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PROTESTS FROM THE NORTH.
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tor could not fail to be impressed by his tall, graceful figure, with its small oval face stamped by thought and energy, and with the closely set eyes, brilliantly reflecting an impulsive nature and a talented mind. A sprinkling of gray in the black hair added dignity, and the dark, bilious complexion, with its striking expression of anxious melancholy hovering round the mouth when in repose, generally brightened during conversation into sympathizing affability and winning smiles. When giving command the voice assumed a well balanced, dictatorial tone, which was effectively imposing, and when roused his face changed into repelling fierceness. The arbitrary power accorded to him by the bases of Tacubaya in self-election,[1] control of convocation for a congress, and subordination of the council of state, opened the eyes of opponents still doubtful as to the drift of the revolution, and protests began to flow in, notably from Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and from Bravo,[2] in the name of the southern provinces, supplemented by a federal pronunciamiento in Guadalajara and Durango, here by Urrea. But Santa Anna was prepared. He had foreseen some such difficulty, and hastened to despatch Paredes against the federalists, with an army greatly swelled by impressment, while sending commissioners to win others by promises and intrigues. The mere news of Bustamante's overthrow, his own successful assumption of power, and the prompt advance of a strong force sufficed to bring about a prudent reaction. Guadalajara announced its submission, the central protesting body at Querétaro dissolved, Álvarez yielded on the condition of being left in charge

  1. He was elected by 39 out of 44 votes, the departments being by no means fully or properly represented.
  2. His proclamation in Vallejo, Col. Doc. Mex., MS., ii. pt 464, 15-17. Notices were sent to deny it, as in Voto de Son., Dec. 20, 1841. General Álvarez sustained him. Manif., 57, etc.; Pap. Var., clxxxvi. pt 2. Argument against, in Quejas de los Mex., 1-8; Mex. Pamphlets, i. pt 9. The protesting provinces denanded that a junta, convoked at Querétaro by Paredes, should choose the provisional president and define his power, and that a congress, to be immediately summoned, should elect a proprietory executive and frame a constitution.