of Santa Cruz, without being allowed to communicate with any one. His wife was conveyed to the convent of Santa Clara, and although enceinte, was deprived of the company of her friends, and even of her children, who were separately imprisoned.[1]
It is difficult to account for the subsequent proceedings of the government against Dominguez, unless they can be explained by the contemptuous regard with which Oidor Aguirre viewed the political attitude of the creoles. Information of the corregidor's arrest was conveyed without loss of time to Venegas, who consulted with Aguirre. That minister expressed such disdain for any attempt that could be made by 'Americans' to overthrow Spanish rule, that he assured the viceroy that at an official piece of parchment on a stick they would be frightened like asses.[2] He concluded by suggesting that Juan Collado, the alcalde del crímen, should be sent, with an escribano and minor officials, to investigate the matter.[3] The viceroy acted upon this advice, and Collado briefly dismissed the charge against Dominguez and reinstated him in office.[4]
- ↑ Bustamante states that her daughters were not allowed to speak with the servants who attended on her. Cuadro Hist., i. 32.
- ↑ Throughout this war the Mexican people, Creoles, Indians, and mestizos, are often called 'Americanos,' and sometimes 'gente del pais.'
- ↑ Bustamente regards this exhibition of authority with great contempt. He ironically represents Aguirre as suggesting, 'que en el caso, lo que convenia hacer, seria mandar al alcalde de crimen D. Juan Collado á Querétaro con un escribano y algunos porquerones,' and adds that the viceroy accepted the advice and Collado the office, the latter appointing José María Moya his escribano, and 'corchete mayor á D. Antonio Acuña que en Mexico desempeñaba la plaza de capitan de sala.' Ib.
- ↑ Venegas disapproved Collado's action and removed him from the audiencia. Id., 36. Dominguez was a man of great literary ability and acquirements. As a magistrate, both his talents and integrity were justly appreciated by the public. Having occupied in the Mexican capital an official position of importance and trust with regard to both public and private business of the viceroy, his strict attention to his duties and his fidelity gained him the favor of Marquina, who appointed him to the corregimiento of Querétaro, an office so important and lucrative that it was regarded as equal to an intendencia. The salary was 4,000 pesos, and other sources of income amounted to as much more. Under the administration of Iturrigaray, Dominguez was instructed to reform the abuses which existed in the cloth factories at Querétaro. The system under which these were conducted reduced a large proportion of the operatives to actual slavery—a pecuniary advance making them subject to thraldom remorselessly exacted by their
