his command all the alcaldes or
judges Of the territory met in the capital
for the purpose OF discussing ways and
means Of defending the country against
the invading army. There were at the
time two prominent young lawyers IN
Santa Fe from Chihuahua they were on
visit to the governor, one Of them was
Palacios, a bright and handsome young
fellow. The meeting was held in the re-
ception room of the old palace. Gov.
Armijo explained to those present that
he had called them for the purpose of
comforting with them as to the best
means of defending the country against
the American army which, he explained,
was rapidly approaching this province.
The first pan who got up to express his
views wssSPadre Leyba, q Catholic priest
from the department OF Ell Bsdo. He
was then all old man, and one of the
most sensible and prominent men OF his
day. lie made 4 conservative speech in
which he stated that the people Of New
ltA.SO NSlC NV III . to.lOltiol W bdhC
any kind OF defense against such pow
erfnl nation as ..the United States. He
stated that he Was familiar with all sec
tions Of the territory and knew that if an
army was to be raised it would have to be
armed with bows and arrows and clubs
and very few flint lock guns, and that
such all army would make comparatively
no defense whatever against an army we'll
equipped. Young Palacios, foil OF the
enthusiasm OF youth, then replied to Padre
Leyba, and in grandiloquent words
denounced any Mexican who dared to
express such sentiments as unworthy Of
being called Mexican. He said it was
the duty OF every man to enlist, armed as
best be could, to meet the enemy OF his
country. The majority oil the meeting,
carried away by the magnetism OF
Palacio, decided that it was the duty Of
the governor to gather the people and
march to the front to meet the American
army. When the alcsldes returned to
their respective districts they at once
proceeded to organizes companies COM
posed OF all able bodied men. These
companies from all over the territory
were sent to the capital, and from there
marched to Canoncito. At this point
Governor Armijo appeared in the fall
dress uniform of general OF the Mexican
army and reviewed his troops. He was
struck with dismay when he said that he
had an army without arms. The people
were poor and had very scanty supply OF
provisions, and but few had any fire
arms at all. The governor then became
convinced that Padre Leyba had told
the truth at the junta, and it would
be ridiculous to attempt to meet the army
OF one of the most civilized and most
powerful nations with the material he
had. Convinced that it would be useless
to sacrifice his men, he disbanded them
and ordered them to return to their re.
spective homes, which they did. He
himself returned to his beloved capita
and after an affectionate adieu to hit
comadre, Dona Tula, he left for the south
ern part of the territory and took up biI
home in Limitar, near Socorro, where ht
died few years afterward.
The American army then entered Sant'
Fe without the necessity Of spilling droI
of blood. Many prominent men il
various sections Of the territory attributed
Armijo's action to cowardice, and the.
determined to form revolution in orde
to drive the Americans out OF the country
In this revolution the Pueblo Indian
were to take hand. Not long after
Governor Bent was killed in Taos, AM
active preparations for an attack wer
going on in different sections. As
usually happens on such occasions, one O
the conspirators, resident Of Santa Fe
gave the secret away to Gen. Sterlin
Price. Acting upon this information TIA
general had number Of prominent Mex
cans placed under arrest. One Of tn
prisoners, as he was being led from L
Fonda to prison, was permitted to ste
into the store of Mr.. Scully, under som
pretext, and thers he left the origins
paper containing the plan of the con