The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-04
MEXICOI
SANTA ANNA REDIVIVUS!
His Proclamation To the Mexi~
cans

vision Of the National Armies OF Mexico, to
bis countrymen:-
MExIcANs He who has always addressed
vou on solemn occasions, whether to explain to
YOU his political conduct, or TO give yon advice,
or 10 offer you his sword, IS The same who no"
claims from you the greatest calmnes5 and at
tention, in order that you may listen to him
once more | speak to you from the heart. !
have never deceived you because truth has al
ways been my rule.
The respect which in all times and ander al
circumstances have paid the majority OF the
people, imposes upon me the duty t. impress
upon you that which you have already read IN
my manifesto, issued at Vera Cruz on the 2|th
Of February 1864.
I adhered to the system of government which
appeared to be proclaimed by considerable
majority in obedience 10 the principles which
professed based upon Submission TO the Ma
tionaI WILL under the conviction that the Mex
leans were those who, exercising their civil ON
impotence, had given themselves new institu-
tions, and were trying TO find the way TO con-
ciate order with liberty. But what painful
error From this hOspitable island l contem-
plate with increasing indignation the scaffold
which the tyranny OF an usurping people are
raising in our beloved country 10 stain it with
the blood OF our brothers, and for the destruc-
ton of our people.
From this island ] have contemplated also.
with prlde, your struggle for life with the inva-
ders Of your country, the soldiers called forth
by the intervention. and the trumpet Of the free
has made my heart paptate with joy, as IN the
happy days in which we combAted together in
defence Of oGr fresides and our outraged rights
The hopes Of those who sought n monarchy
the repose which the Republic dcried them have
been disappointed; the National dignity has
been contemned; justice derided; our holy rights
trodden under foot thought ensiaved; The sane
tuary draped in mourning, and the Church af-
ficted with trjbu!atons. Terror IS seated up
on the scafold, brandishing over the patriots
the knife Of extvrm;nation. War to the inva-
deFs Liberty or death should be the cry Of
every generous bosom in which honor has her
hons, independence her altar, and liberty her
rites.
We thought that the Archduke MaximilIian,
of Austria, would restore to US our peace, and
he has been the new element Of dlseord; that
with wise laws he would enrich our treasury,
and he has impoverished ii in an incredible man
ncr that he would bring us happiness, and the
migfortunes are innumerabe which in So short
time he has heaped upon the ruins of ens4u-
guined Mexico; that, in fine, he would be con
, ssteut in his principles and promises, and he
accepted the views of President Juarez in all
that related to reform, at the same time that be
persecutes him and gives him war TO the knife.
European adventurers formed his guard Of
honor. The French bayonets are the founda-
ton Of his throne, and in the meantime so ma
ny see themselves condemned 70 oblivion, to
the contempt Of the veterans Of independence
once the glory of our nation. and now objects
of derisiOn and mockery lor the foreign soldiery.
Such insults cannot be tolerated any longer.
The hour has come in which we should exter-
inmate from the sacred soil Of The free the far
ccal rabble who prolanc the land with their
feet, ana Insult Us with their presence.
Liberals and conservatives, forget our iratr.-
cidal contentious and adVoala 10 the rescue!
Let US unite together against the common en-
emyt One banner covers Us, the Aag Of ljber-
ty. One thought alone animate5 US. that Of
war and death 10 the invaders who destroy our
towns and ci.ies, and behead cur brothers. E
ternal execratioa 30 the tyrants of our country!
Compatriots If, on reading my manifesto
of last year your attention should be arrested
by the expression that 'the last word of NY
conscience and of my convictions IS econstitu-
tonal monarchy" remember that I also said on
! the same occasion, u am not an enemy of de-
mocracy, but of its excuses" ard above all dc
not forget that 1T was the founder of the Re-
public. i people Is free whatever be their form
of Government, when the head Of the nation
! lorgets that he Is human. Let him remember
only that he is the organ Of the law. This,
ny belief, was also yours, when tae Republic
was changed to an empire.
But we have been mistaken. The Prince
whom you chose IS not the organ of the law,
but the usurper OF our rights. He is not the
defender of national independence, for if he
were he would not cede Sonora. He is not the
sovereign Of the nation, but the humble vassal
of a foreign potentate.
In order to inspire greater confidence in the
new form of government which you have inst
adopted and to carry to the throne for yoar
benefit the advice Of experience, / went to We
ra Cruz to meet the proclaimed Emperor, dis
posed to give him without reserve all my sup
port; but his arbitrariness and discourtesy clo-
sed the doors of my country upon me. The de-
cree of my expulsion was written in q language
which our forefathers did not speak
owe youan explanation. The public jour
na!S oil the capital published my recognition OF
the French intervention. This act of mine did
not originate from my own viii, but was I'M
posed upon me by the force of circumstances.
Scarcely did the steamer that conducted me,
anchor in the port ere French commander
presented himself before me- on board of the
vessel, as the Chief Superior of Vera Cruz,
made known to me that | would not be allow
ed to land, but, on the contrary, he should O.
blige me to return in the same vessel if I did
not Immediately comply with the conditions
which he presented to me, written in French.
These conditions required me to recognize the
intervention and the monarch elect, and not TO
address the people.
Such greae insolence could only excite my in
| dignation. But the sutterings of my wife. cans-