Tomás Vélez Cachupín
Encyclopedia
Tomás Vélez Cachupín was the colonial governor of New Mexico
between 1749 and 1754, y en 1761. He was one of the best governors of New Mexico. For his courage and compassion in the war of San Diego Pond won him great respect among the Comanches, Utes
and Apaches and, therefore, he could shake peaceful ties with nomadic tribes in the province. He created practical solutions for keeping the peace with the Indians, as a list of commodity prices Native Americans of the region with respect to their equivalent products on the rest of the population of New Mexico.
in early 1749 and he assumed office in May of that year. After settling in New Mexico as governor, he noticed the frequent attacks that the Comanches ran on the Spanish settlements in the then province of New Mexico. These attacks were not only dangerous because they caused kidnappings and killings of settlers and their descendants in the province, but also because it impeded the economic growth itself.
To this must be added that the number of Indians was higher than the number of white people. To remedy this, Vélez Cachupin decided improve the quality of life of indigenous people, being aware that, in this way, they, because not to feel that living in substandard conditions to the ruling class, most respected to it. On the other hand, he could also realize that peaceful trade with the nomadic tribes could help the economy of New Mexico.
Thus, in July 1750 came to New Mexico a Comanche
village, composed it by approximately 130 men who settled temporarily in place in tents. Forty of them settled in Taos to trade in hides and prisoners with white traders.
Although the governor agreed to the trade, he threatened to declare war if, after trading with them, they attacked Pecos
and Galisteo
.
This mistrust was normal because that the Spanish considered to the Comanches of southwestern United States had as its main enemy. The chiefs agreed to the agreement, but another group of Comanche armed with bows, spears and guns, attacked Pecos, in November.
After hearing the news, Vélez Cachupin led an army against the Comanches and began searching for the people that lasted six days.
After that time, he found a group of 145 Comanches and attacked unexpectedly starting the called Battle of San Diego Pond.
At dusk, the Comanches retreated to the center of the lake, despite its extremely cold climate.
The governor was determined that his army killed any Comanche them to see, however, hearing the screams of women and children, canceled off the attack and he offered, with the help of an interpreter, to respect the lives of people to surrender. At first, however, all Comanches were determined to fight, until, at midnight, a boy of sixteen wounded, left the pond and asked him mercy, holding a cross made of reeds. Only when his companions saw that he was well treated by Cachupin, most of the Comanches decided to follow his example. Thus, only the chief and seven other soldiers wanted to keep fighting, which struck at three o'clock, but they were defeated.
At dawn, Velez Cachupin saw that his army had 49 prisoners and 150 horses and mules.
The rest of the Comanches were killed. He released most of them (except four of them) giving them snuff and ten arrows for hunting in his home.
Cachupin forced them not to attack the Spanish settlements, warning him that if they did, he would seek out and destroy their villages.
Thus, his courage in battle and his compassion for Native Americans
earned him a reputation among the Comanches (they called it "astounding Captain"). This also boosted the peace of the Spanish and Criollos
with the Utes
and Apaches (who became its principal allies).
In 1754, the governor issued a price list for commonly-traded goods and set regulations governing the buying and selling at trade fairs, in order to reduce misunderstandings between the Comanches and settlers.
The governor also studied for a long time the best way to interact with the Comanches, Utes and Apaches. In fact, he wrote in a letter to his successor, a more detailed explanation of how the new governor should relate to the Indians to help keep the peace.
.
He called for a new term as governor of New Mexico, and King Carlos III granted his wish on March 14, 1761, being elected six other military experience.
However, when he returned to New Mexico, he had to face many of the problems he had solved in its previous mandate, as his successor could not follow the advice of Vélez Cachupin on how to interact peacefully with the natives.
When he began his second term as governor, he proclaimed the liberation of six women Comanche, who were prisoners of the white as a sign of good relations with the Comanches.
Because of this, nine warriors and six women Comanches traveled to Taos to negotiate with the Spanish governor and verify that it had returned to the province. The governor has banned the sale and purchase of Comanche Janissaries, because he knew the importance of trade in captivity when negotiating peace with the Comanches. He also ordered that the captives Comanche, who lived near Santa Fe
, were released in exchange for the Comanches released their prisoners. This led to another era of lasting peace with the Amerindian nomads.
In addition to his military duties, the governor also attended the economic and judicial affairs of the population of the province, both in regard to the Spanish, Creoles and mestizos as with regard to the indigenous community. The governor had the highest rank of civil and criminal judge of New Mexico and he was also the judge of some municipalities of severe cases.
In November 1750, French traders Paul and Pierre Mallet visited New Mexico. They had already visited New Mexico in 1739 and, on his second visit, the Governor Vélez Cachupin received them with a cool reception, as did the French have made a trade war to New Mexico and they were trying to take over part of North Texas , who was also Spanish territory, which made France one of its main rivals. The governor seized the possessions of the French and the auction, getting the money that he used to pay four guards escoltaltaran the French in Mexico City.
Also in November 1765, New Mexico had a colonial expedition due to the implementation of a monopoly
the snuff and that forbade snuff planting in the province. The governor, however, tried to prevent enforcement of the law, because that could disrupt the local economy and adversely affect the good relations with nomadic tribes in the province who had gotten his new snuff Mexican farmers. In January 1766, the governor said the Viceroy, through a report sent to him, the negative effects that would result from that law. In the end, however, he was obliged to enforce the law in the spring. Their predictions proved true.
He stepped down as governor of New Mexico in 1767.
Amerindians of Abiquiú
who were accused of witchcraft. The governor was particularly interested in this case, as he had said, as he was personally who settled to the genizaro people in Abiquiu. The case has a special importance as it has over 100 pages of testimony. Vélez Cachupin sentenced to poverty to the defendants in some Spanish families. In addition, he sent a large group of troops to Abiquiu to destroy relics (among which was a stone with hieroglyphics).
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
between 1749 and 1754, y en 1761. He was one of the best governors of New Mexico. For his courage and compassion in the war of San Diego Pond won him great respect among the Comanches, Utes
Utes
Utes may refer to:*The fictional island in ARMA 2*Ute tribe, indigenous people of North America*Students of the University of Utah*Utah Utes, athletics team of the University of Utah, named after the Ute tribe...
and Apaches and, therefore, he could shake peaceful ties with nomadic tribes in the province. He created practical solutions for keeping the peace with the Indians, as a list of commodity prices Native Americans of the region with respect to their equivalent products on the rest of the population of New Mexico.
First term governor in New Mexico
Vélez Cachupín was appointed governor of New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in early 1749 and he assumed office in May of that year. After settling in New Mexico as governor, he noticed the frequent attacks that the Comanches ran on the Spanish settlements in the then province of New Mexico. These attacks were not only dangerous because they caused kidnappings and killings of settlers and their descendants in the province, but also because it impeded the economic growth itself.
To this must be added that the number of Indians was higher than the number of white people. To remedy this, Vélez Cachupin decided improve the quality of life of indigenous people, being aware that, in this way, they, because not to feel that living in substandard conditions to the ruling class, most respected to it. On the other hand, he could also realize that peaceful trade with the nomadic tribes could help the economy of New Mexico.
Thus, in July 1750 came to New Mexico a Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
village, composed it by approximately 130 men who settled temporarily in place in tents. Forty of them settled in Taos to trade in hides and prisoners with white traders.
Although the governor agreed to the trade, he threatened to declare war if, after trading with them, they attacked Pecos
Pecos, New Mexico
Pecos is a village in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,441 at the 2000 census, growing much faster than in other parts of San Miguel County, partly because Pecos is within commuting distance of Santa Fe. The village is built along the Pecos River which flows from...
and Galisteo
Galisteo, New Mexico
Galisteo is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 265 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
This mistrust was normal because that the Spanish considered to the Comanches of southwestern United States had as its main enemy. The chiefs agreed to the agreement, but another group of Comanche armed with bows, spears and guns, attacked Pecos, in November.
After hearing the news, Vélez Cachupin led an army against the Comanches and began searching for the people that lasted six days.
After that time, he found a group of 145 Comanches and attacked unexpectedly starting the called Battle of San Diego Pond.
At dusk, the Comanches retreated to the center of the lake, despite its extremely cold climate.
The governor was determined that his army killed any Comanche them to see, however, hearing the screams of women and children, canceled off the attack and he offered, with the help of an interpreter, to respect the lives of people to surrender. At first, however, all Comanches were determined to fight, until, at midnight, a boy of sixteen wounded, left the pond and asked him mercy, holding a cross made of reeds. Only when his companions saw that he was well treated by Cachupin, most of the Comanches decided to follow his example. Thus, only the chief and seven other soldiers wanted to keep fighting, which struck at three o'clock, but they were defeated.
At dawn, Velez Cachupin saw that his army had 49 prisoners and 150 horses and mules.
The rest of the Comanches were killed. He released most of them (except four of them) giving them snuff and ten arrows for hunting in his home.
Cachupin forced them not to attack the Spanish settlements, warning him that if they did, he would seek out and destroy their villages.
Thus, his courage in battle and his compassion for Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
earned him a reputation among the Comanches (they called it "astounding Captain"). This also boosted the peace of the Spanish and Criollos
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
with the Utes
Utes
Utes may refer to:*The fictional island in ARMA 2*Ute tribe, indigenous people of North America*Students of the University of Utah*Utah Utes, athletics team of the University of Utah, named after the Ute tribe...
and Apaches (who became its principal allies).
In 1754, the governor issued a price list for commonly-traded goods and set regulations governing the buying and selling at trade fairs, in order to reduce misunderstandings between the Comanches and settlers.
The governor also studied for a long time the best way to interact with the Comanches, Utes and Apaches. In fact, he wrote in a letter to his successor, a more detailed explanation of how the new governor should relate to the Indians to help keep the peace.
Second term for governor in New Mexico.
After completing his first term in 1754, Vélez Cachupin returned to SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
He called for a new term as governor of New Mexico, and King Carlos III granted his wish on March 14, 1761, being elected six other military experience.
However, when he returned to New Mexico, he had to face many of the problems he had solved in its previous mandate, as his successor could not follow the advice of Vélez Cachupin on how to interact peacefully with the natives.
When he began his second term as governor, he proclaimed the liberation of six women Comanche, who were prisoners of the white as a sign of good relations with the Comanches.
Because of this, nine warriors and six women Comanches traveled to Taos to negotiate with the Spanish governor and verify that it had returned to the province. The governor has banned the sale and purchase of Comanche Janissaries, because he knew the importance of trade in captivity when negotiating peace with the Comanches. He also ordered that the captives Comanche, who lived near Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, were released in exchange for the Comanches released their prisoners. This led to another era of lasting peace with the Amerindian nomads.
In addition to his military duties, the governor also attended the economic and judicial affairs of the population of the province, both in regard to the Spanish, Creoles and mestizos as with regard to the indigenous community. The governor had the highest rank of civil and criminal judge of New Mexico and he was also the judge of some municipalities of severe cases.
In November 1750, French traders Paul and Pierre Mallet visited New Mexico. They had already visited New Mexico in 1739 and, on his second visit, the Governor Vélez Cachupin received them with a cool reception, as did the French have made a trade war to New Mexico and they were trying to take over part of North Texas , who was also Spanish territory, which made France one of its main rivals. The governor seized the possessions of the French and the auction, getting the money that he used to pay four guards escoltaltaran the French in Mexico City.
Also in November 1765, New Mexico had a colonial expedition due to the implementation of a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
the snuff and that forbade snuff planting in the province. The governor, however, tried to prevent enforcement of the law, because that could disrupt the local economy and adversely affect the good relations with nomadic tribes in the province who had gotten his new snuff Mexican farmers. In January 1766, the governor said the Viceroy, through a report sent to him, the negative effects that would result from that law. In the end, however, he was obliged to enforce the law in the spring. Their predictions proved true.
He stepped down as governor of New Mexico in 1767.
Confrontation with the friars
Tomás Vélez Cachupín, despite tobacco law, was able to negotiate peace with the nomadic Native Americans at war, but, however, could not get along with the Franciscan friars. In his first term had an important role enmity between him and the Franciscan Friar Andrés Varo, as the two men wrote many letters to the viceroy in which they complained about the conduct of each of them. Moreover, while Velez Cachupin was agree with the Christianization of the Indians by Franciscan he rebelled against certain Priests and practices. The Franciscans tried that Velez Cachupin left office, but they did not succeed in this purpose. Therefore, they also opposed his reelection.Court cases
While he was in his second term in the government of New Mexico, Cachupin pronounced sentence for some GenizaroGenizaro
Genízaros and their contemporary descendants were recognized as indigenous people by the 2007 New Mexico Legislature. Genizaros were Native American slaves who served as house servants, sheepherders, and in other capacities in Spanish, Mexican, and US households in the Southwest United States well...
Amerindians of Abiquiú
Abiquiú, New Mexico
Abiquiú, or Abiquiu is a small unincorporated town located in Rio Arriba County, in northern New Mexico in the southwestern United States, about 53 miles north of Santa Fe. In the 1730s, it was the third largest settlement in the New Mexico Territory...
who were accused of witchcraft. The governor was particularly interested in this case, as he had said, as he was personally who settled to the genizaro people in Abiquiu. The case has a special importance as it has over 100 pages of testimony. Vélez Cachupin sentenced to poverty to the defendants in some Spanish families. In addition, he sent a large group of troops to Abiquiu to destroy relics (among which was a stone with hieroglyphics).
External link
- http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails.php?fileID=22389 New Mexico Office of the State Historian: Governor Cachupin and the Pueblo Grant.
- http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:etsaLfqLtIUJ:www.patrimoniolaredo.es/derribo_casa_torre.html+Tom%C3%A1s+V%C3%A9lez+Cachup%C3%ADn&cd=5&hl=es&ct=clnk&gl=es&source=www.google.es Asociación de Amigos del Patrimonio de Laredo (In spanish, Heritage Association of Friends of Laredo)