Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-05

this territory under Spain, Mexico and
the United States, until this day. when
I, as governor, formally abandoned the
same, and took up my quarters here;
and for the last time the old palace in
Santa Fe has sheltered the chief exec
of this great territory, but it's his
toric associations will always remain.
1t vas in that building that the vice
captains general and governors OF
Spain and Mexico issued their edicts
and governed the people, levied war
upon the Indians and sent out expedi-
lions in search Of new lands to conquer.
1t was there that the Taos Indian gov
ernor, for a brief period, assumed 70 act
as governor until he was shot in the
plaza by order Of Governor Armljo, the
last Of the Mexican governors. There
Colonel Zebulon Pike was confined as
a prisoner Of var on his expedition into
northern New Mexico (now Colorado),
bears his name. The New Mexico leg
islature, after the conquest, sat with
in its historic walls for many years, and
the supreme court had its room in the
west end of the building for a number
Of sessions.
This old, historic building, full of
memories and associations Of the past,
is now the property of the territory, by
donation from congress-, and in the
glory of the new we should not forget
the Did. The legislature should deal
kindly with this old building by keep
ing it in proper repair and preservation,
as one of the most interesting land
marks Of this ancient city Of the holy
faith.
The rebuilding board and the super
vising architect have builded we'll. and
upon you, gentlemen Of the capitol GUS
todian committee, now devolves the du-
ty and great responsibility Of caring for
and preserving this public property. In
the discharge Of your duties you should
be guided by nothing, in the selection
Of employees and assistants, except Ca
pacity and fidelity, as the responsibility
is too great to be intrusted to any ex-
cept those who are honest, sober and
capable.
With perfect confidence in your abil-
ity and desire to preserve this beautiful
structure in the same condition that 1t
has come to you, I, as governor Of New
Mnvioo nm haho1f of TIC naon1o Uh0
have reared this beautiful edifice, turn
it over to your are and keeping and
deliver you its keys as guardians of this
monument to the liberal and progress
sive spirit Of our people.
The Capitol Custodians.
Hon. George H. Wallace, territorial
secretary and head of the capitol Gus
todian commission, formally accepted
the building.
The secretary reviewed the his
tory Of the capitol custodian board
from the time it was appointed or Feb
ruary rs, 1891, until the present. The
burning of the old capitol was referred
to, as we'll as the fact that an investi-
cation proved that the board had not
been to blame for the destruction OF
the building by fire. In behalf of the
committee he accepted the custody OF
the building, and promised to guard 1t
from destruction, to protect 1t from dis
figurement, to prepare and keep it at all
times in such order and condition for
use by the people and their represent
atives as may be right and necessary
and he hoped hat when they turned II
over to their successors 1t will look as
we'll and be in as good condition as 1t Is
at the present time.
He referred to the important duty OF
archivists, which falls upon the custo-
dian committee, and that the capitol Is
the depository Of the official records OF
the territorial government. In conclu-
sion he said:
Our right to life, liberty and posses
sion depends upon public opinion. and
c%rystalized public opinion is law; there
fore, our security Of to-day rests upon
the preservation Of what has been, and
our security in the future will depend
upon our preservation of what is to-
day. 1t is for this purpose these depos-
itories have been built, and the people
Of New Mexico are to be congratulated
that the architect and the rebuilding
board have striven and succeeded sc
we'll in giving US protection for our rec
ords, waterproof, fire-proof, and as
nearly indestructible as skill and care
could make them. To the end that this
building may be preserved, the capitol
custodian committee invoke the aid and
support Of every man. woman n chile
in the territory. 1t is your building, and
your share may be represented by only
one brick Of it's walls, but, il each one
should appropriate his share there
would be no building left. We ask that
each citizen protect his own by defend
ing the whole structure.
"San Augustine is only a memory,
but Santa Fe Is the living embodiment
of the earliest settlements of modern
civilization within the limits Of the
United States, and standing four square
in the midst Of this city Of the holy
faith Is this beautiful building, testify