Peña took upon his shoulders the responsibility of entering upon preliminary negotiations for peace. He well knew that his resolution would be a destructive weapon in the hands of the moderados, among whom was Paredes, who was summoned to Querétaro, and refused to go.[1]
Congress, having assembled at Querétaro, decreed that a president ad interim should be chosen on the 9th of November, upon which date Pedro M. Anaya was elected with the express condition that his functions should cease on the 8th of January, 1848,[2] and if congress was not then in session, the office should devolve on the person designated by the constitution. A vote of thanks was awarded to Peña. The latter on the 12th of November, at a very critical time, surrendered the executive authority.[3] It may be said, however, that the presidential change was merely in name, as Peña at once took charge of the portfolio of relations, and his policy was continued.[4]
The government's hands were tied by the scarcity of resources. The loss of the capital had evidently disheartened the people. Indeed, it was impossible to rouse the enthusiasm of a people who had neither arms nor ammunition, nor even the means of sustaining life. The states that had not been brought under subjection by the invading enemy spread the false
- ↑ Peña caused to be released on parole all prisoners of the enemy, and adopted several measures directed to the correction of abuses.
- ↑ His election was formally announced on the 11th of Nov. Méx., Col. Ley. y Dec., 1847, 214-16; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., v. 305-6.
- ↑ Several attempts at revolution in Guan had somewhat occupied the government's attention. El Correo Nacional, Oct. 29, 1847; El Arco Iris, Dec. 6, 1847. A revolt had been successful in Oajaca; large bodies of men had gathered in the sierra of Querétaro, whose aim was to prey upon the country; in Chiapas a faction was working to reannex her to Guatemala, that faction claiming that the people were tired of Mexico's misrule and neglect of their interests. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 23; Id., Gob. de Méx., ii. 314; Tab., Manif. del Gob., 1-20.
- ↑ His colleagues then were, Luis de la Rosa, in treasury and justice; and Ignacio de Mora y Villamil, in war and navy. Méx., Col. Ley. y Dec., 1847, 216; Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1870, 1046. The most important measures of the new administration were: granting pardon to deserters reporting themselves with their arms; reorganizing the army; and demanding from the states an extraordinary contingent of 16,000 men. Méx., Doc. Min. Guerra, 1-13.
