and misery stalked abroad. Cholera was adding its horrors in the central provinces; locusts ravaged the eastern; both frontiers stood menaced by bands of invaders; and in the north neglected presidios and colonies were left to struggle with insufficient means against savage raiders; while the newly raised armies wallowed in ease in the interior cities, there massed to sustain autocratic measures and hush murmurings. And well they did their work; for the several efforts made to shake off the yoke were promptly suppressed, notably in Guanajuato, Yucatan, and Vera Cruz.[1] The severe decrees against conspirators were applied with greater zeal than ever, and one prominent man after another who might prove dangerous to the government was sent into exile or cast into a dungeon, the only redeeming feature being a comparatively small number of executions.[2]
The main object of the late revolution was to restore order, and convoke in due time a congress to frame a constitution. This implied a probable change of executive, and with curtailment of power, by no means palatable to Santa Anna; and as he had never yet allowed anything to interfere with his will so long as he possessed the means to enforce it, he was not likely to do so now in the face of such trifling objections as public rights and wishes, or such shadowy obstacles as promises and oaths. Nevertheless, he
- ↑ The trouble here occurred in May 1853, on the part of the militia at Vera Cruz, when the order came for reorganization. The two days' fight cost a number of lives. Several futile agitations took place for the fulfilment of the Jalisco plan, at Ixhuacan, Ayutla, and Morelia, and a more serious movement at Guanajuato, whereby the governor was for a moment removed, and a call made for Uraga as president. One leader was captured and shot. In Yucatan three leaders were executed for upholding federation, although retaining Santa Anna for president. Tamaulipas was, as ever, unquiet, although calmed somewhat by a severe decree against invaders. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., vi. 594. For details of troubles in different directions, I refer to Universal, May 27, 1853, and subsequent dates; Español, id.: Siglo XIX., id.; Sonorense, id.; Eco España, July 23, etc.; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 343-433, passim; Losada, Cuestion, 15-19; Gac. Guat., May 13, 20, Nov. 11, 1853; Cent. Am. Pap., iv.; Gonzalez, Hist. Aguasc., 196-203.
- ↑ Although Villa-Amor, Biog. Santa Anna, 27-31, talks of sicarios, paid assassins, and 'cuantos fueron conducidos al cadalso para volver luego al calabozo,' etc. Méx., Rev. 1853-5, 11, 18, etc.
