Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1846-06-05

MEXICO AS ANINDEPENDENT NATION.

MEXICO AS n ALTON.
Some few years since q little book. called
8 Mexico in 1872, attributed to Mr. Folsom OF !
the New YorlSSenate made its appearance inthis
city. which contained some observations and his
torical facts tat viii be read with interest at the
present time. We condenses q portion OF that
work for the information of readers, throwing
as it does, some light on the Condition OF that
country
After Spain accomplished The conquest of that
country, her government towards the natives was
marked with Oppression and tyranny, which could
not fail of entang retrbutien, tho distant day
Taking advantage of the crisis in European AT
airs, brought about by the career of tie Emperor
Napoeoli aud the cansasioI1il. sp'iii CONSEQUENT
upon the elevation of Joseph Buonaparte TO the
throne Of that country. in sos. the lrd;s: popu-
atior rose s,t 4cSse to throw of the Stniil y,5ss.
After long and bloody struggle. the last foothold
of Spanish authority was rooted out, and the for
tress of San d'Juau d'Ulloa came into the posses
sion of the rebels.
On the 2Sth of February. 1921, plan of gov
eminent was declared at lguala, which was kind
of limited monarchy, and provided for the estab
lishment of general Cortes, who were to make
a constitution.
a native Mexican. named lturbide, was pro-
claimed Emperor; but the naughty and arrogant
manner with which he conducted himself, led 10
his violent death and in October, 1924, after the
death of Iturbide the form of the constitution was
altered so as to resemble the constitution OF the
United States but differing from that in some i'm
portant points. BY this new constitution the dii-
ferent States were declared indepeudent-the es-
tablished religion was declared to be Catholic
Apostolic Roman. In other respects, the new
constitution resembled that of the United States.
General Guadaloupe Victoria was the first Pres
ident under the new constitution, and General
Nicholas Bravo Vice President. The country
prospered in an eminent degree under the admin-
istration of Guadalupe. Its independence was
acknowledged by France and England, and Spain
surrendered the fortress of st. Juan dUlloa.
As the term of office of Victoria drew to close,
the country was divided into two great political
parties, one of which was named the Scotch party,
or the old regime party and the other the York,
or democratic party. These names were derived
from two Masonic Lodges in Mexico. The Y ork
party was composed of Scotchmeu, and the other
derived its charter from the city of New York
Mr. Poinsett, he then U. S. Minister to that coun-
try, was very oficious in promoting the organiza-
ton of the latter lodge, and in consequence OF the
ill-ieeling it produced, he recalled by our
government.
In December 1927, General Bravo denounced
President Victoria being connected with the
Yorknos and took up arms againststhe govern
ment Victoria was compelled to throw himself
into the hands of the other party. The result
was, that Bravo surrendered and was banished.
On the 18th of April, 1928, Gen. Gomez Pedra-
"a, of the Scotch party, was elected President,
having only two votes over his competitor, Gen.
Guerrero.
The result was very dispensing to Guerrero.
and his partsans determined 10 resort to violence
to oppose the new President.
Santa Anna Immediately put himself at the
head os 500 men, and proclaimed that Pedraza
was not elected by the voice of the people, and
that majority were in favor of Guerrero and he
undertook himself to proclaim Guerrero the Presi-
dent.
Santa Anna and his party were put down by
force sent against them, and he had TO make his
escape.
On the 30th November, 1928, serious insur-
rection, headed by the ex-merquis of Cadena,
broke out in the capitol. After seIzing the gov
eminent offices, he demanded OF the PRESIDENT a
proclamation bsnishng the Spanish residents
within % hours two days elapsed before the
President acted, and in the meantime the city
was in the hands of this mob Gen. Pedraza, the
President elect, Immediately vacated his oificees
Minister of War, and fled TO the country, and was
succeeded by Guerrero, who stopped hostilitles-
Pedraza after resigned the office OF President,
to which he had been elected.
On the 1stof January, 1929, Congress declared
Guerrero duly elected President, having received
the largest number of votes next to Pedraza, and
Gen. Anastasia Bustamente was declared Vice
President--a ministry of the YorkIno party was
then formed, Santa Anna being Secretary OF War.
Soon after the accession of Guerrero, Busta-
mente revolted The civil war that ensued ended
on the death of Guerrero who was executed as a
traitor on the l4th of February 1881, at Ciula in
Oaxaca leaving Bustamente insthe Presidential
office.
InIs32, Santa Anna revolted and at the head
of the garrison of Vera Cruz, marched to the capt
tall where treaty was entered into between him
and Bustainente. by which the latter resigned the
Presidency in favor of PedraZa. who had been
elected in the year 1928. Santa Anna then sent
a BRIG of war to a. Orleans, TO conduct home Pa
draza, who was living in exile in Philadelphia
Pedraza retured to serve out the two or thsee
months that remained unexpred of his term,
Santa Anna expecting to be elected his successor.
Santa Anna was then elected President, and
got into office onthe 18th Of May, 1893.
After overcoming some internal opposition,
Santa Anna conceived the project of establishing
central consolidated government, wholly indie
pendent of the States. Congress sanctioned the
project and the States were converted into depart
ments under the control of a comnlandant gene
rail-
The State of Texas opposed this proiect-and
the difficulties that ensued led to the capture of
Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto.
AS soontas Bustamente, who WAS then an exile
in France, heard of the capture of Santa Anna,
he FASTENED back to Mexico and was elected Presi-
dent
After Santa Anna regained his lbertys and af-
ter remaining in retirement some time, he took
the field in the faIfo 1871, in opposition to Busta
nentc whom he Grove from power he proposed
a new organization of the government under
which he took his. place as provisional President
Such was the condition of Mexico in the year
1871. But Santa Anna was not allowed TO re-
main undisturbed in his position.
Texas asserted her independence, and was re- |
cognized as an independent nation by France, |
England and the United States. Meantime, San
ia Anna kept up a kind of diminishing warfare t
with that State, But never succeeded IN making /