Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/364

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
348
SIEGE OF CUAUTLA.

except on the basis of the establishment in Mexico of a national government. Indeed, even their influence would have been unavailing to stay the current of independent principles now so deeply ingrafted in the minds of their followers, and an attempt to do so would have endangered their own lives.[1] The commissioners, therefore, returned with the tidings of their failure, and the two governments continued their preparations for future hostilities.

Second Campaign of Morelos.

About the middle of November Morelos again took the field and entered upon his second campaign. Proceeding to Tlapa, he entered that town without opposition, the royalist garrison having retreated to Oajaca on his approach. Here he was joined by Padre Tapia,

  1. The commissioner Palafox, in his report to the bishop describing the public feeling in that part of the country which he visited, says: 'Ni se piensa, ni se habla, ni se obra, sino de la insurreccion: . . .todos, pero mas los indios, estan resueltos à morir, y con hechos prácticos han probado quo lo están tambien à matar aun à los supremos gefes que han puesto el dia que se vuelvan como ellos dicen "revelados." Campillo, Manif., 112-13. Rayon's reply to