USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume I > Part 16
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Charles Bent, First Governor of New Mexico Assassinated at Taos, July 17, 1847, during the so-called Taos Revolution. Photograph taken from oil painting in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Aloys Scheurich, of Taos.
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cantile business known to the ante-railroad days. This partnership con- tinued until the tragic ending of Mr. Bent.
On September 22, 1846, the day on which General Kearny issued his proclamation of civil government at Santa Fé, he also gave to Mr. Bent a commission as the first civil governor of New Mexico. The duties of the position did not interfere with the continuance of his commercial trans- actions, and his extensive acquaintance with the native inhabitants, whom he had invariably treated with the greatest kindness and consideration, and who in turn seemed to hold him in high esteem, rendered his selection a peculiarly felicitous one. He had a splendid knowledge of medicine and surgery, though he never practiced for pay. At one time he was called to the bedside of a sick native woman, and to save her life performed an operation that was practically unknown to surgical science in that day. This was nothing less than the removal of a portion of the intestines of the sufferer, the cleansing of the seat of the disease and the return of the organs. The woman lived, and Mr. Bent's fame as a surgeon spread throughout the entire country, endearing him to all.
Besides his extensive mercantile operations, which brought him great wealth, Governor Bent owned a sixteenth interest in the Beaubien and Miranda grant. a sixteenth interest in the Las Animas grant, and an interest in the Sangre de Cristo grant.
At the outbreak of the Mexican war, while walking from his place of business to his residence in Santa Fé, he was captured by a party of Mexi- can soldiers and held for ransom. Upon being notified that if a large sum of money were not paid his captors within a brief specified time he would be sent to Mexico, he dispatched a messenger to his home in Taos, apprising his wife of the facts and requesting her to forward what money she had in the house. Mrs. Bent dug from the adobe floors of her home about seven thousand dollars in gold coin, which was forwarded to Santa Fé. Most of this fell into the hands of Don Manuel Armijo, governor of the province, who on numerous other occasions adopted a similar method to add to his store of wealth.
Governor Bent married Maria Ignacio Jaramillo, a daughter of Don Francisco and Apolonia (Vigil) Jaramillo. His wife died at Taos, April 13, 1883. Their children were Alfred, Marcia Estefina, Maria Teresina, George and Virginia. The two latter died in infancy and Alfred died in young manhood. Maria Estefina married Alexander Hicklin and now lives at St. Mary's, Huerfano county, Colorado. Maria Teresina married Aloys Scheurich and resides at Taos. A sister of Mrs. Bent, Josefa Jaramillo, became the wife of Christopher Carson. Another sister, Manuela Jaramillo, married Colonel Jose Maria Valdez, who became an officer in the Civil war. Pablo Jaramillo, a brother, who was killed at Taos during the uprising of 1847, served some time as a scout under Carson.
The day following his murder the headless body of Governor Bent was buried at Taos. The American troops removed it to the military ceme- tery at Fort Marcy, at Santa Fé, whence it was removed to the Masonic cemetery at Santa Fé, and finally to the federal cemetery in that city, where it now reposes.
Father Antonio Jose Martinez, who was regarded bv many as one of the chief authors of the Taos insurrection, was one of the most remarkable men who was ever identified with the history of New Mexico. Born in
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Rio Arriba county in 1793, he was grandson of General Martinez, who came from Chihuahua, Mexico, in the early part of the seventeenth century. He was finely educated. Most of his career as a priest in the Roman Catho- lic church was spent at Taos. His field of labor was especially fitted to a complete domination of his parishioners. He and his brother, Don Pascual Martinez, a captain in the Mexican "rurales" before the war of 1846, had been reared in the county adjoining Taos, and, as children of a man of wealth and influence, their word among the peons and ignorant classes generally was regarded as almost law. In common with representatives of the wealthier classes he taught his inferiors to believe that the Ameri- cans were barbarians, thieves and murderers, more to be feared than the wild Indian tribes. His hatred of Americans and their institutions was. manifested in many ways. Realizing that his power and prestige among his own people would crumble under American control, he became one of the most bitter enemies of the new régime and used all his great power to incite and keep alive the sentiment of suspicion, distrust and hatred of the newcomers. Though exceedingly generous to his needy parishioners, freely giving of his means for the education of their children, he had no friend among the American pioneers.
He was, to all intents and purposes, not only an arbitrary spiritual guide, but a monarch. He ruled with a tyrannical hand and was obeyed. The pueblo Indians at Taos frequently manifested their extreme dislike of him and his methods. Among them he was probably the only priest of the church whose influence was not more or less strong. His con- temporary at the Taos pueblo was Father Lucero, who also served the mission at Arroyo Hondo. Though notorious for his selfishness and miserly disposition, the Indians reverenced him, while hating Father Martinez.
Father Martinez was acknowledged to be one of the most brilliant men of his day in New Mexico. Under his management the first newspaper in New Mexico was published. This was called El Crepusculo (meaning The Dawn), the first number of which was issued November 29, 1835, at Taos. It was printed on paper of letter-cap size, and but four numbers were issued. The press employed for this work was one which had been brought from Mexico about a year prior to the publication of the paper, by Don Santiago Abreu of Rayado, who had intended to use it for printing circulars advertising lands he and his family had for sale.
It is difficult to state just what part this priest bore in the uprising of 1847. His crafty methods rendered it impossible for the American authori- ties to prove his actual participation and leadership in the revolt, though many Mexicans who were identified with the movement in after years admitted that they were spurred on to the deed by his counsel and advice. The incident of the aged man who upbraided the mourners at his death, which has been related; the testimony of some of the older Indians at the pueblo ; the priest's absolute control over his parishioners and his ability to have prevented the outrage which logically accompanied this control over them; his oft-expressed hatred and fear of the Americans-these facts are pointed out as strong circumstantial evidence of his complicity in the movement.
Father Martinez was notorious for his great immorality. Father Lucero was equally so. When the Catholic authorities finally took cognizance
Anto Ini Martinez
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of his obliquity and, under the leadership of the good Bishop Lamy, the excommunication of these two priests and many others in the Territory resulted, Father Martinez, still maintaining a strong hold upon the peo- ple he had served for so many years, established a church of his own, in- dependent of any see, a church that was not a church. This was located in Taos, and here the deposed father continued to hold services until his
The following is a translation of Father Martinez's famous manifesto of 1862, published after his excommunication mentioned on another page.
"THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCHI."
The Christian Church, according to the attributes or predicates given in the above title, was the Primitive Church of that religion which the apostles preached, estab- lished and founded by the command of its author, Jesus Christ. There was no hierarchy (the Pope, Cardinals, Primates, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, etc., compose the hierarchy in the Roman Church, to say nothing of their revenues) amongst them, they were all equal, and none was greater than the other, for so the Lord commanded them in the Gospel of Matthew 20:26-27. Their treatment of each other was that of brethren: St. Peter in his first Epistle 2:15 treats Paul as a brother.
Their duty, according to their Lord's order, was to preach the Gospel, teaching and indoctrinating the peoples in the faith of God, in the Incarnation of the Divine Word in the words of sound morality-the commandments of the Law of God, Ex- odus 20; in the immortality of the soul of the children of the human race and in the practice of righteousness, in order to escape hell and gain a right to obtain eternal happiness in Jesus Christ.
Church. This word comes from assembly, that is, a union of many persons in the same place, to treat of matters important to the public good. In this sense the Israelites said to Moses, Num. 20:4: "Why have ye brought the Assembly (church) of the Lord into this wilderness?" and Christ, speaking of brotherly correction, says : "If he hear not the Church, let him be unto thee as a Gentile and a Republican." Mat. 18:17. This is the same understanding of the word given by the Apostles to the congregations of the faithful, as St. John in Rev. 1 :4 to the seven churches in Asia. So it is clear that it is called Christian Church after Christ, its Author, and the head of its religion since every congregation of the faithful who in the name of Christ are assembled, treated and governed in the hope of obtaining spiritual salvation is called Christian or a Christian Church. This pertains as well to the church of the Roman communion as to the Greek, the Lutheran and the various reformed churches called Protestant, because they have protested against abuses that have been com- initted, who uniformly follow faith in God and in Jesus Christ, and practice religion in the morality established by Christ and his Apostles; as Paul says, Ephe. 2:30, "built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." To these churches belongs the epithet of Apostolic. Such of these as follow the same rule in their form and ceremonies should be called, and are, particular churches; but the aggregate of them all, that is, the Roman, the Greek, the Lutheran, and the rest that acknowledge and worship Christ, though they differ in ceremonies, form the Catholic or Universal Church, as they preserve unity with Christ in faith and practice.
The Roman church at its beginning, gained the attention of the whole Catholic world, and accumulated power in proportion to the acquiescence of the rest of the churches; but at length, with the establishment of the Crusaders, of the Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition of canonical punishments, of the bulls of crusading, of dispen- sations and others that sold indulgences and benefits to the peoples for weighty pecuniary items, and especially with the acquisition of temporal power, it indulged to such an extent in committing excesses, abusing the authority and supremacy that the peoples, Kings and Emperors gave her, that in this one reason emerged for the divisions that today cover the world with Apostolic Christians, who, although not Roman ones, yet far outnumber those who acknowledge Rome. (In genuine history there are thirty-nine millions more Christians in the churches that do not acknowl- edge Rome than there are in her fold.) Hence it turns out that the unity, infallibility and defense afforded by the famous Gospel "on this Rock will I build my Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it" have failed to be fulfilled in the Roman
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death, July 27, 1867. He retained a relatively large following, who were faithful to him unto death. Practically all of them were members of the order of Penitentes, one of whose strongholds in New Mexico is Taos county and the contiguous territory, especially Mora and Rio Arriba counties.
About ten years after the Taos uprising, a mutiny of the still dis- contented native inhabitants was held in Martinez' house, where plans for another massacre were discussed. Every man present is said to have
church, as it has not made it the exclusively Christian church. Therefore, either the gates of Hell have prevailed and that promise has failed; or else, said promise belongs to all Christian churches, and as a consequence the Roman church is only a particular church, when speaking of the Church of Christ, and the term Catholic or Universal belongs to the assemblage of all the above mentioned churches. In this way unity is preserved, and the Savior's promise is fulfilled.
Unity, I say, for although they differ in the ceremonies, which are accidental to religion, they preserve Unity, which is important and essential. Paul Ep. to Ephe- sians 4:1-16; Unity in the faith is one only God and in Jesus Christ, in the only bap- tism by which the faithful are enrolled and characterized as sons of God and united in the bonds of peace to follow truth with love, firm and efficacious hope which unites us to Christ, who is head of all, gathering all up into one body to inherit eternal bliss.
The promise is being fulfilled, because the number of believing Christians in the particular churches is not diminished but rather increases and strengthens the faith by the preaching of the Gospel, and thus it is that it may be truly said: "On this Rock will I build my Church," Mat. 16:18, "And the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."
This is the Universal Church which bears each of the marks which distinguish it-to-wit: infallibility in the mysteries of the faith, and regularity in morality.
Infallibility is one of the cardinal points in the Church of Christ, and this is not found in the will of man nor in the scope of human knowledge, but only in divine revelation. II Peter 1:19-21. We men can and ought to read Holy Scriptures, to reap spiritual fruit from them, since we have for this the express command of the Lord in John 5: 39. "Search the Scriptures, etc.," and St. Paul in Rom. 15: 4, says : "For all things written in the past, were written for our instruction so that we might have hope through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures." These in the Church are the "pillar and ground of truth." I. Tim. 3: 15. "It is written in the Prophets: all shall be taught of God." John 6: 45. See then, how the Scriptures given by Divine revelation are the final tribunal and the fundamental support in the Church of Christ. The Roman church in its operation is manifested in the statutes of Popes and Councils, which repeal and contradict what each other decrees. Hence, it is only infallible when its decision agrees with Holy Scripture. Therefore the universal Church of Christ has its infallibility in the said Scriptures, and thus the promises are fulfilled.
Another cardinal point very important in the Church of Christ, is what should be believed, and the work of righteousness, or sound morality. All should believe the existence of God, the Author of Creation, that He is a just rewarder, recompensing the good and punishing the evil; that He is infinitely wise, true, powerful, eternal, provident, and thus absolute in all his other attributes; the Trinity of the Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and one only God; the incarnation of the divine Word, the Second Person to redeem the world from original sin which passed to the sons from the sin of their first parents, and from personal sins; that Christ, as man was conceived by the Virgin Mary and born of her, not by connections with man but by the Holy Spirit, to whom love is attributed by the valuation of the Angel Gabriel. Luke I: 28-38. Finally, all should believe that he preached His doctrine, wrought miracles to confirm the same, suffered persecution and torment even unto death and was nailed to the shameful cross; which sacrifice that finished his mission to the world was offered to the Eternal Father for all men; that he arose on the third day and conversed with his disciples until the day of his ascension to Heaven; with the rest that is taught in Holy Scripture.
As to morality, St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, says: "Natural law is the very reason or will of God, which commands us to preserve the natural order, and
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been sworn to secrecy, but incautious and boastful participants in the meet- ing soon afterward made threats that the Americans would be exterminated, leaving none to tell the tale. The American residents exhibited some uneasiness at the time, and it was commonly believed that Martinez had between three and four hundred men who would begin the work of carnage at the lift of his finger. But Kit Carson, who was one of the most quiet and law-abiding citizens of the Territory, one day openly stated in the presence of some of the discontented natives that he would like noth- ing better than "to put a bullet into the scoundrel," and the pueblo In- dians, who had been misled in 1847, were openly hostile to the deposed priest. These facts may have led the latter to believe that the better half of valor was discretion. At any rate, matters suddenly became very quiet, and there was no more talk of "revolution."
Upon the death of Martinez his body was buried in the chapel he had built after his excommunication. A few years ago the body was disinterred
forbids us to disturb it." This includes the observance of the ten commandments of the Law of God, and is the practice of works of righteousness and virtue. Christ taught this doctrine and commanded his Apostle to preach it. Mat. 28: 18-20. "All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me; go, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you."
It is proper that there should be Gospel Ministers in the Church of Christ, as successors in the office of the Apostles and elders, to carry the preaching of the Gospel to the peoples. Acts 20: 28. "Take heed to yourselves and to the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you bishop to feed the Church of God which he bought with his blood."
The Apostles faithfully fulfilled the command of Christ, all were martyrs, and sealed with their blood the doctrine they published, scattered among the nations to preach the Gospel; and we, the ministers of today, are likewise obligated to do now; but importunately we observe that several Ministers of the Roman Communion in New Mexico refuse to administer sacraments, being in consecrated ground and other service of their ministry, unless all the tithes, first fruits, fees and other duties are paid in full, and even force voluntary contributions to a higher figure than that proposed by the devotees. Such traffic is identical with the chaffering of pawn-brokers and auctioneers; this practice is contrary to what Jesus Christ commanded in Mat. IO: 8-10, which the apostle and the ministers of the primitive church observed. That church was truly Apostolic; but on the contrary, we see what was prophesied in Acts 20:29 happening. "I know that after my departure grievous wolves will attack you, which will not spare the flock." See 2 Peter, 2:1-3 "of a truth there were false
Prophets *
* as also there will be false treachery among you, deceivers who will introduce destructive heresies and will deny the Lord who bought them. * * * * And many will follow them in their lascivious doings * * * and with feigned words will make traffic of you for avarice." Is not this what is now commonly happening in those who follow the observance of a diocesan decree of January 14, 1854, making merchandise of the graces and services of the Ministry? We see this with deep pain, and the ignorance of the people and their abject condition are not moved by the words of the Gospel that exhort them to know the truth.
To conclude : We affirm that the Catholic and Universal Church of Christ pos- sesses the promise of being infallible in the Holy Scripture that is the pillar and ground of the truth, in which the immortality of our soul and the promise of eternal happiness is found. Read the word of God contained in the Holy Bible and ponder the true and just maxims of this divine teacher. If we do this, the Holy Spirit will illumine us with his gifts and will impel us by the flame of his love, so that we may walk in the right way, and at the end of our days, by the wall of final perseverance, we shall attain unto eternal life. Amen.
ANTONIO JOSE MARTINEZ DE SANTISTEVAN.
The author of the discourse in the year 1856 resisted the Prelate in his decree of January 14, 1854, and ministers on his own independent resources.
Fernando de Taos, June 7, 1862.
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and removed to the cemetery in Taos, where it now reposes. The stone at the head of his grave bears the following inscription :
"En Memoria del Presbitero D. Antonio Jose Martinez, cura de Taos, N. Mexico. Nacio en 1793 el 17 de Enero. Murio el dia 27 de Julio, A. D. 1867. La Legislatura de Nueva Mexica le Llamo al tiempo de se Muerte. La Honra de su Pais. Sir vio la administracion espiritual del curato de Taos por Cuarenta y Dos Anos."
Father Lucero, who had charge of the churches at Taos pueblo and Arroyo Hondo during the uprising of 1847, made it a practice to hide in the adobe floor of his house the money he received as offertories in excess of what he needed to supply his temporal needs. Upon his death in 1882- 1883 a search of his house at Arroyo Hondo by his relatives disclosed large quantities of silver coins of all denominations, both American and Mexican, besides many gold ounce pieces, which he had buried. William L. McClure, then a merchant of Taos, received in trade about one hundred and ten pounds of these coins, which he shipped to Denver.
During the latter years of his life Father Lucero, then no longer a priest, was attacked in his house by a burglar. The only weapon the aged man possessed was a large knife, nearly worn out, which he kept under his pillow in fear of attack. When he awakened and found that an intruder was in his room, he sprang from his bed and, grasping his knife, swung it wildly about the dark room, a chance blow killing the thief. His case was taken before the grand jury, but no indictment was returned against the now feeble and broken old man.
Following the revolutionary uprising of 1847, several indictments for treason were presented at a term of court over which Judge Houghton presided. The accused men were, for the most part, residents of Taos county. Prior to the precipitation of the conflict which resulted in the death of Governor Bent and the other victims of the conspiracy, a circular letter was sent out, dated January 20, 1847, by Jesus Tafolla, and counter- signed by Antonio Maria Trujillo, "senior enspector," addressed to the various native Mexican military commanders, urging them to rebellion in the following words :
"To the Defenders of their Country:
"With the end to shake off the yoke bound on us by a foreign government, and as you are Military Inspector General appointed by the Legitimate Commander for the Supreme Government of Mexico, which we proclaim in favor of: The moment you receive this communication, you will place in readiness all the companies under your command, keeping them ready for the 22d day of this month, so that the forces may be, on the day mentioned, at that point. Take the precaution to observe if the forces of the enemy advance any toward these points, and if it should so happen, appoint a courier and dispatch him immediately, so that exertions may be doubled, understanding that there must not be resistance or delay in giving the answer to the bearer of this official document."
These dispatches were accompanied by orders reading as follows: "By the order of the Inspector of Arms, Don Antonio Maria Trujillo.
"I herewith send you this dispatch (or order) that the moment this comes to hand you will raise all the forces, together with all the inhabitants that are able to bear arms, connecting them also with persons in San Juan de Los Caballeros, by to- morrow, counting from the 22d day. of the present month, and not later than eight o'clock in the morning.
"We have declared war with the American and it is now time that we all take our arms in our hands in defense of our abandoned country.
"JUAN ANTONIO GARCIA,
"You are held responsible for the execution of the above order.
"Sor. So. Dn. Pedro Vigil."
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The indictment against Trujillo, drawn by Frank P. Blair, then a prominent lawyer of Santa Fé, read as follows :
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ss.
"TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO. S
"In the United States District Court at the March term, 1847.
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