BENITO JUAREZ (1806-1872) Five time president of Mexico. Juarez is often regarded as Mexico’s greatest and most beloved leader. He was the first Mexican leader who did not have a military background and was also the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as president of Mexico. Manuscript Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca Document, in Spanish Signed, “Benito Juarez.” Three pages, 8 1/2” x 12 1/2”. Oaxaca. March 7, 1848. The document reads, in part: “ ‘Several days ago this General Command had news that there would be attacks designed to subvert order in this Capital. Due to some irregularities and lacking compelling evidence that would not permit those loopholes that wrongdoers always take advantage of, we had abstained from taking any particular action. But today, possessing what can be observed in the attached Documents … it becomes imperative that you exercise the authority as District Judge regarding these disturbances and carry out those measures that will lead to the punishment the criminals deserve for their perversity’ Because of a perennially lamentable misfortune, those men who have attempted revolution in Mexico, when they have been caught, never have been punished according to the law; however, this new mission of the authorities, which they must carry out with scrupulous respect for the law, does not authorize continued rebellion; rather, on the contrary, it demands that limits be imposed on prostitution and immorality. The situation of the Country is quite sorrowful these days, and those responsible for it are some men who have become the scourge of their fellow citizens … From the pain of the good Mexicans these wrongdoers must not be reorganized in Oaxaca, and the authority of the state must vigorously prosecute those who try to drench the State in blood … It is because of fear or a mistaken respect that our legal resources were not used against this affront to mortality. This command possesses all the necessary resources to punish and repress anyone who disturbs the public order, but seeking not to usurp the powers of your own authority, we are content to make an effective recommendation in our request to you that you proceed to have the Captain who signs what is stated in document 2 participate in this action, since he is the one who has closely followed the thread of this revolution and the one has done a service to the state by denouncing it … I send this to you for your consent and in order for you to bring it to the attention of the President of the Republic. Tell him that my government has already set forth the measures in its report in fulfillment of its lawful duty to preserve public tranquility and order … I am honored to express you my esteem and most sincere regards. God and Liberty … ” Juarez’s time as Governor of Oaxaca was short-lived. Taking that post in 1847, he was exiled the following year for his objections to the corruption of the Santa Anna military dictatorship. Our letter, penned the very year of his exile, contains fine content on Juarez’s brave, but ultimately unsuccessful, fight against this corrupt regime. Splits at folds. Paper loss at left edge of folds. Some light toning. Overall Very Fine.