Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-04-07
From THE NATIONAL GAZETTE.

European faction had received and en- !
Outraged two French officers of distinc |
ton, M. de Smalths and the Count de la
Motto, one captain in the royal navy,
and the other colonel Of engineers.
who had been sent thither by the
French government, for the purpose OF
supporting the pretensions of the Bour
bcns TO the sovereignty of that country:
these officers had introduced themselves
into Mexico in the quality of merchants,
during the reign of Iturbide, and had
remained unmolested, until part of
their correspondence fell into the hands
of the present government They
were, of course, arrested and imprison-
ed, aud the whole plan of operations
was thus discovered. They would GER
tainly have suffered the fate of spies,
had not the moderation of the govern
ment induced it to adopt the more mild
aud conciliatory measure of sending
them out of the counlry-they embark
ed 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 ceas-
ed all hostilities, after having, without
the least provocation, expended above
ten thousand shot and shells in eldeav-
curing to destroy the city. The con-
duct of the governor, LemGur, the son
of Frenchman, as regards Vera Cruz,
was as impolitic as it was cruel-impol-
itic, because the town was altogether
European property; and cruel, because
its ruin could answer no purpose ofthe
war, and only served to ruin some thou
sands of individuals who were entitled
to his protection, besides exposing their
wives and children to the inclemencies
OF a most destruo tive climate.
This cessation of hostiliues, however,
without any agreement or even previ-
Gus intimaiion TO the commander of the
Mexican forces in the neighborhood,
caused many surmses.
The European party was known to
exst-accounts had Just arrived that
Ferdinand had again become absolute
in Spain, and many ofthe most impor-
tant posts and offices were yet in the
hands of European Spaniards. Every
one therefore remained in anxious ex-
pectation of some extraordinary event :
very few days convinced them their
fears were not in vain.
Gen. Echevarri, an European, and
one of that faction: was Capt. General
ofPuebla, the second city in point of
wealth and population in the country,
and distant from Mexico only 66 miles,
on the road to Vera Cruz. He openly
declared himself against the govern
ment, which, but short time before,
had published a decree in favor of a
Federal Republic. Gen. Ecbevarri.
having refused to obey the orders of the
executive, Gen. Guerrero. a native pat
riot, was Immediately selected by the
government TO march with his army
against EchevarrI. He did so, and in
49 hours, without bloodshed, he seized
him, and sent him prisoner to Meyico
A general alarm and want of conf
dence succeeded these events-there
was general outcry throughout all the
provinces, for the dismissal of all Eu
roPean officers who held principal en-
ployments.
In Oaxaca and Gaudalaxara, two of
the principal provinces, the people as
sembled and compelled the local au-
thorities, by force, 10 dismiss all the
European Spaniards.
Cen. Lobato, who was at the head of
the military force in the city of. Mexi-
co, summoned meeting of all his Off
GERS, and, in union with them, issued
several proclamations, the purport of
which was TO compel the Congress, then
in session in that city, to dismiss all the
European Spaniards, who held any Of
fee under government.
Congress however refused TO listen
to any remonstrance presented 10 them
in the form of menace. Considerable
alarm existed, and the city appeared at
one moment to be threatened with the
worst of all evils, civil war;
The Congress having removed to
the Palace Of the Executive, in union
with it, came to the resolution of en-
forcing obedience to their authority.
They declared themselves in perma-
nent session, and summoned Gen. Lo-
bato and his adherents TO surrender
themselves, within limited number of
hours, or they would declare them trail
tors.
Among the proceedings of Congress,
appears an official note from The accred-
tied ministers or commissioners of the
British government, addressed to the
Secretary of State, making formal de-
uasnd Of their passports, unless an i'm