Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-26
RECENT EVENTS IN MEXICO.

| Accounts from thence state, that the Errope-
am, faction had received and encouraged two
FRENCH officers of distinction, Mons. de Smalths
and the Count de la Note, one captain in the
royal navy, and the other colonel of engineers,
who has been sent thither by the French govern
ment, for the purpose of supporting the preten-
sions OF the Bourbons to the sovereignty of that
country. These officers had introduced them
selves into Mexico in the quality of merchants,
during the reign of Iturbide, and had remained
unmolested, until part of their correspondence
tell into the hands of the present government.
Ihey were, OF course, arrested and imprisoned,
and the whole plan of operations was thus disco
yered. They would certainly have suffered the
tate OF spies, lad not the moderation of the eoY-
eminent induced it to adopt the more mild and
concIlatory measure ofsendng them out of the
country-they embarked for New Orleans.
| In December, the fort of San Juan of Ulloa,
the only fortress occupied by the Spaniards, and
which commands the port and town of Vera
Cruz, had ceased all hostilities, after having
without the least provocations, expended abou
10000 shot and shells in endeavoring to DESTROY
the city. The conduct of the governor Len,nur
the son of a Frenchman, as regards Vera Cruz
was as impolitic as it was cruel-impolitic, be-
cause the town is altogether European property
its destruction, therefore matter of indifcr-
ence to the Americans, and cruel, because its
rum could answer no purpose of the war, and
only served to ruin some thousands of individuals
who were entitled to his protection, besides ex-
posing their wives and children to the inclemen-
cles OF most destructive climate.
The cessation of hostilities however, without
any agreement or even previous Intimation TO the
commander of the Mexican forces, in the neirh-
sourhooi, caused many surnses.
The European party was known to exist ac-
counts had just arrived that Ferdinand had a.
gam become absolute in Spain, and many of the
most important posts aud Offices were yet in the
hands oil European Spaniards. Every one there
iorc re indcd III anxious expectation of some
extraordinary event. very few days convinced
them their fears were not in vain.
Gen. EclIcyarri, an European, and ono of
that faction, was Captain General of Puebla. the
second city III point of wealth and population in
the country, and distant from Mexico ONLY sc
miles on the road to Vera Cruz He onenlv
declared himself against the government. which
but short time before had published 4 decree in
favor ola Federal Republic. Gen. Echeyarri
having refused to obey the orders ofthc Execu-
tive, Gen. Guerrero, Il native patriot. was ir-
mediatoly selected by the government to march
with his army against Echeyarr, he did so and
Ill ~iG hours without bloorlshcd,) lac seized him
ana sent him prisoner to Mexico
y general alarm and want of confidence sur
ccedcd these events--thcre was a general outcr,
throughout al the provinces, for the dismissal OF
Az European officers who held principal ernpov-
Incnts. f'
In OaXaca aud Guadalaxara, two of the prin.
cipal provinces, the people assembled and CON.
PEELED the local authorities, by force to disr;s.
all the European Spanards.
Brig Gen. Lobato, who was at the head Of hc
military force in the city Of Mexico, summoned
a meeting of all his officers, and in union VIII,
them, issued in January several proclainatious
tic patrPort of which was to compel the Congress
then in session in that city, to dismiss all the En-
roPcan SPaniards who held any Office under 90 |
yernment
Congress however refused to listen 10 any |
'cDo3strauce presented to them in the form Of |
menace. Considerable alarm existed, and fbc |