and a manifesto published setting forth the reason. The liberal ideas of Negrete being well known, a communication was sent to him at Guadalajara, but he despatched the letter to Iturbide, who took his measures accordingly.[1]
On the night of the 26th of November, with great display of military force, seventeen of the principal conspirators were arrested, among whom were those already mentioned. When the night's work became known Iturbide was surprised at the murmurings which arose. His act inspired a fear that he would not be disinclined to reëstablish the ancient form of despotism. The adherents of the prisoners were numerous. Rigorous proceedings against them would hardly be safe, and most of them were liberated shortly afterward. Victoria and Morales, however, were treated with more severity, the latter not being released till the congress issued its decree of amnesty, and the former only avoiding similar durance by escaping from his dungeon.[2]
In comparing the condition of New Spain after eleven years of strife with that at the commencement of the century, the contrast presents a striking retrogression. The revenue had been reduced so low as to be quite inadequate to cover the extravagant expenditure of the new government, which recklessly decreed large incomes and salaries, while.
- ↑ This is the account of the discovery as given by Alaman. Hist. Méj., v. 410. The author of Még. Bosquejo Rev., 135, charges other persons, including Ramon Rayon, with divulging the plot. 'Ellos—i. e., the conspirators—deberan estar muy agradecidos á D. Ramon Rayon, al teniente D. Juan Garcia, y á otros viles denunciantes que. . . la frustraron revelándola á Iturbide.'
- ↑ Bustamante was chosen by Victoria as his advocate. This writer states that his escape was effected by Doctor Codorníu—the editor of El Sol—Manuel Carrasco, and Juan de Echarte, all of whom were Spaniards. Cuad. Hist., vi. 24. Bravo was released by order of Iturbide dated Dec. 19th, no proof of conspiracy being found against him. Gac. Imp. Hex., i. 349-50, Alluding to this affair in his autobiographical sketch published in 1828, he says: 'Yo crei de mi deber en circunstancias tan críticas dar algunos pasos para secundar el espíritu público, y el fruto de mi tentativa fué una prision.' Manifesto, 9.
