The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-06-21
RICHMOND. WAYNE CO.. ND.

recognizing the independence OF Texas,
he was permitted TO pass through the
feet and reach Mexico in safety. There,
contrary 10 the opinion entertained in
the Urited States, he declared vigor-
ousIy for the war, and WAS appointed
geReralissimo by the provisional govern
ment under Salas. and in December was
made provisional President.
Immediately after, st tSe head of
twenty Thousand men, the flower of the
Mexican army. he advanced northward,
and on February %, ls41, attacked the
American troops at Buena Vista. five
thousand strong. under General Farlor.
He was effectuailv repulsed, but never
theIess maintained his reputation and
popularity, and collec ed a new amy
for the defense of the eastern frontier.
In the meantime Anaya was elected
President and Santa Anna, taking COM
mand of his troops, intrenched himself
/ at Cerro Gordo, where on April i, he
was attacked and defeaged by the Ame~i
cans under Scott Yet in spite OF these
I disasters he was enabled to collect three
/ thousand men from the fragments OF his
/ broken army. and retreated towards the
national capital, halted at Ayulta There
be was informed of his appointment TO
the Presidency, as 1t was feit by the
Mexicans, amid all their disheartening
reyerses, that he was the only one who
! could make head against the Americans
/ with q prospect of success. But finding
/ subsequently, that the election for Presl-
dent, which the States had held on May
| 18th was unfavorable to his pretenslons,
he prevailed on Congress to postpone
the counting of votes until January,
lS4s. and in the meantime banished or
imprisoned all those opposing his
schemes, and established q severe cen
sorship of the press.
During the course Of the year he ear
ried on secret negotiations with Scott
and Trist, the American commissioners,
| with questionable sincerity, and certain
ly with no result He organized an
army of thirty thousand men for. the
defense of the capital The battles OF
Contreras and Churabusco followed
tAugust 10 and 20, ls47, and the next
day an armistice, proposed by General
Scout, was accepted by him, which sus-
pended hostillties till September 8 The
battle Of Molnos del Rev was fought
September 8; and on September l6,
lS47, the CITY of Mexico was captured.
having previously been evacuated by the
officers Of the Government. Santa Anna
now resigned the executive chair to
Penary Pena, who had been constitution
ally elected his successor, and. though
he despalred of successfully resisting
the party OF peace in Mexico. he made
a last effort to retrive his reputation by
the siege OF Puebla; but he was attacked
by General Lane at Huamantla and
forced to retire from the place, which
was now relieved In the middle Of
January, 1913, attempt was made to
surprise him at Tehuacan, where he was
lurking, but failed; and about February
|. Santa Anna informed the Minister Of
War and the American commander in
chief that he desired TO leave Mexico
and '.seek an asylum on foreign soil,
where he might pass his last days in that
tranquility which he would never find in
the land of his birth. "
The desired permission was granted,
and on April ), 1913, he took passage
from La Antigua to Jamaica In that
island he remained several Years bat the
anarchial condition of Mexico nnder the
presiiencies of Herrera and Arlsta,
turned mems eyes once more upon him.
and returned to Mexico in 1886, he was
received with great enthusiasm. He was
appointed President for one year. after
which time he was to call a constituent
congress- out lie lOluenlttt HS" itNp-
luton by which he was declared Presl-
dent for life, with power to appoint his
successor, and the title of Most Serene
Highness. He began to rule with des-
potic authority, and the revolution of
Ayutla followed. led by General Alvarez.
After a struggle of two years, Santa
Anna. finding hims If without resources,
since he had spent the ten millions of
the Gadsden. treaty, signed his uncon-
ditional abdication, and sailed August
| l6. 1855, from Vera Cruz for Havana
| He afterward went to Turbaco, Nene
zuela, for two years, and has since re-
sided in the island of St Thomas On
the advent of Maximilian in Mexico he
embraced the cause of the usurper. be-
lieved, as he declared, that Maximilian
could restore peace to the country. He
was disappointed, however, in his hopes,
and perhaps his expectations, for he soon
abandoned Mexico ami the cause and
/ returned to St Thomas. Here he has
! since resided When Mr. Seward was
in the West Indies lie visited Santa
Anna and had a long conversation with
him This may have had something to
do with the present visit of the ex
President of Mexico.
i 4 MODEL BroGRAP Mr.. Wells, of