Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/695

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IGNACIO COMONFORT.

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he could conceal his feelings and control his passions; he was ready to forgive personal injuries. He was brave and cool in danger, firm of purpose, and slow in resolve; but resolutions once taken, he was energetic in carrying them out. Generous and open handed, he never could accumulate a large property; he was honest, moreover, in all his transactions, private and public.^[1] Religious, and much devoted to the faith of his forefathers, he did not encourage intolerance. He was affectionate toward his family, plain and unassuming, and of very simple habits.^[2]

Comonfort before he was twenty years of age had taken part in the political disturbances as a soldier; during his early military life he was present in several battles and sieges, displaying much ability, as well as gallantry and coolness.^[3] He was a deputy in the congresses of 1842 and 1846; also, of the one that assembled in Querétaro, in 1846, was chosen a senator, and later was inspector of the custom-house and collector at Acapulco, which place he left to take his seat again as a deputy in congress. At the end of the session he was reappointed collector, and held the office till Santa Anna dismissed him on false charges.

↑ 'Apenas dejó á sus hijas un mezquino patrimonio, fruto de sus economías, y resto de insignificantes propiedades que tenia ántes de figurar en política.' Payno, Cuentas, Gastos, etc. It has been asserted, however, that he and his minister Payno had transactions together at the expense of the national treasury. Such accusations should not be believed without their being fully corroborated by evidence.
↑ In the midst of popular ovations, the people always saw him in his plain black coat, except once, the 27th of September, 1857, anniversary of the entry into Mexico of the trigarante army under Iturbide, he presented himself in the civic procession in full uniform to do the fullest honor to the occasion, and save himself from criticism; 'porque es preciso . . . hacer honor al egército, y á la memoria del Sr Iturbide; no sea [he added with a smile] que si voy vestido de paisano, me tengan por demagogo.' Portilla, Méj. en 1856-7, 339-40. Comonfort was a well-informed and high-minded man, but lacked confidence in his own judgment, which often led him to rely too implicitly on the counsel of others. This diffidence was the cause-of his political ruin. Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 63.
↑ He was always found on the side of liberty, fighting against tyranny, with the battle-cry of 'religion y fueros.' After a long period of private life, he was made prefect and commandant of Tlapa, where he introduced many improvements, though constantly troubled by raiding Indians from the south. In the American war he served some time as aide-de-camp to the Mexican commander-in-chief. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 485-6; Id., Hist. Jalapa, iv. 823–5, 828-9; Wappäus, Mex., 128-9.

[1] 'Apenas dejó á sus hijas un mezquino patrimonio, fruto de sus economías, y resto de insignificantes propiedades que tenia ántes de figurar en política.' Payno, Cuentas, Gastos, etc. It has been asserted, however, that he and his minister Payno had transactions together at the expense of the national treasury. Such accusations should not be believed without their being fully corroborated by evidence.

[2] In the midst of popular ovations, the people always saw him in his plain black coat, except once, the 27th of September, 1857, anniversary of the entry into Mexico of the trigarante army under Iturbide, he presented himself in the civic procession in full uniform to do the fullest honor to the occasion, and save himself from criticism; 'porque es preciso . . . hacer honor al egército, y á la memoria del Sr Iturbide; no sea [he added with a smile] que si voy vestido de paisano, me tengan por demagogo.' Portilla, Méj. en 1856-7, 339-40. Comonfort was a well-informed and high-minded man, but lacked confidence in his own judgment, which often led him to rely too implicitly on the counsel of others. This diffidence was the cause-of his political ruin. Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 63.

[3] He was always found on the side of liberty, fighting against tyranny, with the battle-cry of 'religion y fueros.' After a long period of private life, he was made prefect and commandant of Tlapa, where he introduced many improvements, though constantly troubled by raiding Indians from the south. In the American war he served some time as aide-de-camp to the Mexican commander-in-chief. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 485-6; Id., Hist. Jalapa, iv. 823–5, 828-9; Wappäus, Mex., 128-9.

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