Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-07-03
From The Uni.


peg de SaGta Ana.
4, Santa Ana is a native of the department of Vera
Cruz. Here, without enjoying any adventitious adj \
vantages Of birth or family, he was enabled by his
talents and activity, to secure great local influence,
and then to rise gradually to wealth and power.
He began to be conspicuous in 1921, as a partIzan
of Iturbide. On the promulgation by the latter of
the plan of Iguala, February "a, 1921 Santa Ana,
at the head of the irregular forces of the ~neighbcr-
hood, succeeded, by a coup de main, In driving the
Spaniards out of Vera Cruz, of which he was APP
pointed governor by Iturbide. The Spaniards, how
ever, still held the castles Of San Juan de Uloa, from
which they were not for a long time d~islodged and,
of course, Santa Ana's position was one OF great i'm
portance. Meanwhile, differences arose between San
Ia Ana and the Emperor Augustin, who bad come
down to Jalapa to direct the operations against the
Spaniards. Santa Ana repaired to Jalapa to confer
with Iturbide and, being treated harshly and depriv-
ed of his command, Immediately left Jalapa, hurried
back to Vera Cruz, IN anticipation of the intelligence
of his disgrace, and raised the standard of revolt, and,
by means of his personal authority with the troops of
the garrison, was able to commence h~ostilities against
the Emperor. ThereupOn, Guadalupe Victoria, whose
name was endeared to the Mexicans by his previous
unsuccessful efforts in the revolution, and who was
living concealed In the mountains, emerged from his
hiding-place, called around his old republican COM
panions in arms, expelled ~Iturbide, and established
the Mexican republic with a federal constitution, In
imitation of the United States.
Sarta Ana, vino, by taking up arms, had contribut-
Gu . idiScy " his result, II unlnklng HliH>eH y
duly considered in the new arrangements, sailed from
Vera Cruz with a small force, March 1929 and,
landing at Tamplco, advanced through the country to
San Luis Potosi, assuming to be new protector Of the
new republic But he did not possess influence
enough to maintain himself in this attitude, and was
compelled to submit to the government, and to re-
main for several years in retirement at Manga de
Clavo.
The termination of Victories presidency, however,
IN ISIS, enabled Santa Ana to re-aPpear on the stage.
Pedaza had been regularly elected President on
hearing of which, Santa Ana rose in arms, and, by a
rapid march. seized upon, and intrenched himself in
the castle of Perote, where he published a plan, the
basis Of which was to annul the election of Pedraza,
and confer the presidency on Guerrero; but, being
successfully attacked here by the government forces,
he was compelled to flee, and took refuge in the
mountains OF OaJaca, to all appearance an outlaw
and a ruined man. The signal of revolution, howey-
er, which he had given at Pefote, was followed up
with more success In other parts of the country. Pc
draZa was at length driven into exile, Guerrero was
declared President in his place, and Santa Ana was
appointed to the command of the very army sent
against him, and to the government of Vera Cruz /;
and, after the Inauguration of Guerrero, april 1920
he became Secretary of War.
During the occurrence of these events, the Spanish
government was organizing its last invasion of Mex.
leo; and on Barradas-the commander of the Spanish
forces, landing at Tampico, July 81, 1929, Santa
Ana was intrusted with the command of the Mexican
troops, and at length compelled the Spaniards to cap
itulate, September ii, 1929, and thus put an end to
the war of independence.
Guerrero had been in Office but a few months, when
another revolution occurred. The Vice President.
(Bustamente) gathered a force at .Jalapa, and pro-
noaRced against Guerrero, December, 1899, who was
at length taken prisoner, and executed for treason !;
Bustamente. assuming the presidency.
Santa Ana, after feebly resisting, had at length
joined, or at least acquIesced in, the movement Of
Bustamente; and remained in retirement for two OF
fhroa wears until in IS9D no nf a sudden DroOO3yorpd
against the government, compelled Bustamente to flee,
and brought back Pedraza from exile to serve out the
remaining three months of the term for which he had
been elected to the presidency. -
In the progress of events, Santa Ana had now ac-
qulred sufficient Importance TO deslst from the func-
ton of Presldent-maker, and to become himself Pre-
sident, May, 1888. His presidency was filled with
pronUncidmentos and civil wars, which produced the
of the overthrow of the federal consti-
tuition Of 1894, and the adoption in 1886 of a central
constitution.
Though most of the Mexican States acquiesced in
the violent changes, by which they were reduced Ia
mere Observation-Disclosures the control of military com
mandants, too-Texas on the northeast, and Yucatan
on the southeast, refused to submit to the military do
minion of whatever faction of the army might hap.
pen to hold power in the city of Mexico and Santa
Ana at length took command In person of the army
organized for the reduction of Texas. The battle o.
San Jacinto, the capture of. Santa Ana, his release by
Houston on conditions which he afterwards refused
10 fulhl, his visit TO this country. and his subsequent
return to Mexico, are events Familiarity known in tn,
United States. -.
When Santa Ana marched on Texas, first Barra
gan, and then Goro, exercised the functions of the
presidency for awhile, until, after the new constitu
ton, Bustamente, having returned from exile, wa
elected President; the temporary unpopularity of San
ia Ana, and his retirement in disgrace to Manga d.
Clavo, having left the field open to the friends of Bus
tamente.
Sundry pronunciamentoS followed; of which, one O
the most dangerous, headed by Mejia, gave to SAINT
Ana the opportunity of emerging from his retirement
He vanquished Mejia, and caused him to be shot o.
the field of battle This exploit gave to Santa Ana
new start In public affairs; 50 that, when the Frenc
government, In 1888, resolved to punish Mexico 70
ats multiplied aggressions on the subjects of Franc
In Mexico, and proceeded to attack Vera Cruz, tn
command of the Mexican troops was committed I
Santa Ana. On this occasion he received a wound
which rendered the amputation of one Of his legs ne
eessary and his services, at this time, seemed t
have effaced, in the eyes of the Mexicans, the dis
grace Of his defeat at San Jacinto.
Santa Ana took no part in the unsuccessful move
fpent of Urea against Bustamente in 1910 but j
1871 there broke out a revolution, commenced by til
Paroles, at Guadalajara, into which Sarta Ana thre
himself with so much vigor and zeal, that BustameI
te was again compelled to flee, and the plan of Ia
cubaya, with the agreement of La Estanzuela, wa
adopted in virtue of which, the constitution of Is:
was abolished, and Santa Ana himself was invests
with the power of dictator, for the purpose of recol
shutting the republic.
- Under these auspices, and amidst all the calamiti
of a protracted but unsuccessful attempt to redu,
fucatan to submission, (for Yucatan at length ma,
its own TERMS a new constitution was adopted Jun
13, 1913, entitled 'sBasis of Political Organization
the Mexican Republic and Santa Ana was elects
President.
Santa Ana resigned his dictatorship, and enter
upon Office as the new President in January, Is4
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