duced a change, and on June 3d he made his formal entry with the pomp suggested by fawning adherents and subordinates, who had gone so far as to erect a gilt bronze statue to him in the Plaza del Volador.[1] The fears roused by his arrival among the oppressed tax-payers were only too speedily to be realized, and this time he came with cogent reasons. The United States were freely entertaining the proposal to annex Texas, their troops were gathering along its border, and a squadron of their fleet had just appeared off Vera Cruz. While the foreign office demanded an explanation of these threatening movements, Santa Anna seized the opportunity to obtain an extraordinary forced contribution of four million pesos for war preparations.[2] His efforts to have the amount increased, and obtain special power to raise it, were thwarted in a manner that provoked his deep indignation. He had become so used to carry his points, or at least to a deferential attitude, that snappish resistance proved most irritating. As a relief to his feelings, he directed a bitter attack on the deputies through the government organs, including the official Diario, with a suggestion from one side of a dictatorship. The chambers demanded an explanation in order to make the ministry responsible, but could obtain no satisfaction. One result, however, was that the foreign portfolio changed from the hands of Bocanegra to Rejon, a talented but young and impulsive
- ↑ It rose on a high column and presented him in a general's uniform, standing with the right hand extended northward to indicate his resolution to recover Texas. The unveiling was performed on June 13th by Canalizo and Oropeza, the latter having paid for the erection $8,000. Bustamante, Hist. Santa Anna, 265–6. Among eulogies is one by the governor of Puebla. Discurso, Pap. Var., xxxix. pt 11. In unveiling, the cord became entangled round the neck, and not long after a cord round its neck brought it low, as we shall see. The administration took care to order the different corporations into procession to give éclat to the reception, which otherwise might have proved chilling. Fire-works and feasting followed.
- ↑ After long discussion, the decree was passed by 37 votes against 35, and issued on August 21st, levying two per mille on country estates. city property eight per cent of renta s, and so on for industries, rents, etc. Méx., Col. Ley. y Dec., 1844-46, 50-60. See comments in Defensa Integ. Nac., Aug. 7, 24, 1844, devoted above all to uphold the integrity of the national territory.
