On December 20th the viceroy decreed his execution, which out of respect for the church should take place beyond the capital, and without dismemberment.[1] Early in the morning of the 22d he was taken in a coach to San Cristobal Ecatepec, a village north of the lake, with a palace then converted into a fortress, and famed as the spot where outgoing viceroys used to tender welcome to their successors. The last prayer over, Morelos himself bandaged his eyes and was led forth with arms tied, slowly dragging the heavy shackles. "Kneel!" said the officer in charge. He complied, calm as ever, murmuring: "Lord, thou knowest if I have done well; if ill, I implore thy infinite mercy!" The next moment he fell, shot in the back;[2] passing through a traitor's death into the sphere of patriot-martyr and hero immortal.
His countrymen have placed him next to Hidalgo in the rank of patriot liberators, and justly so, for if the latter started the revolution, Morelos nobly carried on the great work, and more ably, it must be admitted. While possessing little book learning, he
- ↑ For fear of public commotion, says Bustamante.
- ↑ At 3 p. m. on Dec. 22d. A second volley was required to produce death. He was buried by the curate of the village an hour later. Reports of Concha and curate, and orders for execution, in Gaz. de Mex., 1815, vi. 1394-8; and Noticioso Gen., Jan. 5, 1816, followed by the retraction attributed to him. Bustamante speaks of his coolness; how he enjoyed a meal with his usual marked appetite, followed by a cigar and small talk with Concha, his captor and jailer, whom he finally embraces. He objected to be confessed by a friar, whereat Father Salazar, who attended him, took umbrage and came forth in denial of several of these points, in Eco de la Justicia, Oct. 24, 1843. Bustamante angrily retorts, referring as authority to his brother-in-law, Colonel Camacho, who received the information from his lieutenant. As he fell he gave a terrible shout, 'con que invocó la justicia del cielo.' Cuad. Hist., iii. 234. See more fully among my collection of Bustamante's autograph MSS. Muerte de Morelos, in Diario, Exact., MS., pt v.; Supl, Cavo, Tres Siglos, iv. 120-6.
care and he had been obliged to provide priests. He admitted irregularity of life, but not a scandalous one. His children were not regarded as his own. His son would not have been safe in New Spain, and he therefore sent him to the United States, but to a catholic college. In three additional charges his humble origin was adduced to support the charge of heresy; whereat Bustamante waxes indignant. Was not Christ the son of a carpenter? Cuad. Hist., iii. 229. In speaking of insurgent leaders Morelos gives the first rank for ability to Teran and Ramon Rayon; Bravo had been successful, and Osorno deserved prominence for his influence. See also Zerecero, Rev. Mex., 161-4.
