por Melchor Ocampo was a Mexican politician and lawyer born in 1814. During his political career, he became one of the most important liberal ideologues in the country and, as such, was a member of the Constituent Congress that drafted and approved that year’s Constitution. His support of his liberalism cost him his life at the hands of the conservatives.
In a context of civil confrontation between liberals and conservatives, Ocampo participated in the rebellion that ended the government of Santa Anna. Later, he co-authored the so-called Reform Laws, which sought to end the great power that the Catholic Church had accumulated and modernize the country’s administration.
In 1848, after Mexico’s defeat in the war against the United States, Ocampo became an opponent of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, which granted Americans half of Mexico’s territory. However, years later he had to make some concessions to the Americans in the Mclane-Ocampo Treaty.
Ocampo’s liberal ideology included his defense of democracy, respect for different religious beliefs, tolerance, and equality before the law. Part of his intellectual background was acquired in Europe, where he traveled while still very young and where he came into contact with the ideas of the French Enlightenment.
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early years
The data on the birth of José Telésforo Juan Nepomuceno Melchor de la Santísima Trinidad Ocampo Tapia, the full name of the politician, are quite scarce. Most sources state that he was born on the Pateo hacienda, in Maravatío (Michoacán), on January 5, 1814.
His family origin is also unknown. It is believed that he was taken in by the owner of the hacienda, Francisca Javiera Tapia y Balbuena, who enjoyed a very good economic position, which allowed the young man to receive a very high-level education. Ocampo was in his care until he was 17 years old and inherited some of his property.
Some historians point out that his father could have been Ignacio Alas, who had fought during the War of Independence alongside José María Morelos, or Antonio María Uraga, another insurgent who had been a priest of Maravatío for some years.
Studies
Ocampo completed the first stage of his studies in Maravatío. Later, he entered the Tridentino Seminary in Valladolid to pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil law and canon law. The young man completed these studies in 1830, with brilliant results.
To complete his training, Ocampo enrolled at the University of Mexico, where he specialized in law. In addition, he also received teachings in physics, chemistry, natural sciences, and botany.
First jobs
Melchor Ocampo’s first job was as a lawyer in the law firm of José Ignacio Espinosa. He started working in 1833, but soon decided that the field of law did not suit him and he left the post. According to his own words, in that profession «tricks and intrigues were more valuable than knowledge and justice.»
After leaving the firm, Ocampo began to dedicate himself to agriculture on the farm he had inherited, where he introduced some scientific innovations.
Already at that time, he began to analyze some issues related to the Church, such as tithing or parish observations. The result of these analyzes were the articles that he published in El Filógrafo, a liberal newspaper.
In these collaborations, Ocampo defended the principles that he would later try to incorporate into the laws. Thus, he wrote against the death penalty and in favor of democracy and freedom of the press. In addition, he denounced the privileges enjoyed by the Church and the military.
Ocampo also attached great importance to education. In his writings he affirmed that «instruction is the first basis for the prosperity of a people, as well as the surest means of making abuses of power impossible.»
Trip to Europe
In 1840, Ocampo made a trip to Europe in which he visited France, Italy and Spain. During his journey, which lasted for a year and a half, he came into contact with the liberal and anti-clerical ideas of the French Enlightenment.
From that continent, he sent writings with his impressions to Mexico and, in addition, he took the opportunity to make botanical observations.
When he returned to Mexico in 1842, he spent time dedicating himself to both law and scientific agriculture. In addition, he also studied Indian languages and cataloged flora and fauna. His interest in all branches of knowledge led him to establish one of the best libraries in the country.
Political life
Ocampo began his political career after returning from Europe. In 1842, he was elected deputy for Michoacán to the Constituent Congress called by Antonio López de Santa Anna for that year.
In that Congress, Ocampo was in favor of federalism, in opposition to the centralism that the Santa Anna government defended. He finally dissolved the organization and Ocampo returned to his farm.
During the following years, Melchor Ocampo continued with his scientific work. Thus, he became a member of the Filoiatric Society of Mexico, in 1843; he invented a remedy against rabies; and he studied a comet that crossed the skies of the country that year. His scientific articles, published in various magazines, gave him great prestige.
In 1845, he presented a project to build a penitentiary center and, that same year, he investigated the origin of the earthquakes in an area of Michoacán.
Governor of Michoacan
Ocampo returned to politics in 1846, when he was named governor of Michoacán, first on an interim basis and later in an election. During his tenure, he opened and secularized the Primitive and National College of San Nicolás de Hidalgo.
The following year, in the middle of the war against the United States, Ocampo dedicated himself to gathering troops from his state to try to fight the invading army.
His ideology contrary to the privileges of the Church increased after a dispute with the clergy of Michoacán. The reason for the confrontation was the refusal of a local clergyman to bury a laborer whose family could not pay the sacramental fees.
Opposition to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The Mexican army, lacking in resources, was unable to continue presenting battle to the United States. Given this, Ocampo proposed organizing a guerrilla system that would continue to stand up to the invaders and was directly opposed to the conditions for peace that appeared in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
The lack of internal agreement in Mexico caused his proposal to be considered unfeasible and the Treaty was signed. As a result of it, the country lost more than half of its territory, which was annexed by the United States.
Ocampo presented his resignation to the government of Michoacán in protest against the agreement. The politician reflected in his writings his opinion about what happened: «Once we have shown that we are worthless, what is the guarantee of what the magnanimity and munificence of the victor leaves us?»
Senator and member of the government
Despite the disappointment caused by the signing of the peace agreement, Ocampo did not abandon politics. His next position was that of Senator of the Republic, a chamber that he came to preside over.
President José Joaquín Herrera asked him to join his government and Ocampo accepted. On March 1, 1850, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, but he only lasted two months in office. The reason for his resignation was the president’s refusal to accept his proposal to suspend payments on the foreign debt.
Facing the presidential succession of 1851, the most radical liberals proposed that Ocampo take charge of the position. The moderate liberals, for their part, opted for Mariano Arista, who was finally named president by a few votes difference.
Clash with the Church
Ocampo wrote in 1851 a bill for the Congress of Michoacán. His proposal, a clear antecedent of the Reform Laws, was called “Representation for the reform of the Tariff of Parish Taxes”.
The purpose of the law drafted by Ocampo was to end abuses by the clergy when charging for religious services, from baptisms to burials. The Church reacted angrily, and its relations with the liberals deteriorated further.
The politician resubmitted his law to the government of Michoacán in 1852. In addition, he requested that its approval be submitted to a direct vote by the population. However, a Conservative rebellion in 1853 meant that the law was never voted on.
The governments of the Reform
The conservatives offered the presidency to Antonio López de Santa Anna, whom Ocampo called «the hero of the farce.»
His Serene Highness, as Santa Anna called himself at this stage, ordered Ocampo to be arrested. He was first confined in Tulancingo and, later, in San Juan de Ulúa. From there he went into exile in Cuba and finally to New Orleans, in the United States.
In that US city, Ocampo met with other liberal politicians in exile, including Benito Juárez, Ponciano Arriaga and José María Mata.
Those meetings were the germ of the Ayutla Plan, which called for a rebellion to overthrow Santa Anna. Ocampo moved to Brownsville, Texas, and organized the Revolutionary Junta.
Although the Mexican press, dominated by Santa Anna, spoke ill of them, the rebellion began in 1854 and achieved its goal of overthrowing the dictatorial government.
Juan Álvarez was named president and Benito Juárez and Melchor Ocampo, back from exile, became Minister of Justice and Foreign Relations, respectively.
Again, Ocampo only served as a minister for a few weeks. On this occasion, the reason for his resignation was his disagreements with Ignacio Comonfort.
Constituent Congress
The new Mexican government convened a Constituent Congress in order to approve a new Magna Carta. Ocampo was part of it as a deputy for the State of Mexico, Michoacán and the Federal District.
The politician was elected president of Congress, although he was only in office for 10 days. In addition, he was one of the members of the commission that was to draft the constitutional text. His ideas, according to historians, were reflected in part of the articles.
The result was the Constitution of 1857, markedly liberal. In it, among other aspects, religious intolerance was eliminated and the government was given power to legislate on religious matters. The Church, in retaliation, excommunicated all those who participated in the elaboration.
Reform laws
Ocampo was also one of the authors of the so-called Reform Laws, which were later incorporated into the constitution. This legislation had as its main purpose the real separation of the State and the Church.
The main laws were those known as Ley Juárez and Ley Lerdo. With them, the ecclesiastical privileges were abolished and the intervention of the Church in political and social affairs was ended.
Another of the laws in which Ocampo left his mark was the Civil Marriage Law. This was approved later, during the War of…