Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/724

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
704
CONSTITUTION AND REFORMS.

The reactionists being now defeated, it was generally believed that with one more effort cominercial activity and public confidence would be revived; but it was not to be so. Another seditious act occurred at San Luis Potosí; over 1,000 men of Rosas Landa's brigades, returning from Nuevo Leon under the lead of Manuel María Calvo, revolted on the 10th of December, taking up the cry of religion and fueros, which compelled the rest of the force under General Echeagaray to leave the city. Rosas Landa was held as a prisoner for a time. This event confirmed the uselessness of conciliatory measures in dealing with the foes of reform. For some time past it had been rumored that there was in the city of Mexico a directing board,[1] the names of whose members had not been divulged. Subsequent events proved its existence and activity. The troops at San Luis Potosí being destitute of resources, the directorio sent Calvo there with money, and he succeeded in winning over a portion of the troops to his projects, in which he was aided by José M. Alfaro, one of the officers who capitulated at Puebla in March, and by Juan Othon, a resident of San Luis.[2] This affair coincided with hostile movements in Michoacan, Tlascala, and other places; in the southern part of the district of Orizaba, a party under Abascal committed outrages, using the name of Álvarez.[3] Some of Tomás Mejía's forces from the sierra committed

24 'Directorio Conservador Central.' Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 721-35, passim; Id., Gob. de Méx., ii. 510.

    public peace; and to an old law of February 22, 1832, under which all who rebelled against the government must forfeit their honors and offices, and be held responsible, jointly and severally, with their property for all sums which, by themselves or their leaders or orders, were forcibly taken from the federal or state governments, private persons, or corporations. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., ii. 537-57.

  1. 24
  2. A departmental junta was appointed, with Juan Othon as governor, and some thousands of dollars raised, some accounts having it that they were a voluntary gift, and others a forced loan. Diario de Avisos, Dec. 27, 1856; El Eco Nacional, Jan. 3, 1857; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 345-6.
  3. They fell upon the haciendas San Vicente and Chiconcuac, and murdered several Spaniards. The brigands were captured, tried, and executed in 1858. Escalera y Llana, Mex. list. Descrip., 141-5; Casacola, Acusacion Fiscal, pp. i.-vi. 1-87; El Eco Nac., Aug. 25, 26, Sept. 1, 3, 6, 25, 26, 28, 1858.