Melchor Ocampo was a Mexican lawyer, scientist and liberal politician who actively participated in the Laws of Reform, which were issued in the Aztec nation between 1855 and 1860. His biographers present him as an educated, courteous, calm, benevolent and indulgent.
They describe him as a person resigned to everything that fate had in store for him, but he was uncompromising in his political ideas. Ocampo was a renowned philanthropist, naturalist, philosopher, teacher, writer, economist, and statesman. On education, he argued that it should be based on postulates of liberalism, democracy and respect for religious beliefs.
It was to promote equality before the law, strengthen civil authority, and help suppress unjust privilege. In 1861, before dying, she wrote: “I say goodbye to all my good friends and all those who have favored me a little or (sic) a lot, and I die believing that I have done for the service of my country what I.
Biography
Early years
Many data related to the origins of Melchor Ocampo are imprecise. Most of his biographers agree on the date of birth (January 5, 1814) and the place (Mexico City).
The name that appears on his baptismal certificate is José Telésforo Juan Nepomuceno Melchor de la Santísima Trinidad. María Josefa González de Tapia, her godmother, was the one who introduced her. However, the parents' data does not appear.
Weeks after his baptism, the child Melchor is adopted by Miss Francisca Xaviera Tapia y Balbuena. This lady was an opulent landowner from the Maravatío Valley in what is now the state of Michoacán.
From this moment on, the owner of one of the largest estates in the area took over Melchor Ocampo's upbringing and education.
Studies
Later, the young Melchor began his studies with the priests of Tlalpujahua and Maravatío. Later he continued his training at the Tridentine Seminary of San Pedro in the city of Valladolid, today Morelia.
Upon completion, Ocampo enrolled at the University of Mexico. She specialized in law but also studied physics, natural sciences, chemistry, and botany.
After graduating, he began his professional practice as a lawyer. His performance was for a short period as he had to deal with the administration of his properties.
Melchor Ocampo knew how to successfully combine agricultural activity with the study of science. He went on to become an encyclopaedist with writings on various topics of agriculture, geography, geology, botany, and political ideology, among others.
Political life
Melchor Ocampo began his political life in 1841 when he was elected deputy of the constituent assembly. The objective of this assembly was to modify the Constitution of 1824.
From the first moment, Ocampo began to impose his liberal and federalist ideas on the assembly. When the text of the new Constitution was almost ready, the military dissolved the assembly; they thought their privileges were in danger. Faced with this scenario, Ocampo returns to activities at its properties.
On many occasions, Ocampo had to abandon his activities on his farm to take over governmental responsibilities. He was appointed Governor of Michoacán in 1846, Senator of the Republic and Minister of Finance in 1850.
He again held the governorship in 1852, then followed a period of exile in New Orleans in 1854, and in 1855 he returned to the country to take charge of the Ministry of Justice.
Second assembly
In 1856 he is called to another constituent assembly. With many of his ideas incorporated into the text, this new Magna Carta is sworn in in 1857, which generated disagreements with conservative groups and again generated political unrest. The political upheaval subsided with the appointment of Benito Juárez as President of the Republic.
At that time, Ocampo simultaneously held the positions of Minister of the Interior, Foreign Relations, War and Finance. He kept supporting the management of this government and promoting important laws until his retirement in 1861. In his last days he returned to his lands to take care of them.
Last days
During the last stretch of his political life, Ocampo lived the stage of the deepest nationalism. Supporting the administration of Benito Juárez, he defended his liberal ideas and tried to influence the Mexican people. He preached respect for law and sovereignty, and assured that these were the means to achieve stability and progress in the Mexican nation.
Later, in the midst of the country's pacification process, Juárez offered Leonardo Márquez amnesty. Not agreeing with this measure, Melchor Ocampo presents his resignation.
General Márquez was considered the most brutal of the conservative military and multiple executions were attributed to liberal leaders. Despite Juárez's requests for reconsideration, Ocampo retires to his lands in Michoacán.
On the morning of June 3, 1861, a Spaniard named Lindoro Cajiga broke into the hacienda and arrested Ocampo. Once taken prisoner, Ocampo is presented to General Félix Zuloaga, self-appointed President of the Republic.
Zuloaga orders that Ocampo be presented before a court martial. In a confusing event and before the court can meet, Melchor Ocampo is shot; the order for this action is attributed to Leonardo Márquez. After the execution, Ocampo's lifeless body was hung from a tree branch.
Legacy
During the 20 years of his public action (1841-1861) Melchor Ocampo bequeathed a large number of reforms and advances that transformed the Mexican State. From the beginning he had an active participation as part of the liberal group that wrote the Constitution of 1857. His participation in the Reform Laws of Juárez was also notable.
Of his legacy we can mention:
- Prohibition of the use of the stick in schools as a corrective method.
- Declaration of free teaching of the first letters and of all languages.
- Establishment of the baccalaureate in philosophy, law and medicine.
- Creation of inspection boards of the schools of first letters.
- Creation of school statistics.
- Organization of professional troops during the war against the North-Americans (1847).
Civil marriage
Perhaps his most famous legacy was the promulgation of the decree that instituted civil marriage in Mexico. This law was promulgated on July 23, 1859 and was later recognized as the Ocampo Law.
It was promulgated within the framework of the Reform Laws of the liberal presidents. Through the issuance of these laws and decrees, the Church-State separation was achieved in the Mexican nation. In this way, the creation of a modern state was supported.
References
- Villalobos Calderón L. (s / f). Melchor Ocampo. Chamber of Deputies. Taken from diputados.gob.mx.
- Tuck, J. (2008, October 09). Melchor Ocampo (1814–1861). Taken from mexconnect.com
- De Zamacois, N. (1880). Death of Melchor Ocampo. Taken from memoriapoliticademexico.org.
- Flores Torres, O. (selection). (2003). Historians of Mexico XIX century. Mexico City: Trillas.
- Villalobos Calderón L. (2005). Melchor Ocampo. Taken from reneavilesfabila.com.mx.