Miss Benjamin

Joaquín H. Domínguez, a.l.s. to Don Antonio Ochoa, Hidalgo, 9 January 1866.

Señor Licenciado Don Antonio Ochoa

Hidalgo Enero 9 de 1866

Muy apreciable amigo y Señor

Los adjuntos documentos manifestaran á V. la creacion del nuevo departamento de Batopilas y que una serie de circunstancias ha venido á colocarme al frente de su gobierno interior, aunque interinamente.

Sean cuales fueran las ideas y convicciones en politica, V. comprendrá que era imposible existir en el estado natural y sin una social cualquiera que sea que garantizase por lo menos nuestras personas y nuestros intereses, espuestos ya no menos en la Ciudad que en los Caminos.

Partiendo de esta base, de la ocupacion del ejercito frances, de la discordia y desaparicion del gobiernon del Señor Juarez desde el 30 de Noviembre ultimo, sin que exista otro constituido dentro del territorio nacional; y de otras muchas causas y razones que no se ocultan a todo mejicano, yo no pude racionalmente escusarme ante las repetidas indicaciones de mis amigos y sobre todo ante la formal expresion de los deceos del Señor Comandante militar Superior del Departmento, y este motivo poderoso para mi, debera serlo tambien para que mis amigos y las personas ilustradas como V. me dispensen / su cooperacion y apoyo para obtener el resultado que wederá indudablemente en fabor de todos y les dara garantias, sin atender a las ideas politicas y sin que á nadie perjudique su conducta anterior

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para con el Gobierno.

Yo no dudo que comprenderá V. bien la posicion que hoy guardamos, y
que podrá contar en lo sucesivo no solo con los consejos, sino con su
amor al órden y su disposicion para conservar la tranquilidad, la paz
y en lo particular la amistad que siempre ha dispensado á su afectisimo
atento servidor

Joaquin H. Domínguez

Miss Benjamin

Joaquín H. Domínguez, a.l.s. to Don Antonio Ochoa, Hidalgo, 8 January
1866

Señor Licentiate Don Antonio Ochoa

Hidalgo 9 January 1866

My very worthy friend,

The attached documents will inform you that the new Department of
Batopilas has been created and that a series of circumstances has occurred
to place me at the head of its internal government, though only for
the time being.

Whatever political ideas and beliefs may prevail, you will appreciate
that it was impossible to exist in a state of nature, and without some
social organization, of whatever nature it might be, that would at
least keep us safe in our persons and our property, now as much endangered
in the city as upon the roads.

Proceeding from this basic belief, from the occupation by the French
Army, from the discord in Señor Juárez' government and from the fact
that from last November 30th it vanished without there being any other
constituted within the territory of the Nation, and from many other
causes and reasons that are not hidden from any Mexican, I could no longer
find any reason to evade the repeated requests of my friends, and above
all the formal expression of his wishes by the Military Commander-in-Chief
in this department, and as this is a powerful inducement to me, it must
likewise be a powerful inducement for my friends and for illustrious
persons like yourself to give me their cooperation and aid to secure

the results which will undoubtedly redound in favor of all, and which
will give them guarantees, without taking notice of political attitudes,
and without anyone being condemned for his previous political conduct
towards the Government.

I have no doubt that you will well appreciate the position in which
we are today, and that I shall in the future be able to depend not only
on your counsel, but on your love for order, and your inclination to
preserve tranquility, peace, and particularly the friendship which you
have always bestowed on your most affectionate and attentive servant

Joaquín H. Domínguez.