CHAPTER XXVI.
LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS RESTORED.
1855-1856.
President Álvarez Administration — Reforms Initiated — Ley Juarez — Differences in the Liberal Party — Álvarez Retires — Ignacio Comonfort, the Substitute President — His Conciliatory Policy — Difficulties with the Clergy and Military — Seditious Movements — Puebla Campaign — Decrees against the Clergy — Congressional Work Raousset's and Walker's Invasions — Resignation of Álvarez — Dissensions between the Executive and Congress — Estatuto Orgánico Adoption of Liberal Principles
Juan Álvarez, who now took the oath before the representatives and assumed the reins of government, was born on the 27th of January, 1780, in the old town of Santa Maria de la Concepcion de Atoyac, later ciudad Álvarez, his father being a native of Galicia, in Spain, and his mother of Acapulco. He was educated in Mexico, and was one of the first men to take up arms in the cause of independence.[1] After the establishment of the federal republic, he affiliated with the moderate republican party, and afterward took an active part in the affairs of that eventful political period, particularly in the campaigns in southern Mexico. Santa Anna in 1841 promoted
- ↑ He joined Morelos at Coyuca Nov. 17, 1810, as a private in the ranks. His promotions were so rapid that within a year he was made a colonel. Severely wounded in both legs at Acapulco, he was saved by a soldier, also wounded, who carried him away on his back. Álvarez took part in many actions of war, and having been signally defeated at Pié de la Cuesta, sought refuge in the woods, pursued like a wild beast by the royalists, who nicknamed him El Gallego. His fortune of upwards of $35,000 was confiscated. He joined the trigarante army in 1821 and captured Acapulco. He aided Bravo and Guerrero to overthrow Iturbide's empire. Rivera. Gob. de Méx., ii. 477-8.
