was ratified on the 11th, with a few amendments at Acapulco, by the officers and troops stationed there, and by Colonel Ignacio Comonfort, who was at once recognized as commandant of the fortress and of the military district.[1]
The position of commander-in-chief of the 'ejército restaurador de la libertad' was given to Álvarez, and that of second in command to Moreno. The former had correspondence with the discontented at the national capital, and with the exiles Juarez and others, residing in New Orleans.
This revolution, being favored by public opinion, was sure of victory, though it had to meet at first, with only a few ill-provided men, the numerous hosts at the dictator's command,[2] backed by the influential classes, including the clergy, who supported him with their might to secure the restoration of their own power.
The action at Ayutla had a magical effect. It was hailed by the masses with marks of approbation. The government pretended to despise, as insignificant, this movement, started in that distant and thinly settled region of the country; but it soon found itself impotent to withstand it.[3]
- ↑ A tenth article declared that if a majority of the nation wished to modify the plan, the signers pledged themselves to respect and carry out the national will. The proceeding from this time forth went under the name of Plan de Ayutla reformado en Acapulco. Méx., Col. Ley. Fund., 318-22; Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., 11, 101-9. It has been asserted that the displeasure of Álvarez and Comonfort with Santa Anna arose from the annulling of the acquisition by the former of a large tract of land which they had bargained to transfer to an American, by which operation they were to clear many thousands of dollars. Marquez de Leon, Mem. Póst., MS., 83-90.
- ↑ Forty thousand men and all the resources of the government; the millious to be received from the sale of Mexican territory; and the forced absence of a large number of liberals in exile, or confined in prisons.
- ↑ Alvarez was called the southern panther, and 'un mal mexicano puesto de acuerdo con los enemigos extranjeros.' Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 486.
opposing this plan, or in any manner aiding the government or its supporters, to be looked upon and dealt with as foes to national independence. 9. Generals Nicolás Bravo, Juan Álvarez, and Tomás Moreno were invited to place themselves at the head of the liberating forces, to carry into effect the administrative reforms set forth in the plan, with power to make such modifications as they might deem conducive to the national welfare. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., i. 3-18, ii. 94-101; Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1856, Jan.-June, 442; Bandera de Ayutla, June 21, 1856; Méx., Rev. contra Santa Anna, 36-166, passim.
