The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-30
SANTA ANNA.

OF an exile6 Snan!Sh noblr.nan. 1t is sta.
tea that only two ,GNrS after the adoption
OF the federal consli,iun vf Mexico, Santa
Anna was instrumental in procuring IL
gross violation of constitutional rIoh,s, bv
r"'SihT an excitement against the natives
o' Ola SPAN, and causing The national Con
9rcSs t" pass Il decree oi' expulsion against
them. This was the first uslrpa,ion of
power exhibited in contempt OF the consti-
tuition, and which entirely Interrupted the
career OF constitutional liberty upon which
the MlcAican people had 50 recently enter.
| ed. In lS25, the second election for Pre-
sldcnt took pace; which resulted in the
choice OF pcdraZa. Santa Anna inmc-
dla'cly raised an excitement in favor Of
Gen. Guerrero, who had been the COMPETE
tor OF PcdraZa, and being accused before
Congress OF intending to support the claims
OF Guerrero by force, WAS suspended from
Ills command
At first Sant;, Anna pretended to acqui-
cscc IN this decision, but subsequently, de-
clarcd his intentions openly. and retired
! with his regiment IL the Castle of Prrotr.
In the meantime his cmss;,ricS. at the
capital and elsewhere, were b,,Sily engaged
IN drawing over troops to his Interest," and
, ON the 1lll OF December, after IL severe and
bloody contest, which lasted for four DAYS,
and IN which about 900 men were killed
the insurgents succeeded III taking the CAPT
lal and Congress WIS compelled to declare
Guerrero constltutlonally elected President
| OF Mexico Santa Anna w;ls rc.nunrralcd,
lor the stab he had given to constitutional
liberty, by receiving the appointment Of
oI I,,
tempt was made by Spain to recover the
possession of Mexico An army was i'm
mcdiatcly raised by order of the Mexican
Congress, and Santa Anna was invested
with the chief communicated sonn sue
ccedcd in driving the invaders from the
country. Guerrero, who had been invested.
by Congress, with dic,a,orial powers for
! the purpose OF carrying on iii: war, taking
advantage Of his extraordinary power, is
sued IL decree aboIiShing slavery through
out the republic Of Mexico. This was the
last political act Of Guerrero: for 5uSta-
mrntc, the Vice President, " ho had arca-
dy succeeded in forming Il Conspiracy for
his overthrow. now foand but little trouble
III carrying out his plans.
After the downfall of Guerrero, Santa
Anna retired to his hacienda.
The reign of Bustamrn,c was that of !,
d"<rol, who exercised complete control
over the lives and property of his subjects
and Santa Anna had been busy in his re-
! ,remcnl, i'll projecting Il plan for hi< over
throw
Accordingly in January: 1897, the Off
GERS OF the garrison Of Vera Cruz drew up
| an address to the Vice President ccnsurlnr
, the conduct of his ministers and demanding
their dismissal. At the s;lmc time Santa
Anna WAS invited 10 assume the command
OF the garrison. In the mean time agents
were dispatched to various parts of the
country to persuade the different military
forces to declare in his favor. His plans
were entirely successful. and Bus,amcntc,
iintling Santa Anna with large army
within few leagues of the capital. re-
signed his power into the hands of the ma
tional Congress, and fled from the country.
Santa Anna, in order to pnt on the appear
ancc OF following the forms the constitu-
ton, calls Pcdraza TO the Executive chair,
whom he had dcposcd in favor of Guerrero
four years before, and whose, tire was
about to expire, and then retired his 10 haci.
enda.
al this period Santa Anna was the most
popular man in Mexico, and had his earth
~ career terminated here, his name would
have been sacred to his countrymcn-and
he would have been cherished in their me-
mory as one of the brightest luminaries of
the age.
In 1888 the third election for President
under the federal constitution was held
and Santa Anna, having no competitor, was
unanimously chosen. lie entered upon the
duties OF his station by declaring his love
oilibcrty-the constitution and the Mcxi-
can people. But before the expiration OF IL
month, he conceived Il plan to make him
Self dictator. tle visited body of troops in
the neighborhood Of the capital, to quelI Il
disturbance which was said 10 exist among
them. News soon reach The city that
1rs hp"'" 1crei