Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-10-03
DELEGATE YEARS AGO.
New Mexico Represented By Col, J,
Francisco ChaveS In Con-
gTeSS,
IT WAS FORTY YEARS AGO.

The central hgure IN TINS chapter
OF the official history OF the territory
of New Mexico. was Colonel J Fran
cisco Chaves, the present territorial
superintendent OF puJlic instruction,
and the veteran member of the coun-
ell OF the legislative assembly from
Valencia county, who has nine times
held the presidency of that body
held the presidency OF that body, says
Hunter James, in the New Mexican.
Colonel Chaves was elected as dele
gate from the territory of New Mexi-
co TO the Thirty.ninth congress In the
fall of 1860, Just at the close OF the
civil war. Prior to this, he had been
a member OF the house of representa-
tlves OF the legislative assembly In
isb0.B1. and at the outbreak of the
civil war was commissioned major
OF the First New Mexico volunteer
cavalry. by the first martyred pest.
dent. Abraham Lincoln. and Secre-
tary OF War Cameron.
Colonel Chayos was subsequently
promoted to the rank OF lieutenant
colonel Of his regiment which con.
sisted OF Twelve companies, the total
strength OF the organization t2lng ov-
or 200. He and his regiment partic.
ipated in the battles of Valverde and
Peralta. and also in the skirmish at
Albuquerque.
Upon his return to civil life in 1864
he was considered as a desirable dele
gate 20 represent the territory in the
lower house of congress and at the
convention which was held on April
lE, 1865. the day that President Lin
coin died, he received the nomination
as delegate from his Republican fol-
lowers and supporters.
Inc life of Colonel Chaves as dele
gate to congress from New Mexico,
which was during the reconstruction
period was an arduous ono. The dele
gates from the territories at that time
were on none OF the committees.
while today the territories are repre-
scented on the committees on appro-
priations, Indian affairs, territorial al
fairs and military
/ ne ltElHldllOu uhlluN NuH NAlNg
ninth. Fortieth and Forty-first con-
crosses. during which period Colonel
Chaves represented New Mexico as
its delegate, was all directed to re-
construction. Congress was settling
the financial affairs OF the country.
disenarglng volunteers and reorgan-
izing the army. and with the immense
war debt money was not available
for appropriations save for any spec.
| la purpose and the actual require
ments OF the territorial government.
AT the same time Colonel ,Aaves
as delegate was confronted by q
| LARGE number OF merltorious officers
who had done gooa service during
the civil war, and whom the govern
ment desired to reward This result
ed in their being appointed govern
ors. secretaries and ofilce-holders in
| the territories, egardless OF the fact
of their being non-residents. For ex
ample. General II. b. Mitchell OF Kan
sas was appointed governor of New
Mexico; General George Z. Estes Of
Chic. received the secretaryship
while the United States marshal was
captain John Pratt of Massachusetts
who had been aide on the staff o.
General Mitchell during the war. AnC
SO on, All down along the line, th'
appointments were maze.
To attempt to get an appropriation
for a road or anything else In the ter
ritory, Colonel Chaves had simply tn,
privilege of Introducing the bill, TO
1t died in committee During .A'
Thlrty-ninth congress he introduced
an enabling act, granting to New
Mexico the sovereignty of statehood
1t received favorable report from tn
committee on territorial affairs, bu
was never taken up in the lowe
house OF congress
In the Fortieth congress, Colone
Chaves only succeeded In obtainin
the right to his seat as delegate L
New Mexico, eleven days before &C
iournment, having contested Charlie
4. Clever, who received the certificat
as the result of fraudulent vote.
During the Forty-hrst congress
] NNlOHNl NuaNNN AN'AAAipANAtu an u
abling act lor statehood for New Mel
: leo. ~ went in turn TO the commi
! tee on territorial affairs. of which tn
present United States senator froI
Illinois. Mr.. Cullom. was chairman
= This biu was also reported favorabl
1 hut no action was taken IN the hous
The anti-peonage law was passe
!. during the Thirty.nintn congress, pu
4 suant to bill introduced by Colon'
: Chayes. which was first passed In II
senate on the endorsement of Sen
!. tor Henry Wilson of Massachusetts
r and received favorable action In II
n lower house near the close of the Sc
> slons.
/, Colonel Chaves was nominated
serve as delegate in the Forty-secor
- congress, but owing To the doub
a dealing OF political opponents he W;
defeated by !. NJ Gallegos, the Gem
cratic nominee. Major j. ID. Sen
:, now deceased, who was a member
the republican convention that non
mated Colonel Chaves, made a spec,
before that convention in which
!. declared he would support the repu
= lican candidate. Notwithstanuii
> tnis two weeks after the conventi'