《personal memoirs-2》

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have him arrested on American soil。  Colonel Sedgwick; commanding at

Brownsville; was now temporary master of Matamoras also; by reason of

having stationed some American troops there for the protection of

neutral merchants; so when Ortega appeared at Brazos; Sedgwick

quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was

turned over to General Escobedo; the authorized representative of

Juarez; then Escobedo took charge; of Ortega; and with ease prevented

his further machinations。



During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying

arms and ammunition to the Liberalssending as many as 30;000

muskets from Baton Rouge Arsenal aloneand by mid…summer Juarez;

having organized a pretty good sized army; was in possession of the

whole line of the Rio Grande; and; in fact; of nearly the whole of

Mexico down to San Louis Potosi。  Then thick and fast came rumors

pointing to the tottering condition of Maximilian's Empire…first;

that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were being fortified; then; that the

French were to be withdrawn; and later came the intelligence that the

Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg assistance from Napoleon; the

author of all of her husband's troubles。  But the situation forced

Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers。  The brokenhearted

woman besought him on her knees; but his fear of losing an army made

all pleadings vain。  In fact; as I ascertained by the following

cablegram which came into my hands; Napoleon's instructions for the

French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic

scene between him and Carlotta。  The despatch was in cipher when I

received it; but was translated by the telegraph operator at my

headquarters; who long before had mastered the key of the French

cipher:



〃PARIS; January 10; 1867。  FRENCH CONSUL; New Orleans; La。



〃To GENERAL CASTELNAU; at Mexico。



〃Received your despatch of the 9th December。  Do not compel the

Emperor to abdicate; but do not delay the departure of the troops;

bring back all those who will not remain there。  Most of the fleet

has left。



〃NAPOLEON。〃





This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French。  The rest of the

storywhich has necessarily been but in outlineis soon told。

Maximilian; though deserted; determined to hold out to the last; and

with the aid of disloyal Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring。

When taken prisoner at Queretaro; he was tried and executed under

circumstances that are well known。  From promptings of humanity

Secretary Seward tried hard to save the Imperial prisoner; but

without success。  The Secretary's plea for mercy was sent through me

at New Orleans; and to make speed I hired a steamer to proceed with

it across the Gulf to Tampico。  The document was carried by Sergeant

White; one of my scouts; who crossed the country from Tampico; and

delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr。 Seward's

representations were without availrefused probably because little

mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to

fall into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his

Empire。



At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of

Mexico。  Indeed; till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande

there was none。  Our appearance in such force along the border

permitted the Liberal leaders; refugees from their homes; to

establish rendezvous whence they could promulgate their plans in

safety; while the countenance thus given the cause; when hope was

well…nigh gone; incited the Mexican people to renewed resistance。

Beginning again with very scant means; for they had lost about all;

the Liberals saw their cause; under the influence of such significant

and powerful backing; progress and steadily grow so strong that

within two years Imperialism had received its death…blow。  I doubt

very much whether such; results could have been achieved without the

presence of an American army on the Rio Grande; which; be it

remembered; was sent there because; in General Grant's words; the

French invasion of Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as

to be essentially a part of it。









CHAPTER X。



A。 J。 HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXASASSEMBLES A

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONTHE TEXANS DISSATISFIEDLAWLESSNESS

OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATIONEX…CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING LOUISIANAA

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONTHE MEETING SUPPRESSEDA BLOODY RIOTMY

REPORTS OF THE MASSACREPORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON

SUSTAINED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEETHE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS。



Although in 1865…66 much of my attention was directed to

international matters along the Rio Grande; the civil affairs of

Texas and Louisiana required a certain amount of military supervision

also in the absence of regularly established civil authority。  At the

time of Kirby Smith's surrender the National Government had

formulated no plan with regard to these or the other States lately in

rebellion; though a provisional Government had been set up in

Louisiana as early as 1864。  In consequence of this lack of system;

Governor Pendleton Murray; of Texas; who was elected under

Confederate rule; continued to discharge the duties of Governor till

President Johnson; on June 17; in harmony with his amnesty

proclamation of May 29; 1865; appointed A。 J。 Hamilton provisional

Governor。  Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a

Constitutional convention; the delegates to which were to be elected;

under certain prescribed qualifications; for the purpose of

organizing the political affairs of the State; the Governor to be

guided by instructions similar to those given the provisional

Governor of North Carolina (W。 W。 Holden); when appointed in May。



The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among

the people of Texas。  They had assumed that affairs were to go on as

of old; and that the reintegration of the State was to take place

under the administration of Governor Murray; who; meanwhile; had

taken it upon himself; together with the Legislature; to authorize

the election of delegates to a State Convention; without restriction

as to who should be entitled to vote。  Thus encouraged; the element

but lately in armed rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the

State to the Union without any intervention whatever of the Federal

Government; but the advent of Hamilton put an end to such illusions;

since his proclamation promptly disfranchised the element in

question; whose consequent disappointment and chagrin were so great

as to render this factor of the community almost uncontrollable。  The

provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of Governor Murray;

prohibited the assembling of his convention; and shortly after

called; one himself; the delegates to which were to b chosen by

voters who could take the amnesty…oath。  The proclamation convening

this assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in

governing the State until its affairs were satisfactorily

reorganized; defined in brief the course to be followed by the

Judiciary; and provided for the appointment; by the Governor; of

county officials to succeed those known to be disloyal。  As this

action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could not take the amnesty

oath; and of course deprived them of the offices; it met at once with

pronounced and serious opposition; and he quickly realized that he

had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored people;

particularly as in the transition state of society just after the

close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness; which vented

itself chiefly on the freedmen。  It was greatly feared that political

rights were to be given those so recently in servitude; and as it was

generally believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race

war unless the freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of

subjection; acts of intimidation were soon reported from all parts of

the State。



Hamilton; an able; determined; and fearless man; tried hard to curb

this terrorism; but public opinion being strong against him; he could

accomplish little without military aid。  As department commander; I

was required; whenever called upon; to assist his government; and as

these requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent; the

result was that shortly after he assumed his duties; detachments of

troops were stationed in nearly every county of the State。  By such

disposition of my forces fairly good order was maintained under the

administration of Hamilton; and all went well till the inauguration

of J。 W。 Throckmorton; who; elected Governor in pursuance of an

authorization granted by the convention which Hamilton had called

together; assumed the duties of the office August 9; 1866。



One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal

or non…interference of the military。  This was not all granted; but

under his ingenious persuasion Presi
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