surrendered the executive authority on the 19th of April, 1837,[1] never again to appear in public life. His rule had been one of the most injurious to Mexico in every sense of the word.[2]
President Bustamante encountered from the first a number of obstacles clearly indicating how difficult it would be to sustain himself in power for the term of eight years for which he had been elected. The promises of his inaugural address[3] were received by the nation at large with indifference. Acts, not theories, were wanted. The liberal masses had been, however, buoyed up with hopes that the new administration would really endeavor to carry out an enlightened course; but they were disappointed from the first, as soon as the names of the ministers called to form the cabinet became known,[4] for the reason that they belonged to the ranks of the aristocracy and intolerance. Luis Gonzaga Cuevas, the minister of relations, as a creature of Lúcas Alaman, was generally looked upon with distrust; Manuel de la Peña y
- ↑ C. M. Bustamante describes the act, adding that among the persons who tendered the new president their congratulations was Admiral La Bretonnière, who did it in the most courtly French, and was answered in the same language, the Mexicans being much delighted at having a president 'que pudiera pedir los garvanzos en francés como fruto de su estada en Paris.' It is well to say here that this author had undergone a change of feeling toward the president at the time of writing. The merits of Bustamante's first administration belonged to the ministers, the blunders of the administration now beginning were the president's own. Gabinete Mex., i. 2; Id., MS., ii. 1-4.
- ↑ His ministers were the following: of relations, José M. Ortiz Monasterio, oficial mayor in charge; of justice, Joaquin de Iturbide, oficial mayor in charge; of hacienda, Rafael Mangino, Feb. 21 to Sept. 20, 1836, Ignacio Alas, Sept. 21 to Dec. 18, 1836, José M. Cervantes, Dec. 19 to Ap. 19, 1827, ad interim; of war, José M. Tornel, Feb. 27, 1836, to Ap. 18, 1837, Ignacio del Corral, Ap. 18 to April 19, 1837. Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1870, 1033-4.
- ↑ To pursue an enlightened policy; to promote the well-being of the people as the source of all political power; and to see that justice was inflexibly awarded, without fear or favor. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 207; Niles' Reg., lii. 204. The congress before which the new president was inaugurated closed its session on the 24th of May, and reopened it on the 1st of June. Bustamante, Gabinete Mex., i. 15-17; Id., MS., i. 41-3.
- ↑ Bustamante has it that the appointments were well received by the public. Id., 3-4.
Bravo, 3; Santa Anna, 2. Niles' Reg., lii. 49; Arrillaga, Recop., 1837, 300-1; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., iii. 363; Bustamante, Gabinete Mex., i. 1-3; Id., Voz de la Patria, MS., xii. 117-18.
