ABSTRACT
A number of factors contributed to the governor's decision to expel those men. He had been hearing rumors that a revolution was in the making to liberate Cuba and Puerto Rico. At least that is what he said to the Governor of Cuba in his letter of 13 December 1866. He confided that news from the Spanish Minister in Washington had led him to believe that "a vast conspiracy is ready to break to proclaim the independence of these two islands." According to Manuel Maria Gonzalez, he traveled from Camuy to Lares and Mayaguez to ascertain what progress had been made by the rebel organizations there. In Lares, he found Rojas extremely optimistic, claiming he had about 30 or 40 active members in his organization who, in turn, had the support of about 500 to 600 men who were committed to fight when the time came.
