5th of December ordered the restoration of their lands to the Indians of the district of Guadalajara.[1] By this policy Hidalgo succeeded in greatly counter acting the expedients to which his opponents resorted.
When some degree of order had been arrived at in Guanajuato, Hidalgo proceeded to make arrangements for the further progress of his enterprise. The more grievously wounded of the European prisoners were removed to the alhóndiga, where they were duly cared for; others were confined in the infantry barracks, while some few were allowed to return to their homes. At a later date all the European captives, including those brought from the different towns which the in surgents had passed through, were collected in the alhóndiga to the number of 247. Those who were allowed their liberty were, however, required to sign a written engagement not to take up arms against the independent cause, under penalty of death.[2] Spanish ecclesiastics of both the secular and regular orders were also left free, and Hidalgo issued especial commands that they should in no way be molested.
Having secured for administrative expenses but a small proportion of the treasures deposited in the alhóndiga, he appropriated, as an unavoidable necessity, considerable sums belonging to private individuals.[3] He next proceeded to organize the civil government of the province. Having summoned the ayuntamiento, he demanded to be recognized as captain-general of
- ↑ Copy of order is supplied in Mex. Refut. Art. de Fondo, 26
- ↑ A distinction was made between Spaniards who had offered resistance in the alhóndiga and those who had remained in their houses, the latter being allowed to remain at liberty under the condition mentioned in the text. Liceaga, Adic. y Rectific., 124-5.
- ↑ From the house of Bernabé Bustamante he took 40,000 pesos which had been concealed in the water-cistern, the secretion of which a faithless servant revealed. Alaman, Hist. Mej., i. 442.
y Dávalos; copies of them are to be found in Soc. Mex. Geog., 2a ep., iii. 54-6. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 88, finds fault with Hidalgo for abolishing slavery without compensation to the owners. Alfredo Chavero remarks that Alaman considered the question in a financial point of view, like the abolition of a tobacco privilege, whereas Hidalgo only regarded the emancipation of his brethren. Soc. Mex. Geog., ut sup., 56.
