No. 340.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Mexico, August 15, 1872. (Received September 7.)
Sir: The pacification of the republic, as a consequence of President Lerdo’s decree of amnesty, may now be considered as a fact. Up to this date information has been received of the submission of Generals Negrete, Labastida, Lomeli, Pedro Martinez, Narvaez, Aureliano Rivera, Meier y Teran, Betanzos, Cosio, Pontones, Galvan, Velez, and Chavar-ria, of whom the three first named issued proclamations to their followers in terms very satisfactory to the administration of Mr. Lerdo.
The revolutionary organ in this city denounced the amnesty, as not containing a restitution of the insurgent chiefs to their military rank and civil offices, but was soon forced by the unanimity of the rest of the press to change its tone.
No doubt is entertained of the submission of Porfirio Diaz, Treviño, Quiroga, Guerra, and others from whom no definite information has yet been received on account of the distance. Only two of the insurgent chieftains, Migoni and Garcia de la Cadena, are known to have rejected the amnesty; of these, the former was speedily killed in the State of Vera Cruz, and the latter was taken prisoner with his entire force in the State of San Luis Potosi.
The policy of President Lerdo has been to maintain the most absolute statu quo. No removals from office have been made, and no political measures taken, except the amnesty, the cessation of martial law, and the summons for the presidential election. The consequence has been that the circles of opposition have been left without any rational basis on which to combat the election of Mr. Lerdo. Although nearly a month has transpired since the death of Mr. Juarez, and less than two months remain before the election, no formal opposition candidate has been put forward, and apparently none will be. Numerous newspapers have been established to support the election of Mr. Lerdo, who will probably be chosen almost unanimously.
At the death of Mr. Juarez the Mexican treasury was nearly empty, in consequence of the expenses of the civil war, and the employes had not been paid for many months. Mr. Lerdo having appealed to the capitalists of the city for a loan of $400,000, the amount was almost immediately subscribed.
[Page 454]Commerce, agriculture, and mining have taken an impulse from the hopes of peace, and an era of prosperity is confidently expected.
I am, &c,