The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-11
WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE Gov

reasons why war between the two powers
is likely to occur in the near future.
WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE Gov
ERNED.
The conquest of New Mexico by the mill
tary forces of the United States engaged
in war with Mexico was made-in 1886 Un-
der instructions from President Polk. Gen.
eral Kearney organized a civil government
for the occupied territory and appointed
civil officers. The sovereignty of the
United States was extended over New
Mexico without consulting the inhabitants.
If the consent of the governed" or those
about to be governed. had been asked they
would have refused it by a unanimous
voice. In fact, so bitterly opposed to the
authority of the United States were the
residents that they formed a conspiracy
to overthrow it. On the night of Jan. Is,
1S47. the conspirators surprised the fed
eral authorities in the town of San Fer
nando de Tayos and assassinated the Gov
ernor, the sheriff and other officials and
American citizens. as we'll as natives sup
porting the United States. Americans were
murdered in other towns. What followed
is told in statement regarding the in
surrection In New Mexico and California,
sent to the Senate by Secretary Root, as
follows:
Col. Sterling Price was then commander
of the army of New Mexico, with head
quarters at Santa Fe. He learned of the
uprising and attendant atrocities on Jan.
20, 1S47, and that the army of insurrec-
ton was marching toward Santa Fe:
He took prompt and vigorous action, and
marched out to meet the insurgents with
force of about 400 men. There were many
serious and sanguinary engagements, but
the enemy was no sooner dislodged from
one position than 1t took refuge in another,
and maintained a determined resistance
throughout. The losses were heavy on both
sides. Owing to the mountainous character
OF the country, and the fact that the cam
paign took place in the winter time, the
American forces suffered many hardships
before reaching the town OF San Fernando
de Tayos, where the Governor and party
had been fouIly ssassinated. A particu-
1arly severe engagement occurred at the
nearby town of Pueblo de Tayos, which
had been strongly fortified. The insurgents
took position in a large church. which they
had pierced with embrasures for rifles.
The Americans battered the church and
walls for two hours without effect, and
were compelled to retreat to Fernando. On
newed the assault, but the artillery fire
seemed to have no effect on the church
walls. Ladders were then made and holes
cut in the walls with axes, through which
the soldiers. with their hands. threw fire
and lighted shells into the interior. An
other assault was made on the church door,
which again failed, with loss The artil-
lery was then brought up TO within sixty
yards, and after ten rounds had been fired
one of the holes which had been cut with
the axes was widened to a practicable
breach, through which a storming party
entered dislodged the enemy and took pos
session of the church. The next morning
the enemy surrendered. The loss sustained
by them was about $50 killed. The number
of wounded was not known. The American
loss in killed and wounded was hfty-two.
Every town and village in eastern New
Mexico, except two. declared in favor of
instruction and murdered many Amer
leans. At that time New Mexico was
distant from any considerable force of
troops, counting time. as are the Philip
pines now, consequently it was not until
July, 1s47, that this general insurrection of
the natives of New Mexico was suppressed.
Congress heard of the troubles. and in July,
1S4s, the House asked President Polk for
information regarding the existence of civil
government in New Mexico and California,
where similar instruction by the nom
conserving governed had been quelled, the
form and character of that government.
by whom instituted and by what authority
persons had been tried and condemned for
treason against the United States in New
Mexico. President Polk. Democrat, replied
to the inquiry Immediately in a message
in which he discussed the character of the
military government, taking the broad
position that such a government may ex-
ercise 1.-The fullest rights of sovereignty"
thereby explaining the action of the mill
tary authorities in suppressing the insur-
rection. In answer to the inquiry relative
to condemning persons for treason Presi-
dent Polk said that persons were tried and
punished. Other reports show that twenty
persons were condemned by court-martial
and executed. In Volume of Mes
sages and Documents of the Presidents.
Page 1884, will be found President Folks
is one sentence:
III not a Dollar cOulQ De redllzeQ from the
sale of these lands New Mexico], the ces-
sion of the Jurisdiction over the country
and the fact that il has become a part of
cur Union and cannot be made subject TO
any European power constitute ample Gin
demnity for the past" in the immense value
and advantage which its acquisition must
give to the commercial navigating, manu-
featuring and agricultural interests of our
country.
No word here about the consent of the
natives of New Mexico being necessary as
a prerequisite to governing them On the
contrary. for opposing government without
their consent leaders were tried by a mill
tary court and shot. The House making
this inquiry of President Polk was con-
trolled by the Wings. and Abraham Lin
coin was a member. Many of it's members
were opposed to the war with Mexico, and
several were eager champions OF liberty
as Edward Atkinson. Senator Pettigrew or
Mr.. Frank Burke. but none of these men
opposing the Polk administration. not even
Abraham Lincoln, protested because New
Mexico and California were put under the
sovereignty OF the United States without
the consent of the governed"
Among the details of the Republican ma
tional convention already settled are that