The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-15

The news from Mexico, although there is
nothing very important in it, is of generally
interesting character. The Comonfort admins
tration is not without its many little annoyances
and difficulties, in the shape Of local insurrec-
tons. The opposition to the government, now
that Vidaurri has temporarily succumbed, is ap-
parently confined to Puebla, where it may, per-
haps, yield to proper treatment for a short Pc
Rod.
The principal difficulty which the governing
power in Mexico has met with during the
Comonfort regime has been the hostility of the
church. One of the first acts Of that adminstra
ton was to wipe away all that network Of pecu-
liar privileges behind which the clergy en-
treDched themselves, and which are known there
as faeros. The Bext, in the same connection, was
the passage Of the law Of Decentralization by
wbi ch the vast possessions of the church in real
estate were capitalized and placed in the market
These two measures, absolutely necessary and
indispensable for the prosperity of the country,
have placed the church in open proclaimed an
tagonsm to the government. Several pronuncia-
n'entos were got up by the priests and other dis
coutented factionists throughout the country, but
they were suppressed without much difficulty,
and one or two OF the reverend prelates and a
few military gentlemen were accommodated with
passports and requested to leave their country
for their country's good.
The town of Puebla seems to have been the
headquarters of the church party. At least,
some half dozen prontncanae'stos have issued from
that quarter and the government has been seve-
raj times put to the trouble Of besiegng the mall
contents there, and reducing them to submission.
II was only some month or two ago that we
heard of the siege Of Puebla having ended in the
capture of the place and in the restoration Of
peace and almost one Of the next pieces Of intell
gence that we received was that the government
forces, to the number Of five or six thousand
were again seated before the place-just as if it
were a matter Of course sort Of business There
they are still but by the last accounts the ardor
of the defenders of religion fueros-as they call
themselves-was sensibly abated, and it was
thought the place would be taken or surrendered
in short time.
Besides this little affair Of Puebla, the govern
ment has been also occupied by an ambitious
military gentleman, named Vidaurri, who has
taken it into his head to annex to the State of
New Leon-of which he was Goyernor-the two
States Of Coahuila and Tamaulipas, and to erect
out Of them Sierra Madre republic. Well,
there have been many small battles and sieges
arising out of the idiosyncracy on the part OF
Senior Vidaurri-beaemertto de Ia patria, as all
these patriots dub themselves. But it seems
that he is a popular and influential person
age; and one can hardly tell whether he is
on the side of the government or against it. For
instance we find in the last news from Mexico
communication informing the Minister Of War OF
the capture OF Monterey and of the defeat of the
traitor Vidaurri and again we find proposal
from this same gentleman to the officer command
ing the government forces before Puebia to
cease hostilities until he (VidaurrD should 60
TO Mexico to have talk with Comonfort
In the meantime the law affecting the
church property-is being vigorou ly carried out,
and is supported by tue masses OF the people.
The sales of property under il have reached,
20 far, the enormous sum Of ls,000,000. Five
per cent Of the proceeds goes direct to the 60
vernmeut, and the rest lies upon the property as
a sort OF mortgage, payable in instalments. By
this means the church gets no more than il
got before in the way Of rent, AMI besides, It's IT.
tercst therein ceases so soon a. the capital is
paid of. But il is rich enough in personal pro-
petty and in the fees which it derives iron the
pie,y OF the faithful. 1t can well afford to cease
being great land proprietor
We hear nothing nowadays Of the descent Of
that grand Spanish armada upon Vera Cruz
The hidalgos evidently got scared at the idea IF
o countcr-movemont upon the island OF Cuba,
and they wisely determined, it would seem. not
to throw the first stone. The difficulty with Fog
land, in reference to the claim OF Forbes aud
Barron for damages, appears to be allowed to
sleep Tor little while longcr-at least no az
gressivc measures are being taken to exact rcpa-
ration. H. will probably be settled by diplomatic
means.
One Of the most curious and significant items
of Mexican news however, Is a manifesto issusl
Ivy bis cx-Serene Highness Don Antonio de Santa
Anna. from his quiet retreat in Turb,co. near
Carthagena, New Granada We give a transla.
ton to-day Of this extraordinary document IL
is highly characteristic Of its author, who g
patriotism and disintcrestedncss II holds up .
the admiration Of the world. T. commences by
dragging in that leg of his which he lost at Vera
Cruz. or, as he himself says, offered up as ho-
lccaust on the altar Of his country. He is ter
rby severe on Senior Comonfort, a being one VI
a class Of advcnturcrs celebrated Tor their iniqu
ty, who, without having ever paid an obolas
into the national treasury, git up revolutions aud
impose themselves upon the country as dictators.
lie protests against the action of Gen. dc la
Lave, who, When Governor Of Vera Cruz, slli
biz Santa Anna . private property there. ITe
also protests against the Sultan like decree VI
Don ignacio Comouioft the President, con.s-
eating bis property, ADD against the audacity of
the same gentleman in asserting that he, Santa
Anna, bad appropriated to his own use any por-