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Padre Martinez to Governor James S. Calhoun-March 12, 1852
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Friday, March 14, 2008
2:15:00 PM EDT
INTRODUCTION
Padre Martinez, on his own behalf and on behalf of ten other citizens of Taos and its environs in the early spring of 1852 wrote this letter to Governor James S. Calhoun, asking for his mediation in resolving land conflicts with American squatters on their common grazing pastures.
This Calhoun is not to be confused with contemporary and prominent politician from South Carolina John C. Calhoun. James Calhoun was was also from the South, but from Gerogia. He was in the state legislature of Georgia in 1830, and, beginning in 1838, served a two year term as mayor of Columbus, Georgia. He was in the U.S.-MEXICAN War, and later appointed as NM Secretary of Indian Affairs. In 1850, when he was 47, President Millard Filmore appointed him as Governor of the Territory of New Mexico. Because of illness, he served in that post for only two years, and by late spring 1852, within a short time after Padre Martinez and the ten others sent to the governor the letter below, Governor Calhoun retired from politics because of ill health, and returned to his home in Georgia. Colonel E.V. Sumner succeded him in the interim before Governor Lane took over.
Governor James S. Calhoun had high regard for Padre Martinez. Under his Governor's watch, New Mexico became of age as a Territory of the United States. In his letter of April 20, 1851 to Padre Martinez, Gov. Calhoun asked him to join his friend and confidant George Gould in selecting five Senators for NM and five Representatives to serve in the House of Representatives for the County of Taos. Calhoun recognized Martinez as "intelligent...wise...learned...of broad experience..." and therefore well qualified for the task. The final paragraph of that letter [quoted in the 1877 Valdez Biography] seems to be more than politics as usual, and reflects the Governor's warm relationship with the priest of Taos:
"I ask all of this from you in the name of the people. I will also say that I would be very glad if I can be of any service to you and to your friends. I insist on making my house your headquarters during your stay in Santa Fe. Please have the kindness of writing to me as often as you may deem convenient."
Within a year, Padre Martinez--in this letter that follows---would test the sincerity of those sentiments. However, because of his illness, Governor Calhoun was not able to follow through in a way that would have pleased Padre Martinez and his fellow citizens of Taos.
The ten signatories who joined Padre Martinez in signing the letter were mostly related to him. Vicente Martinez, well versed in these matters, informs me of the following:
a. José María Martínez – Taos Probate Judge who signed the “dote,” [i.e. the generous dowry of property (including a part of his own house) that Padre Martinez left for his daugher María de la Luz Romero, married to another signer, José Manuel Martínez].
b. Ignacio Valdez – The man who raised Santiago Valdez [putative son of the Padre, and author of his 1877 biography manuscript found at Huntington Library near L.A.].
c. Pascual Martínez - The Padre’s [favorite and youngest] brother.
d. Pedro Sánchez – Former Taos Probate Judge and Padre Martinez' nephew-in-law, married in 1858 to Pascual's daughter who was the Padre's favorite niece. [Sanchez wrote his Memorias about the Padre that were published in 1901].
Pedo Sanchez signed “Ad Vicula” as his middle name. It refers to a minor basilica in Rome called St. Peter in Chains. Peter was imprisoned both in Jerusalem and later a couple of times in Rome (Acts 5: 18 and 12: 6 & 7). According to a pious legend, the chains from his Jerusalem imprisonment were brought to Rome, and put in the same reliquary with Peter's chains in Rome. When that happened, they fused. A fresco painted in 1706 captures that "miracle" of the fusion of the chains. The basilica is supposed to have been built over an Imperial villa about the year 440, and was renovated in 1875. The feast day of the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains used to be August 1, maybe birthday of Pedro Sanchez.
e. José Manuel Martínez – Husband of María de la Luz Romero [daughter of the Padre, and he presided at their wedding on May 31, 1851--a few weeks before Apostolic Vicar Lamy came to Santa Fe].
The dowry that María de La Luz Romero received from Padre Martinez upon her marriage to José Manuel Martínez insured that she was well provided for, and it spoke of a loving father’s special love for his daughter.
Antonió José Martinez had two prior daughters to whom he had also given the name María de La Luz, but both had died. The first born of 20-year old Antonio José was a legitimate daughter born to his young wife from Abiquiu whose own name was María de La Luz, and her surname was Martín Serrano--a variation of Antonio José's family name. This baby daughter was named María de La Luz after her mother, but this daughter died at the tender age of 12.
Theodora Romero bore a daughter from Padre Martinez who was also named María de La Luz, but this child died in infancy. Theodra bore Padre Martinez a third daughter named María de La Luz, and providentially this one lived to be married and beyond. It is to her that Padre Martinez is so generous in the dowry given.
In the dowry that Padre Martinez bestowed to María de La Luz Romero for her wedding, he gve a house 18 x 28 varas (a vara is 3” shy of a yard) contiguous to his own home at the Taos Plaza. They both shared a common courtyard, a spacious back yard, and she had a land-moat of 30 varas surrounding her house furnished with quality furniture and a set of silver cutlery.
In addition, Padre Martinez bestowed to María de La Luz a large room of 16 varas at his other house at Rancho of La Purísima Concepción in El Prado. Moreover, he gave her one hundred square varas surrounding that land,--almost the size of a football field. [Summary of findings in unpublished translation of Dowry of María de La Luz Romero by Vicente Martinez.]
f. Santiago de Jesús Valdez - A son of Padre Martinez.
______
Taos
March 12, 1852
The Honorable James S. Calhoun
Governor, Territory of New Mexico
My Dear Sir:
I am drafting again the letter that eleven of us landowners and citizens of Taos signed in which we requested the right to continue to use for grazing parcels from our ranches that without dispute we have always enjoyed in common. We are enduring “repulsions,” as one document mentioned, and we will make the most of our request so that within those boundaries that we set we can and will be able to freely sustain grazing lands and prevent others from taking it away for themselves.
We have the disposition to bring this matter to the appropriate levels of government whenever it determines the value of the properties, or decides to purchase them, paying whatever price is assigned to the contiguous piece of [grazing/pasturing] land that will be worth more than those lands that remain excluded from such uses. The [newly purchased] lands will then be subject to the land owners.
I hope--and so do the undersigned associates who sign this letter--that in response to its indicated objectives, the liberality of Your Excellency will serve to decree affirmatively on our behalf.
I wish to inquire about the state of Your Excellency's health, since it is said that you have been somewhat ill. I wish you the best of health and the full recovery that my friendly affection desires.
Most fondly, your servant who attentively kisses your hand,
Antonio Jose Martinez
AJM-52Mar12-Land-2ndTry
Taos
March 12, 1852
His Excellency, Don James S. Calhoun
Governor of this Territory of New Mexico
We residents of Taos County present ourselves before Your Excellency in proper form, since the poor have the right to a forum in which to represent and state their necessities. We find ourselves in the need to graze our livestock, insofar as we have been repelled from various points by Americans squatting on our land, and we have come to the conclusion that that they intend to occupy it and take over certain grounds so they may graze [their own livestock] behind our homes on land that we own in the area of Taos, above and within the following boundaries:
On the south, the complete flow of the Rio de Coyote,
On the east, the line of Don Manuel Alvarez about [above?] Ocaté,
On the west, the Little House of Stones, and
On the north, the Lakes of Moreno.
These are for the summer months, but in the months ofwinter, it is necessary to move [the animals] away from the high country. Those insufferable difficulties of the cold and snow make it impossible for anyone to work in the haciendas of the high mountains.
We would like to talk about a moderate region, and we also hope to occupy and enjoy the meadows that are to the sides of the Rio del Coyote, away from one place that they call Gua[da]lupitas, The borders are as follows:
On the east, with the little hills of the Santa Claras [Wagon Mound],
On the west, El Valle del Turquillo whose surrounding hills embrace the mountains of Taos,
On the south, the place called the Cave of the Fishermen, and
On the north, with the regions of Ocaté that was a gift to Don Manuel Alvarez.
The undersigned petitioners place this concern before Your Excellency for those reasons set forth, and in this way they attempt to use such lands for grazing—because it is the only thing it is good for. We are subject to the conditions that the government may impose whenever it may dispose of those lands.
So that this petition be certified, this will be decreed.
Therefore, we beg Your Excellency, to give careful consideration to our request, and I have good hope that you will accede to it. We swear in good faith, and ______ whatever may be necessary [to accomplish it?].
Antonio Jose Martinez
Cristobal Sanches
Juan de Jesus Mares
Jose Maria Martinez
Jose Manuel Martines
Pedro Ad Vincula Sanchez
Ignacio Valdez
Juan Manuel Lucero
Simon Lino Trujillo
Pascual Martinez
Santiago de J. Valdes
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2:15:00 PM EDT
Padre Martinez to Governor James S. Calhoun-March 12, 1852
INTRODUCTION
Padre Martinez, on his own behalf and on behalf of ten other citizens of Taos and its environs in the early spring of 1852 wrote this letter to Governor James S. Calhoun, asking for his mediation in resolving land conflicts with American squatters on their common grazing pastures.
This Calhoun is not to be confused with contemporary and prominent politician from South Carolina John C. Calhoun. James Calhoun was was also from the South, but from Gerogia. He was in the state legislature of Georgia in 1830, and, beginning in 1838, served a two year term as mayor of Columbus, Georgia. He was in the U.S.-MEXICAN War, and later appointed as NM Secretary of Indian Affairs. In 1850, when he was 47, President Millard Filmore appointed him as Governor of the Territory of New Mexico. Because of illness, he served in that post for only two years, and by late spring 1852, within a short time after Padre Martinez and the ten others sent to the governor the letter below, Governor Calhoun retired from politics because of ill health, and returned to his home in Georgia. Colonel E.V. Sumner succeded him in the interim before Governor Lane took over.
Governor James S. Calhoun had high regard for Padre Martinez. Under his Governor's watch, New Mexico became of age as a Territory of the United States. In his letter of April 20, 1851 to Padre Martinez, Gov. Calhoun asked him to join his friend and confidant George Gould in selecting five Senators for NM and five Representatives to serve in the House of Representatives for the County of Taos. Calhoun recognized Martinez as "intelligent...wise...learned...of broad experience..." and therefore well qualified for the task. The final paragraph of that letter [quoted in the 1877 Valdez Biography] seems to be more than politics as usual, and reflects the Governor's warm relationship with the priest of Taos:
"I ask all of this from you in the name of the people. I will also say that I would be very glad if I can be of any service to you and to your friends. I insist on making my house your headquarters during your stay in Santa Fe. Please have the kindness of writing to me as often as you may deem convenient."
Within a year, Padre Martinez--in this letter that follows---would test the sincerity of those sentiments. However, because of his illness, Governor Calhoun was not able to follow through in a way that would have pleased Padre Martinez and his fellow citizens of Taos.
The ten signatories who joined Padre Martinez in signing the letter were mostly related to him. Vicente Martinez, well versed in these matters, informs me of the following:
a. José María Martínez – Taos Probate Judge who signed the “dote,” [i.e. the generous dowry of property (including a part of his own house) that Padre Martinez left for his daugher María de la Luz Romero, married to another signer, José Manuel Martínez].
b. Ignacio Valdez – The man who raised Santiago Valdez [putative son of the Padre, and author of his 1877 biography manuscript found at Huntington Library near L.A.].
c. Pascual Martínez - The Padre’s [favorite and youngest] brother.
d. Pedro Sánchez – Former Taos Probate Judge and Padre Martinez' nephew-in-law, married in 1858 to Pascual's daughter who was the Padre's favorite niece. [Sanchez wrote his Memorias about the Padre that were published in 1901].
Pedo Sanchez signed “Ad Vicula” as his middle name. It refers to a minor basilica in Rome called St. Peter in Chains. Peter was imprisoned both in Jerusalem and later a couple of times in Rome (Acts 5: 18 and 12: 6 & 7). According to a pious legend, the chains from his Jerusalem imprisonment were brought to Rome, and put in the same reliquary with Peter's chains in Rome. When that happened, they fused. A fresco painted in 1706 captures that "miracle" of the fusion of the chains. The basilica is supposed to have been built over an Imperial villa about the year 440, and was renovated in 1875. The feast day of the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains used to be August 1, maybe birthday of Pedro Sanchez.
e. José Manuel Martínez – Husband of María de la Luz Romero [daughter of the Padre, and he presided at their wedding on May 31, 1851--a few weeks before Apostolic Vicar Lamy came to Santa Fe].
The dowry that María de La Luz Romero received from Padre Martinez upon her marriage to José Manuel Martínez insured that she was well provided for, and it spoke of a loving father’s special love for his daughter.
Antonió José Martinez had two prior daughters to whom he had also given the name María de La Luz, but both had died. The first born of 20-year old Antonio José was a legitimate daughter born to his young wife from Abiquiu whose own name was María de La Luz, and her surname was Martín Serrano--a variation of Antonio José's family name. This baby daughter was named María de La Luz after her mother, but this daughter died at the tender age of 12.
Theodora Romero bore a daughter from Padre Martinez who was also named María de La Luz, but this child died in infancy. Theodra bore Padre Martinez a third daughter named María de La Luz, and providentially this one lived to be married and beyond. It is to her that Padre Martinez is so generous in the dowry given.
In the dowry that Padre Martinez bestowed to María de La Luz Romero for her wedding, he gve a house 18 x 28 varas (a vara is 3” shy of a yard) contiguous to his own home at the Taos Plaza. They both shared a common courtyard, a spacious back yard, and she had a land-moat of 30 varas surrounding her house furnished with quality furniture and a set of silver cutlery.
In addition, Padre Martinez bestowed to María de La Luz a large room of 16 varas at his other house at Rancho of La Purísima Concepción in El Prado. Moreover, he gave her one hundred square varas surrounding that land,--almost the size of a football field. [Summary of findings in unpublished translation of Dowry of María de La Luz Romero by Vicente Martinez.]
f. Santiago de Jesús Valdez - A son of Padre Martinez.
______
Taos
March 12, 1852
The Honorable James S. Calhoun
Governor, Territory of New Mexico
My Dear Sir:
I am drafting again the letter that eleven of us landowners and citizens of Taos signed in which we requested the right to continue to use for grazing parcels from our ranches that without dispute we have always enjoyed in common. We are enduring “repulsions,” as one document mentioned, and we will make the most of our request so that within those boundaries that we set we can and will be able to freely sustain grazing lands and prevent others from taking it away for themselves.
We have the disposition to bring this matter to the appropriate levels of government whenever it determines the value of the properties, or decides to purchase them, paying whatever price is assigned to the contiguous piece of [grazing/pasturing] land that will be worth more than those lands that remain excluded from such uses. The [newly purchased] lands will then be subject to the land owners.
I hope--and so do the undersigned associates who sign this letter--that in response to its indicated objectives, the liberality of Your Excellency will serve to decree affirmatively on our behalf.
I wish to inquire about the state of Your Excellency's health, since it is said that you have been somewhat ill. I wish you the best of health and the full recovery that my friendly affection desires.
Most fondly, your servant who attentively kisses your hand,
Antonio Jose Martinez
AJM-52Mar12-Land-2ndTry
Taos
March 12, 1852
His Excellency, Don James S. Calhoun
Governor of this Territory of New Mexico
We residents of Taos County present ourselves before Your Excellency in proper form, since the poor have the right to a forum in which to represent and state their necessities. We find ourselves in the need to graze our livestock, insofar as we have been repelled from various points by Americans squatting on our land, and we have come to the conclusion that that they intend to occupy it and take over certain grounds so they may graze [their own livestock] behind our homes on land that we own in the area of Taos, above and within the following boundaries:
On the south, the complete flow of the Rio de Coyote,
On the east, the line of Don Manuel Alvarez about [above?] Ocaté,
On the west, the Little House of Stones, and
On the north, the Lakes of Moreno.
These are for the summer months, but in the months ofwinter, it is necessary to move [the animals] away from the high country. Those insufferable difficulties of the cold and snow make it impossible for anyone to work in the haciendas of the high mountains.
We would like to talk about a moderate region, and we also hope to occupy and enjoy the meadows that are to the sides of the Rio del Coyote, away from one place that they call Gua[da]lupitas, The borders are as follows:
On the east, with the little hills of the Santa Claras [Wagon Mound],
On the west, El Valle del Turquillo whose surrounding hills embrace the mountains of Taos,
On the south, the place called the Cave of the Fishermen, and
On the north, with the regions of Ocaté that was a gift to Don Manuel Alvarez.
The undersigned petitioners place this concern before Your Excellency for those reasons set forth, and in this way they attempt to use such lands for grazing—because it is the only thing it is good for. We are subject to the conditions that the government may impose whenever it may dispose of those lands.
So that this petition be certified, this will be decreed.
Therefore, we beg Your Excellency, to give careful consideration to our request, and I have good hope that you will accede to it. We swear in good faith, and ______ whatever may be necessary [to accomplish it?].
Antonio Jose Martinez
Cristobal Sanches
Juan de Jesus Mares
Jose Maria Martinez
Jose Manuel Martines
Pedro Ad Vincula Sanchez
Ignacio Valdez
Juan Manuel Lucero
Simon Lino Trujillo
Pascual Martinez
Santiago de J. Valdes
Written by juanrvi Blog about this entry |
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