Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/143

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TREATY OF ZAVALETA.
123

The armistice and plan being in due time laid before the houses of congress, both refused to sanction them,[1] in view of which action Bustamante, pursuant to stipulation, resolved to act independently of the government.[2] Whereupon he held a conference with Santa Anna, Gomez Pedraza, and other chief officers of both armies, at which it was concluded to appoint commissioners to draw up a treaty establishing peace, and stipulating other points of importance.[3] The commissioners met accordingly at the hacienda of Zavaleta, and framed a treaty, embodying the terms of the plan de pacificacion and other points, to the satisfaction of the contracting parties, which was signed and ratified on the 23d of December.[4] The sixth article of the convention recognized Gomez Pedraza as president till April 1, 1833, the date on which his term would expire according to his

    elected president and vice-president. 6th. During elections no comandante general shall reside, nor troops in the pay of the national treasury shall be quartered, in any state or territorial capital. 7th. The decree of Oct. 7th on extraordinary powers, and the dire law of Sept. 27, 1823, to be revoked. 8th. Gomez Pedraza shall be recognized and obeyed as the rightful president till the 1st of April, 1833. 9th. A general and full amnesty shall be decreed by the future congress for all political offences from and after Feb. 1, 1828. 10th. Santa Anna, as commander of the forces seceded from the government, and Gomez Pedraza formally propose this plan. Dated on the puente de México, Dec. 9, 1832. Suarez y Navarro, Hist. Méx., 359–60; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., xi. 928-31.

  1. On the plea of unconstitutionality, Mex. Manif. Diput., 20-3, the congress declined to reconsider Pedraza's resignation in 1828, alleging that it could not revise the act of the congress of 1829. Dispos. Var., ii. 87; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ii. 470-4.
  2. Zamacois blames him for his disobedience to constituted authority; highly commending the action of congress he adds, though attributing to Bustamante the humane purpose of averting further bloodshed, that he hereby stained his brilliant record. Hist. Méj., xi. 933.
  3. Antonio Gaona, Mariano Arista, and Lino Alcorta represented Bustamante; Juan Pablo Anaya, Gabriel Valencia, and Ignacio Basadre acted for Santa Anna.
  4. Since then it has been known as the Plan or Convenio de Zavaleta, from the hacienda where it was made, and embraces 13 articles. The whole document may be found in Registro Oficial, 1832, Dec. 31, ix. no. 122; Arrillaga, Recop., 1833, April-May, 214-27; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ii. 522-6. The validity of that arrangement has been impugned as unconstitutional. It was carried out nevertheless. Peña y Peña, Voto Fund., 6-36; Santa María, Expos.-Protext., in Pap. Var., cxlvi. pt 8; Bustamante, Voz de la Patria, MS., vii. 278-82, ends saying, 'Tal es la carta de esclavitud que firmó D. Anastasio Bustamante de una Nacion que le habia colmado de honores.'