No. 266.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Mexico, November 9, 1871. (Received November 27.)
Sir: Since the date of my last general dispatch of the 30th ultimo, the political situation of Mexico has assumed a more serious aspect. The movement of General Trevino against Saltillo has not yet been successful, and he is said to have suffered a defeat on the 1st instant at Earnos Arizpe. Nevertheless, information is received almost daily of new insurrections in different parts of the country, among which may be mentioned those of General Guerra and Colonels Ugarte and Barrios, in the State of Zacatecas; of Juan Francisco Lucas, in the north of Puebla; of Colonel Slanos, in the vicinity of Cuernavaca; and, more recently, the defection of General Galvan, with the cavalry of the second division, who has marched to Oaxaca. General Porfirio Diaz has not yet placed himself openly at the head of the revolution, to which post he is summoned by all the minor chieftains now in the field, but, as the State government of Oaxaca has refused to recognize the election of President Juarez, has fortified that capital, and has caused its official organ to express approval of the movement of Treviño, it is no longer doubtful that Oaxaca is virtually in rebellion, and probably only awaits the conclusion of Mr. Juarez’s present term of office, on the last day of the present month, to announce its formal declaration of war.
Meanwhile the federal government is making energetic preparations for an anticipated campaign against Oaxaca, but seems to be reluctant to take the initiative. The forces of the second division, under General Alatorre, have been concentrated at Tecamachalco, in observation of the principal military route leading to Oaxaca. Unfortunately, several battalions of this division are chiefly composed of natives of that State, and as their officers owe their rank and military training to General Porfirio Diaz, there is reason to fear that the defection of General Galvan will be followed by that of other portions of the second division. Indeed, it is stated that a portion of the command of General Kaempfner has already gone over to the rebellion.
Congress has been exclusively occupied of late in the decision of cases of contested elections. This task was concluded yesterday, with the result of admitting a considerable number of claimants belonging to both wings of the opposition, among whom were three Lerdist deputies of personal importance, Messrs. Martinez dela Torre, Eaymon Guzman, [Page 352] and Estanislas Cañedo. Many deputies who voted for Mr. Juarez, in fulfillment of previous engagements, have united with the opposition on this question of the contested seats, and, as a consequence, the government can no longer count upon a reliable support in congress. The ministry presented itself to congress on the 5th instant, and again to-day, with an urgent appeal for a grant of “ample faculties” to enable the president to suppress the rebellious. It is exceedingly doubtful whether they will be granted, as many nominal supporters of the government are dissatisfied with the present cabinet, and with Mr. Juarez for his reluctance to change it.
I am, &c.,