Author: Melendez, José Gregorio
Title: [Manuscript Document Calling for the People of Tehuantepec to Join the Revolt. Beginning] "El Ciudadano José Gregorio Melendez Gral. De Division Y Comandante En Jefe de Las Fuerzas de Juchitan. A Los Tehuantepecanos... .
Description: [Juchitan / Chiapas, Mexico], 1850. Broadside. Folio. 33 x 23 cm (13 x 19 inches). Jose Gregorio Melendez (1793-1853) was long a leader in the Zapotec peoples' rebellions against the state government's control of local resources including land and salt, with uprisings in 1827, 1834, 1844-45, 1847, and finally in 1850-53 during which period this call for support was issued. Though Benito Juarez, who was interim governor of Oaxaca, appointed Melendez as Coronel of the National Guard of the Isthmus, which made him defacto head of the armed forces created to defend against the U.S. invasion of the port of Coatzacoalcos, that only increased the conflict, and in early March 1850, Melendez routed the garrison at Tehuantepec. He and about 1000 men fled to Juchitian, while Juarez refused to negotiate. After more bloody battles, Melendez retired to Chiapas, but eventually fearing persecution there, fled back to the Isthmus, inflicting further havoc, and, as this document shows, tried to expand the base of his rebellion: "A los Tehuantepecanos. Yo soy el hombre, a quien todos vosotros debeis conocer, por el que defendiendo siempre los principios de libertados ha dado las garantías desde el año de 1847, la y la propiedad de nuestros hogares. Recordad, que yo he sido vuestro gobernador, vuestra autoridad política, y el hombre que, colocado al frente de vuestros negocios, os ha sabido guardar y defender. Tehuantepanecos: Auxiliares todos de los Barrios ¿me teneis fe? Unios a mi causa; yo os protejo.." "..do you all have faith in me? Unite to my cause; I will protect you all; I will care for you all.." Dated: "Juchitan Noviembre 17 de 1850= Jose Gregorio Melendez." This is a copy, most likely of a broadside, from the "Secretaria del Gobierno del Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas." Scribal signature illegible. We could locate no other documents by Melendez nor this revolt. A scarce document from a period in Mexican history now forgotten (See: ¿Quién fue José Gregorio Meléndez? in Revista Guidxizá, número 16, junio de 2011). A very good copy, tiny tear at one edge, minor creasing, fold, old stab marks at margin.

Keywords: Autographs & Manuscripts, , Latin America, Mexico, Autographs & Manuscripts, Manuscript


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