Governors and prefects were mostly military men, among whom Santa Anna knew better how to choose devoted followers fitted to carry out his imperious demands by virtue of their training and their control over troops.[1] The distribution of foreign missions served less to reward the recipients than to remove to a safe distance certain persons of influence, such as Uraga, who was sent to Berlin, and Almonte to Washington.[2]
The readiest means for according favor and rallying adherents round the government was to offer appointments in the army, which, to this end, must now be reorganized and increased to 91,500 men. This force was to consist of 26,500 permanent troops and the remainder of active militia, into which latter had to be merged all state militia, for better control by the central government.[3] The dissolution of the popular militia system created much ill-feeling, manifested at Vera Cruz in open though futile revolt. Another cause for discontent lay in the commendable substitution of conscription for the cruel impressment, which had created serious injury to agriculture, interior traf-
- ↑ Generals Blancarte, Yañez, Escobar, Blanco, Corona de la Vega, Heredia, Betancourt, Ormachea, Ampudia, and Mora were rewarded respectively with the governments of Lower California, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Oajaca, Vera Cruz, Yucatan, Durango, Tlascala, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Zacatecas. Rebolledo died before he could accept the place subsequently given to Blancarte. The latter is said to have been first offered Guanajuato, but declined out of modesty. Blanco had special orders to watch Guerrero, wherein Alvarez was soon induced to resign, whereupon Gen. Moreno stepped forward to hold control for the dictator.
- ↑ Uraga felt bitterly this exile, and the comparatively insignificant post accorded him in lieu of the Spanish mission. He had the presumption to regard himself as the most indispensable man in Mexico at the time. See letters reproduced in Domenech, Hist. du Mex., ii. 2!7-51. Both he and Almonte were possible candidates for the presidency. Pacheco, at first proposed for the cabinet, was sent to France. General Robles took a strong attitude, and was allowed to go into voluntary exile. For comments on these and other missions, see Eco de España, July 30, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 1853, etc.; also Español, Feb. 19th, Apr. 23d, 27th, etc.; Universal, and other newspapers; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 226-8, 381, 396, 403-5, 434; Losada, Cuestion, 17. Rules for diplomatic service in Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1853, 71-80.
- ↑ The proportions of permanent troops were 15,816 infantry, 3,948 cavalry, 5,325 artillery, 1,264 engineers, besides medical corps, etc. Of the militia, 51,968 were infantry, 12,286 cavalry, and 692 artillery.
mentary and honorary members were added, embracing the archbishop and other dignitaries. They were entitled 'excellencies,' and given a staff of office.
