MJ Alarid Caudillo Justice- Intercultural Conflict and Social
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Caudillo Justice: Intercultural Conflict and Social Change in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1837-1853. Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Michael J. Alarid, MA Graduate Program in History The Ohio State University 2012 Dissertation Committee: Randolph Roth, Advisor Kenneth Andrien John F. Guilmartin Copyright by Michael Joseph Alarid 2012 ABSTRACT This project is the story of the Hispanos in New Mexico who were caught within the maelstrom of American colonization, of complex peoples with their own power structures who occupied a space in the path of a burgeoning empire. More specifically, this is the tale of how an ethnically distinct, religiously different, and politically and economically savvy people endured the process of American colonization. My focus is 1837 to 1853, and I examine the relationship between Hispanos and incoming immigrants; first from Mexico and later from the United States. I seek to challenge previously held notions about how the process of territorialization played out in Santa Fe County and New Mexico more broadly during both the Mexican and American periods. I argue that the New Mexican “elites” were in actuality Mexican caudillos: local strongmen who utilized their vast kinship networks and wealth to dictate regional policy – providing protection to the local population when it was in their best interest, exploiting and intimidating them when it was not. My approach considers multiple variables, such as class, race, economy, criminality, resistance, and accommodation, as well as how each of these variables influenced the strategies and actions of multiple social groups – New Mexican landholders, poor vecinos, Anglo settlers, and the territorial authorities in Santa Fe County. I utilize quantitative methodologies to analyze ii the criminal court documents and census data from Santa Fe County. At the same time, I use qualitative sources, such as written and oral historical testimonies, to examine the intersection between class and race in Santa Fe County and New Mexico more broadly. I focus on both the Mexican and early American territorial periods and seek to decipher how territorialization played out along class and ethnic lines among a heterogeneous society experiencing regime change. By centering my study on the vecinos in relation to the New Mexican caudillos and the assortment of recently arrived Anglo settlers, I move away from focusing too heavily on elites, empires, flags, politicians, and soldiers. Instead, my enquiry is concerned with the community itself and how the process of territorialization impacted the majority of New Mexico’s population. iii DEDICATION For my ancestors and the other families of New Mexico, who found themselves in the path of an empire iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to my advisor, Randolph Roth, for his intellectual guidance and support during my career at The Ohio State University. He influenced my intellectual development, acted as my advisor, and taught me what it meant to be a historian. In addition, I benefitted from the mentorship of Kenneth Andrien, who supported me personally and professionally during my many years at Ohio State. Without his friendship and support, this project would not have been possible. I am also indebted to John F. Guilmartin, a fellow Southwesterner, a true American hero, and one of the great gentlemen of the profession. His unwavering support during my career made me feel at home when I was so far away. In my early days I benefitted tremendously from the guidance of Alan R. Millett, who was both a guide and a friend during my first years. In addition, I am grateful to Mark Grimsley, who oversaw my early development and influenced my teaching style. I was aided by the folklorist Patrick Mullen, who took an interest in my work and encouraged me to be daring in my scholarly approach. I am tremendously indebted to William B. Taylor, who read my early draft and helped me refine my central argument. His scholarship is the foundation for my approach to history and his encouragement and support fueled my final push. v Finally, to David J. Weber, who took time during his cancer treatment to offer his feedback and his encouragement, even when his time was short. A wonderful scholar, a dedicated educator, and a true gentleman, he worked tirelessly during his life to unravel the mysteries of New Mexico. His work inspired many who study the Southwest, including myself, and in this way his legacy has only just begun to unfold. I am grateful to the State of New Mexico and all of my friends in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. To Samuel Sisneros, for his guidance in the archives and for our long discussions about what it means to be Nuevo Mexicano. To Tomas Jeahn of the Fray Angélico Chávez Library, a master of the archives in New Mexico and a very dear friend. His knowledge is reflected in these pages. To Estevan Rael Galvez, of the Office of the State Historian at New Mexico Center and Archive, who was a major source of intellectual and personal support. I was supported by funding from The Graduate School at The Ohio State University, the Department of History, and The American Folklore Society. I am appreciative of ¿Que Pasa, OSU? and the support they gave me in my final years at Ohio State, specifically Yolanda Zepeda, Normando Caban, and Dr. Jose Villa. One cannot survive graduate school without wonderful colleagues and friends and I have been blessed with both. Among my colleagues were my fellow graduate students: Steven L. Hyland, James Weeks, Daniel O’Malley, Roberto Padilla, Emre Sencer, Dustin Walcher, Don Hempson, James Lenaghan, Jon Hendrickson, and Christianna Thomas. In addition, I had many other dear friends in Columbus, including Kyle Sisk, Quentyn Daniels, Matthew Peters, Carson vi Dye, Robert Martz, Kurt Mueller, Paul Rogers, Mike Mitchell, and Jessie Eck. My lifelong friends continued to support me in my studies, and they include Jason Seaman, David Hudson, and Jake and Andrea Fray. My family was central and they supported me throughout this process. In fact, they helped shape who I am as a person and scholar. I am appreciative for my parents, Joseph and Mary; my sisters, Jeanette and Joetta and their husbands Rodney and Louis; and my brother Joseph and his wife Alicia. I am also thankful for my nieces and nephews, who have been the light of my life for more than twenty years: to Christopher, Joelle, Nicolas, Jessica, Jocelyn, Joey, Louie, Lauren, and Taylor. I am proud that they are all determined to graduate from college. Finally, I would not be where I am or who I am without my loving wife Sheila, who never ceased to be both patient and supportive as this project came together. She has been a friend, a partner, and a consummate source of positive energy no matter the challenge. She made my personal life fulfilling and is the foundation of my happiness. Of all the things that Ohio State gave me, none compare to her. vii VITA 1999 ……………………………….. Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Oregon 2001 ……………………………….. Master of Arts in American Studies, University of Dallas Autumn 2001 - Spring 2002…….…. University Enrichment Fellow, The Ohio State University Autumn 2002 - Spring 2011…….…. Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of History, The Ohio State University Autumn 2011 ………….................... Instructor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Department of History Publications They Came From the East: Importing Homicide, Violence, and Misconceptions of Soft Justice into Early Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1847-53. All Trails Lead To Santa Fe. Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone Press, 2010. Book review. The Life and Writings of Fray Angélico Chàvez, by Ellen McCracken, H-Net New Mexico (2010). Fields of Study Major Field: History viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ………………………………………………………………………..… ii Dedication ……………………………………………………………………..... iv Acknowledgements …………….………………………...…………………….... v Vita ……………...…………………………………………………………….. viii List of Tables …………………………………………………………………… x List of Figures ………………………………………………………………….. xii List of Images ………………………………………………………………..... xiv Introduction …………………………………………………………………….... 1 Chapter 1: The Rise of the New Mexican Caudillos and the Burden of the Vecinos…………....…………………………………..............… 35 Chapter 2: Vecino Crime and the Process of Territorialization ………...……... 93 Chapter 3: Between a Rock and a Gun: Vecino and Anglo Homicide …...…... 162 Chapter 4: Pain for the Vecino Pay for the Anglo …...……………………….. 227 Epilogue …………………………………………………….………………… 309 Bibliography …………………………………………………...……………... 314 Appendix A …………………………………………………………………… 321 ix LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1. Occupational Structure of Santa Fe County, 1790, 1827, and 1850 …………………………………………………..…...…...52 Table 1.2. Occupational Structure in Santa Fe County, Including Large Landholders, 1850 ……………………………………………………………….53 Table 1.3. Large Landholders in Santa Fe County, Including Those Without a Profession, Males Over 20 Years of Age Only, 1850 …………………………...54 Table 2.1. Land Distribution among Males only in 1850 Santa Fe County .….129 Table 2.2. Strongmen vs. Vecinos in Santa Fe County, Including Those Without a Profession, Males over 20 Only, 1850 ………………………………………....131 Table 2.3. Hispanic and Anglo Crime in Santa Fe County, by Perpetrator Ethnicity and Crime, Adults 16 and older, per 100,000 ……………………….137 Table 2.4. Hispano and Anglo Crime in Santa Fe County, by Perpetrator Ethnicity and Crime, Adults 16 and older, per 100,000 ……………………….157 Table 3.1. Western Homicide Rates, Per 100,000, Persons Ages 16 and Older …………………………………………………………………………...164 Table 3.2. Assault Rates among Hispanos and Anglos in Santa Fe County, Adults 16 and older, per 100,000 ……………………………………………………...170 Table 3.3. Homicide Rates among Hispanos and Anglos in Santa Fe County, Adults over 16 and older, per 100,000 …………………………………………171 Table 3.4. Homicide Rates among Hispanics and Anglos in California, Adults over 16 and older, per 100,000 vs. Homicide Rates among Hispanos and Anglos in Santa Fe County, Adults over 16 and older, per 100,000 …………………...177 Table 3.5. 1850 vs.