act as the conqueror's tools, found themselves in an unenviable position as soon as the negotiations for peace were initiated.
During that period several newspapers were published at the capital, both in English and Spanish, the former of which freely vented their wrath on the Mexicans.[1]
Soon after the commanding general had completed his study of the revenue system, he prepared an order fixing the amount of the direct taxes, and the duties to be collected on the precious metals. This order was promulgated on the 31st of December, 1847,[2] and the first step toward its execution was to despatch Colonel Withers with the 9th infantry to Pachuca; the next was to station Cadwalader's brigade at Toluca; a few weeks later a detachment was sent to Cuernavaca. The number of troops being too great to be conveniently accommodated in the city of Mexico, Riley's brigade was stationed at Tacubaya, Patterson's division at San Ángel, and a portion of Butler's at Molino del Rey.
The annoyances of the Mexican guerrillas caused the sending of a column of newly arrived troops in January to occupy the towns of Córdoba and Orizaba, where the guerrilla chieftains had held their quar-
- ↑ The American Star and the North American. The first named had been originally published in Puebla. It was filled with abuse of the Mexicans, particularly of Santa Anna and the Mexican troops, though still leaning in favor of peace. The other, sustained by officers of the invading army, advocated the annexation of Mexico to the U. S. It had some able Spanish articles supposed to have emanated from Mexican pens. The Spanish papers were El Monitor, which went as far as it dared in defending Mexico's cause; El Eco del Comercio advocated peace and the union of parties; and El Cangrejo, which abused the respectable classes, occasionally giving some evidences of wit.
- ↑ U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, H. Ex. 60, p. 1063.
their obsequiousness to the pitch of giving a banquet to the conqueror, Scott, in the beautiful spot called El Desierto, on the 25th of January. It has been asserted that on that occasion toasts were drunk in honor of the victory of the U. S. arms in the valley of Mexico, and the desire expressed for the annexation of all Mexico to the U. S. Iriarte was, after the Mexican government reoccupied Mexico, brought to trial. He made a very able defence; he was kept in prison several months, and on account of ill health, allowed to go to his estate, where he died soon after. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 550-4; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., xiii. 100-2.
