CHAPTER IX.
FEDERALIST AGITATION.
1838-1840.
Checked in the West, the Federalists Rise in the East — Tampico Takes the Lead — The Movement Spreads from Tuxpan to the Rio Grande del Norte — Dilatory Action of Bustamante — Santa Anna Figures as Reformer — His Energy Saves the Government — Defeat and Execution of Mejía — Tampico and Tuxpan Capitulate — Bustamante Resumes the Presidency — Yucatan Secedes from the Republic — Revolution in Tabasco — Urrea's Pronunciamiento at Mexico — Bombardment of the Palace — Failure of the Outbreak — A Monarchical Breeze
Free from foreign complications, the government was permitted to give undivided attention to the federalist uprising, which, under the fostering patronage of the French fleet, had received fresh impulse. Before the autumn of 1838 it was practically confined to Jalisco, and even here the energetic Paredes had followed up his earlier successes against Urrea in Sinaloa, and against Guzman and his allies in the Guadalajara region, by giving the latter a most effective check on February 4, 1839, at the hacienda do Santa Cruz. This not only saved the depart mental capital, but reduced the revolution in the west to insignificant proportions.[1] Southward, in Oajaca and Chiapas, slight sympathetic movements had taken place, only to be promptly suppressed. In
- ↑ Guzman, with his associates Montenegro and Palafox, lost about 100 killed and many prisoners. About the same time Vicente Gonzalez was defeated with a loss of 90 in an attempt on Toluca. A pronunciamiento at Guadalajara in May was quickly suppressed with aid of Governor Escobedo. Diario Gob., Feb. 12, May 25, 1839, etc.
