[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1130-S1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DESIGNATING 1998 AS THE ``ONATE CUARTOCENTENARIO,'' THE 400TH
ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST PERMANENT SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN
NEW MEXICO
Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 306, S. Res.
148.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 148) designating 1998 as the ``Onate
Cuartocentenario,'' the 400th anniversary commemoration of
the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the resolution?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary
with an amendment, as follows:
Whereas Don Juan de Onate of Spain settled the first
permanent colony of Europeans in the Southwest Region of the
United States, known as San Gabriel de Los Espanoles, and
located near modern day San Juan Pueblo and Espanola, New
Mexico;
Whereas the first Spanish capital was established at San
Juan de los Caballeros in July of 1598, predating the English
settlement of Jamestown in 1610 by 12 years;
Whereas Spanish exploration activity in the New World began
in 1512 when Ponce de Leon explored the Florida peninsula,
and included the explorations of Francisco Coronado
throughout California to Kansas and across Arizona, New
Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma from 1540 to 1542;
Whereas the major Spanish settlement efforts were focused
in modern day Florida and New Mexico, and 1998 marks the
400th anniversary of the first permanent settlement in New
Mexico, referred to as the Cuartocentenario;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing minority
group in the United States and include descendants of the
Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Central American, and
other Hispanic peoples;
Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimated in March
1993 that the Hispanic population of the United States was
22,800,000; the current estimate of the Hispanic population
in the United States is 26,000,000, with projections of
30,000,000 by the year 2000, 40,000,000 by 2010, and almost
60,000,000 (or 20 percent of the total United States
population) by the year 2030;
Whereas the number of Hispanic immigrants to the United
States has increased from 1,500,000 in the 1960's, to
2,400,000 in the 1970's, to 4,500,000 in the 1980's, and the
number of Hispanic immigrants is expected to continue to
rise;
Whereas two-thirds of all Hispanics in the United States
today are of Mexican origin, and 70 percent of United States
Hispanics live in 4 States: California, Texas, New York, and
Florida;
Whereas New Mexico's Hispanic population is 39 percent (or
over 660,000 of the 1995 total State population of 1,700,000)
and represents the highest percentage of Hispanics in any
State in the United States;
Whereas the United States has an enriched legacy of
Hispanic influence in politics, government, business, and
culture due to the early settlements and continuous influx of
Hispanics into the United States;
Whereas the New Mexico State Government has funded a
Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with
assistance from the Federal Government, local governments,
and private contributions, to celebrate and preserve Hispanic
culture including literature, performing arts, visual arts,
music, culinary arts, and language arts;
Whereas the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan, is
planning events throughout 1998 in New Mexico, including the
opening of ``Jubilee year'', an encuentro at Santo Domingo
Pueblo to mark the meeting of the missionaries with the
Pueblo peoples, an Archdiocesan reconciliation service at the
Santuario de Chimayo, and an Archdiocesan celebration of St.
Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe;
Whereas in order to commemorate Don Juan de Onate's
arrival, the city of Espanola will have a fiesta in July
1998, the city of Santa Fe is planning several special
events, and the New Mexico statewide committee is planning a
parade, a historical costume ball, and a pageant in
Albuquerque; and
Whereas many other religious, educational, and social
events are being planned around New Mexico to commemorate the
400th anniversary of the first permanent Spanish settlement
in New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the year 1998 as the ``New Mexico
Cuartocentenario'' to commemorate the 400th anniversary of
the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico;
(2) recognizes the cultural and economic importance of the
Spanish settlements throughout the Southwest Region of the
United States;
(3) expresses its support for the work of the Espanola
Plaza Foundation, the Santa Fe and Albuquerque
Cuartocentenario committees, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the
New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center Board of Directors, the
Hispanic Cultural Foundation Board of Trustees, as well as
other interested groups that are preparing New Mexico
Cuartocentenario activities;
(4) expresses its support for the events to be held in New
Mexico and the Southwest in observance of the New Mexico
Cuartocentenario;
(5) requests that the President issue a proclamation--
(A) declaring 1998 as the ``New Mexico Cuartocentenario''
to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first permanent
Spanish settlement in New Mexico; and
(B) calling on the people of the United States and
interested groups to observe the year with appropriate
ceremonies, activities, and programs to honor and celebrate
the contributions of Hispanic people to the cultural and
economic life of the United States; and
(6) calls upon the people of the United States to support,
promote, and participate in the many New Mexico
Cuartocentenario activities being planned to commemorate the
historic event of the early settling of the Southwest Region
of the United States by the Spanish.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, this year New Mexico is commemorating
[[Page S1131]]
the 400th anniversary of its first Spanish Settlement. In 1598, the
first Spanish expedition arrived from Santa Barbara, Mexico, and
settled near San Juan Pueblo in the Espanola valley.
The Spanish settlement of New Mexico in 1598 predates the Pilgrims'
landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620, by 22 years. It also predates the
settlement of Jamestown in 1607 by 9 years.
New Mexicans are exploring their roots with a renewed interest. The
Pueblo Indians of New Mexico helped the Spanish to survive and
flourish. The Spanish brought new crops, mining, weaving, cattle and
other livestock, Christianity, and Spanish government.
Although the history of two cultures meeting in New Mexico has had
its difficult times, such as the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, New Mexico is
today known for its harmonious intercultural life, including much
intermarriage.
Mr. President, I am proud to have 60 cosponsors of this resolution.
Senator Lott, the Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Daschle, the
Senate Minority Leader, are both original cosponsors of this
resolution.
This year we commemorate the brave and adventurous Spanish families
who first set roots in the beautiful Land of Enchantment. By
commemorating these early events, we are also honoring the important
cultural, political, and economic contributions those Spanish families
and their descendants have made to enrich our state and nation.
The Onate expedition was part of a large Spanish effort to expand the
Spanish Empire, convert more people to Christianity, and find great
wealth in the New World. There was great excitement at the beginning of
the 16th Century about these prospects.
Spaniards like Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizzaro (cousins from
Medelli in and Cuidad Trujillo) left Spain in the early 1500's to seek
their fortunes and spread the glory of Spain.
When Mayan gold was taken back to Spain from the Yucatan Peninsula of
Mexico in 1517 by Hernandez de Cordoba, it fueled the fires of the
Spanish enthusiasm for finding the legendary Seven Cities of Gold in
the New World.
Spanish explorers like Ponce de Leon, Francisco Coronado, and Don
Juan de Onate explored modern-day America from Florida to California.
Some 400 Spanish settlers were led by Don Juan de Onate from Santa
Barbara, Mexico, through El Paso to San Juan Pueblo (named by Onate for
John the Baptist). The soldiers, priests, laymen, families, servants
and their 83 wagons and 7,000 animals formed a 2 to 4 mile-long caravan
as they journeyed up the Rio Grande.
When they arrived at San Juan Pueblo on July 11, 1598, they
established the first Spanish capital in the New World. They built the
San Gabriel chapel and convento. Today, a beautiful replica of the San
Gabriel chapel stands in the Espanola Plaza.
It is well known that the Spanish people founded the oldest cities in
America. First, St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565, followed by
Santa Fe, New Mexico, the second oldest city in what is now the United
States. In 1610, Santa Fe was named the capital of New Mexico making it
the oldest capital city in America today.
Before Santa Fe became the capital of the New Mexico territory, the
San Gabriel mission served as the first Spanish Capital of New Mexico,
beginning in 1598. San Gabriel is at San Juan Pueblo where the Rio
Chama meets the Rio Grande. Its Indian name was Yunge Oweenge.
The designation and renaming of this site by its first Governor, Don
Juan de Onate, as San Gabriel del Yunge Oweenge marks the first
permanent Spanish settlement in the west.
1998 marks the 400th Anniversary of the founding of San Gabriel del
Yunge Oweenge in the Espanola Valley of present-day New Mexico.
This resolution highlights the importance of the Spanish explorations
in America and pays tribute to the growing population of Hispanics who
are anticipated to be twenty percent of our national population by the
year 2030, with a projected population of 60 million Hispanics. Two-
thirds of the 26 million Hispanics in America (who make up eleven
percent of our population today) are of Mexican origin, and 70 percent
of Hispanics live in 4 states: California, Texas, New York, and
Florida.
New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics at 39 percent or
about 660,000 residents out of a total 1995 state population of 1.7
million. Albuquerque, New Mexico, will be the site of a new Hispanic
Cultural Center to celebrate and preserve Hispanic culture including
literature, performing arts, visual arts, music, culinary arts, and
language arts.
New Mexico will be the center of many exciting events throughout the
year to commemorate this important historic milestone. New Mexicans are
looking forward to fiestas, balls, parades, and other stimulating
events to mark this historic occasion.
The Archbishop of Santa Fe will be opening a Jubilee year in January.
Among other events, he will hold an encuentro at Santo Domingo Pueblo
to mark the meeting of the missionaries with the Pueblo Peoples.
The City of Espanola will have a fiesta in July to commemorate the
actual arrival of the Spanish into the area. Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Taos,
Socorro, Aztec, Albuquerque, and other New Mexico towns and cities will
be holding such special events as fiestas, historic reenactments, a
State Fair Pageant, an historic Spanish costume ball, and parades.
Seminars and lectures will abound.
State Fair pageant plans include a reenactment of De Vargas' reentry
into New Mexico, a review of the Pueblo Revolt and its ramifications,
life under the American flag during the middle to late 1800's, and a
patriotic tribute to all Hispanics who have fought for the United
States. This reentry spectacular will be performed twice before large
New Mexico State Fair audiences. It will also be televised.
This resolution also asks the President to issue a proclamation
declaring 1998 is a year to commemorate the arrival of Hispanics and
celebrate their growth in importance in our nation's culture and
economy.
This Senate Resolution calls upon the people of the United States to
support, promote, and participate in the many New Mexico Cuarto-
centenario activities being planned to commemorate the historic event
of the first Spanish settlement in the Southwest Region of the United
States.
Mr President, I thank my colleagues for their overwhelming support of
Senate Resolution 148. This resolution designates 1998 as the ``New
Mexico Cuartocentenario'' to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the
first Spanish settlement in New Mexico.
Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendment be
agreed to, the resolution be agreed to, the amendment to the title be
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that
any statements relating to the resolution appear at this point in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee amendment was agreed to.
The resolution (S. Res. 148), as amended, was agreed to.
The title was amended so as to read:
A resolution designating 1998 as the `New Mexico
Cuartocentenario', the 400th anniversary commemoration of the
first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.
Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________