Just Weeks After Liberating Mexico City, President Benito Juarez Writes the Man Who Defended One of the Generals of the Defeated Empire

Benito Juarez is considered one of Mexico's greatest and most beloved leaders. During his political career he helped to institute a series of liberal reforms that were embodied into the new constitution of 1857. During the French occupation of Mexico, Juarez refused to accept the rule of the Monarchy or any other foreign nation, and helped to establish Mexico as a constitutional democracy. He also promoted equal rights for the Indian population, better access to health care and education, lessening the political and financial power of the Roman Catholic church, and championed the raising of the living standards for the rural poor.

In January 1861 the conservatives lost power, and Benito Juarez became the President of Mexico. As the treasury was practically empty Juarez made the decision to suspend payment on all foreign debts for a two year period, which made creditor European nations angry.

Then came the invasion of the French under Napoleon III in late 1861, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and Spain.The  invasion was eventually successful, with French troops finally taking control of Mexico City in late 1863 and installing a Habsburg monarchy there beginning in 1864 under Archduke Maximilian of Austria.  The US, which saw this as a violation of the Monroe Doctrine, was unable to act because it was in the middle of the Civil War.

In 1866, the Civil War over, US President Andrew Johnson demanded the withdrawal of French troops.  France announced the departure of its troops, pulling away support from the monarchy it had helped install there.  Thus began a series of victories for the Republicans opposing them, led by Benito Juarez.  In May of 1867, attempting to flee through enemy lines, Maximilian was captured.  His trial was an international phenomenon, with calls for his pardon.  This took place in June of 1867.  Along with him were tried a small number of Conservative Generals who cooperated with Maximilian and fought against the Republians.  Don Miguel Miramar was a Mexican conservative general. He had served as anti-constitutional interim conservative president of Mexico in opposition to the constitutional president Juárez of the Liberal Party; he was Juarez’s counterpart on the other side.  Miramar chose to represent him a celebrated lawyer, Don Ignacio de Jauregui San Luis.  Juarez was unmoved by international appeals for clemency.  Both Maximilian and Miramon were executed on June 19.  On June 20, Mexico City surrendered to Juarez.  

Jose Maria Barros was a former deputy, who had been found guilty of a financial crime during the years of the Monarchy and was known to both Jauregui and Juarez.

Letter signed, in Spanish, Mexico City, July 25, 1867, just weeks after its liberation, to Don Ignacio de Jauregui San Luis.  “My dearest friend, In answer to your letter of the 15th I must say I am very sorry about the imprisonment of Mr. Barros, and that everything that is possible will be done in favor to him. Benito Juárez.”

An uncommon letter of Juarez, which we obtained directly from the Barros descendants and has never before been offered for sale.