March 29th.[1] Assuming the government of the province, he began at once a series of reforms, by reinstalling former officials and appointing new incumbents, withdrawing the copper coinage, introducing the constitution of 1812, restoring alienated estates, and correcting other abuses. The revolutionists were, on the other hand, sharply pursued, and fines and other inflictions were imposed on the chapter and those who had countenanced their presence. The vicarios generales and agents San Martin and Velasco stooped low for pardon, only to return to the revolutionists at the first opportunity.[2] Álvarez's efforts were nevertheless too spasmodic and circumscribed to produce any decided improvement. He was vain and pompous, and allowed personal interests to outweigh his duty and the public good.
The subjugation of the remaining part of the province did not occupy much time. Encouraged by the extensive withdrawal of troops by Morelos for the campaign in Michoacan, royalists from Vera Cruz had already in December occupied the eastern line, and penetrated as far as Villa Alta;[3] while Dambrini avenged himself for the defeat inflicted by Matamoros by a fresh invasion from Guatemala into Tehuantepec, and by prompting Reguera to fresh activity on
- ↑ Yet the colonel halted before it to issue a pompous and threatening proclamation. The last revolutionary adherents had departed shortly before, attended by insults from the populace, who now turned to raise arches for Alvarez. Carriedo, Estud. Oaj., ii. 29; Torrente, Rev., ii. 95-6.
- ↑ Both were afterward caught and tried. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., vi. 313, 316-440. Velasco sought to merit his pardon by bitter denunciation of the cause. Bustamante writes that Murguía was confirmed as intendente by Alvarez, but had soon to leave for Madrid to seek absolution. Cuad., iii. 37-8. Carriedo states that he was at once removed and sent to Mexico, Estud. Oaj., ii. 29, which is more likely. Pap. Var., clxxi. pt xviii. 5-14. Rosains assailed Rayon in his Justa Repulsa for so readily losing the rich province intrusted to him, and Rayon came forth to explain that Morelos' adherents had prevented the execution of his orders, and withheld arms and money, and had furthermore created a reaction against the revolutionary cause by their outrages. It was moreover too late to save the province when he took the task. Both documents are given in Revolucion, Verd. Orígen, pt ii. 62-6.
- ↑ By order of Topete, stationed at Tlacotalpan. Tuxtepec was captured with a loss of over 80 insurgents. The entry into Villa Alta was a mere raid. Reports in Gaz. de Mex., 1814, v. 277-84, 415-19.
