or Velasquez, whose
authority he was bound to obey.

2. He had usurped powers in contempt of the authority of his
lawful sovereign.

3. He had made war upon Narvaez, who had been sent with full
authority to supersede him, and had slain many of his
companions. He had also refused to receive Tapia, though he
was invested with the authority of the crown.

4. He had cruelly, and in dishonor of the Spanish name, put
Guatemozin to the torture.

5. He had remitted but a small part of the treasures
obtained to the crown, squandering vast sums in schemes to
promote his own aggrandizement.

6. His whole system of procedure was one of violence,
extortion, and cruelty.

It was urged in defense,

1. Two thirds of the cost of the expedition, nominally
fitted out by Velasquez, were defrayed by Cortez.

2. The interests of the crown required that colonies should
be established in Mexico. Velasquez was invested with power
to traffic only, not to found colonies; consequently,
Cortez, in the discharge of his duty, was bound to establish
colonies, and to send to the crown for the ratification of
the deed, as he had done.

3. It was the wish of Cortez to meet Narvaez amicably; but
that commander, assuming a hostile attitude, had compelled
Cortez to do the same. The treatment of Tapia was defended
as in the dispatch which Cortez had transmitted to the
emperor.

4. The torture of Guatemozin was declared to have been, not
the act of Cortez, but of one of his officers, who was
driven to it by the clamors of the soldiers.

5. It was clearly proved that Cortez had transmitted more
than one fifth of the treasure obtained to the crown. It was
also pretty conclusively proved that his administration was,
in general, characterized by far-reaching sagacity.

The defense was triumphant. Cortez was acquitted, his acts were
confirmed, and he was appointed _governor_, _captain-general_, _and
chief justice_ of the immense empire which he had subjugated. The
power with which he was invested was vast--almost unlimited. He was
authorized to appoint to all offices, civil and military. He could
also banish from the country any persons whose conduct should be
displeasing to him. A large salary was conferred upon him, that he
might maintain the splendor becoming his rank. His off