The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-18
SANTA ANNA.
Sketch OF His Remarkable Career,
TFyofn The ". 7. Heruld.1

| [Frorn the W 7. Herad.l
| ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, ex-President
and Dictator Of Mexico, arrived from st. Thomas
at Elizabethport, N. j., on the t1th nst and is
now residing with friend at that place. The pur-
poso for which he comes is not generally known
but it is supposed that it is to aid by some means
the cause Of the Liberals in Mexico against MAXI
MILAN Of Austria. He has lately avowod hostility
to the latter, whom he formerly looked upon as
one destined to give peace to his distracted coun
| try.
| Santa Anna has passed remarkable career and
is remarkable character. He was born in Jalapa,
February 81, 1898. He first came into pu blic no.
tice in 1921, in the Mexican OF independence;
and in 1922, having expelled the royalists from
Vera Cruz he was appointed to tho command of
that city. In November of that year he was de-
posed by Yturbide, who had proclaimed himself
Emperor; but Santa Anna refused to submit to
| his authority, raised the banner OF the Republic
IN Vera Cruz, and 1923 succeeded in comprising
ly followed he placed himeelf at the head Of the
federal party, but was defeated, and retired to his
In 1928 he took the field against the Govern
electoral majority OF two, declaring the election
OF Guerrero valid; and after series OF engage
forces against the Spanish expedition under Bar
radas was intrusted to him; and embarking at
Vera Cruz he forced Barradas to capitulate at
him Minister of War and Commander in Chief of
the army, but continuing afterward to exercise
the diotatorisl powers with which he had been in-
| ed with Bustamente to overthrow him, and the
latter was made President by the army. In jan
uary, 1882, however, Santa Anna headed new
insurrection, declaring for his former opponent,
PedraZa, whose triumph he insured by victory
| over the government troops in October of that
year. Being himself chosen President in March,
under Arista and Don Gabriel Duran, but speedi-
ly subdued it. He now left the party Of the
| federalists, and put himself at the head of the
centralists, who wished the power concentrated
| in the executive government. Though favorite
with the army, which desired him to be made
Dictator, he was unpopular with the nation, es-
| ut tho imperial dignity.
A new revolt broke out in four provinces, and
manifesto was issued at Texea against his gov
ernment. On May II, 1885, he utterly defeated
the army OF the insurgents On the plains of Quad
| alupe, near Zacatecas, killing two thousand and
| taking two thousand seven hundred prisoners.
| his was fatal blow to the republican party in
Mexico, and Santa Anna was named dictator. The
| destruction Of the federal constitution was soon
consummated; the State legislatures were aboi
ished their places being supplied by department
| tai council, and the Governors OF the several
States became dependent upon the supreme pow
er., Mexico was submissive, but a revolutionary
feeling had been long existing in Texas, which
now broke out into open insurrection. Early in
1886 Santa Anna took tho field in person. By the
middle Of February he reached the Rio Grande at
the head Of six Thousand troops, stormed the
Alamo at San Antonio on March G, after several
days siege, and massacred It's defenders but with
great loss to himself and after the massacre at
doliad, done under his express orders, marched
toward Gonzales. At San Jacinto he met the
Texan army under Houston, by whom he was to-
tally routed April a. and the day following taken
with the Texans, which resulted in nothing, as his
| functions were suspended by the Mexican gov
In 1887 he was set at liberty, and returned to
his native country by way OF the United States.
On reaching Vera Cruz he was coldy received. At
the Presidential election OF that year he received
but two out OF sixty-nine electoral votes. He had
retired to his estate twentyseven miles from Vera
Cruz, when (November 27) the Castle of San Juan
} de Olloa was bombarded by the French. He
hastened to Vera Cruz, where his services were
accepted by General Victoria, and took command
after the fall Of the castle. He repelled an as.
sault upon that city by the Frenoh December 81,
forcing them to re-emoark, but received wound
In the leg which necessitated it's amputation. In
the contentious between the centraIists and the
federalists which during the following years dis
tracted Mexico, he was one Of the leaders ef the
former; and from October 10, 184l, to June 4
: 1874, he was virtual Dictator, under the title oi
Provisional President Bravo and Canalizo acting
as his substitutes during two intervals of absence
with the army. he was again Constitutional Pres
ident, under the instrument Of june IL, 1s43 from
June to September 20, 1874, when he was de-
I posed by new revolution, taken prisoner near
Flacoluia on January 10, 1S45 banished for ten
years, and took uD his residence in Cuba.
The two succeeding Presidents, Herrera and
Paredes, found themselves unable to grapple with
the difficulties under which the country was labor.
Ing sEgravaed, ava as ,h they we're by the just
was recalled, and by the conniyance Of the Amer
can government, which, for reasons that have
never been made known, supposed him favorable
to peace and TO recognizing the independence o
Texas, he was permitted to pass through the iiee
, and reach Mexico in safety. There, contrary tc
the opinion entertained in the United States, he
declared vigorously for the war, and was appoint
ed generalissimo by the provisional governmen,
under Salas, and in December was made Proyi
sional President. Immediately after, at the head
nf twenty thousand men, the flower of the Mex
can army, he advanced northward, and on Febru
] ary "a, 1847, attacked the American troops q
Buena Vista, five thousand strong, under Genera
3 Taylor. He was effectually repulsed, but never
} theless maintained his reputation and popularity
: eastern frontier. In the meantime Anaya wal
elected President, and Santa Anna, taking com
mand OF his troops, intrenched himself ut Cerrt
9ordo, where, on April 18 he was attacked ant
8 defeated by the Americans under Scott. Yet il
spite Of these disasters he was enabled to collect
broken army, and, retreating toward the natona
capital, halted at Ayutla. There he was informed
9 Of his appointment to the Presidency, as it Wal
felt by the mexcans amid all their dishearteninl
reverses, that he was the only who could make
9 head against the Americans with any prospect o
success. But finding subsequently that the elec
9 tion for President which the States had held OF
0 May 10 was unfayorable to his pretensions, ht
9 prevailed on Congress to postpone the counting
Of votes until January, 1s48, and in the meantime
schemes, and established q severe censorship o
o the press. During the course Of the year he car
ried on secret negotiations with Scott and Trist
the American commissioner, with questionable
9 sincerity, and certainly with no result. He or
gsnized an army OF thirty thousand men for the
and oburubusco followed (August 10 and 60
1847} and the next day an arnistice proposed h;