Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/743

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PLAN OF TACUBAYA.
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caused much displeasure in congress, and at first there was thought of arresting all parties concerned; but finally the president was requested to have Zuloaga indicted. As Comonfort's name was mixed with everything rumored relating to a change of system, the minister of government, Benito Juarez, declared in the president's name that all such reports were groundless. And really it was unreasonable even to suppose that Comonfort, falsifying his past record, should take part in any scheme to upset the order of things he had worked so hard to establish; that a man of his ability, and having at his side men like Juarez, Ruiz, and others, who were a guarantee to the constitutional party, should exhibit such turpitude, was inconceivable. Moreover, congress had given him proofs of benevolence, and it was not credible that he would respond to them with ingratitude. But incontrovertible facts came to establish once more that there is nothing impossible in politics. The principle advanced some time before by the Clamor Progresista was now given a practical illustration.

The conspirators having perfected their plans with soime governors, particularly with him of Vera Cruz, a political movement was effected in the early morning of December 17th, at Tacubaya, to set aside the national constitution, which was declared to be not in accord with the customs and usages of the Mexican people; the supreme control of the government with ample powers was vested in Ignacio Comonfort, who was to convoke, within three months, an extraordinary congress for framing another constitution to conform with the national will, guaranteeing the true interests of the people; which constitution, before being promulgated as the supreme law, was to be submitted to the voters for their approval; and in the event of its non-acceptance, was to be returned to the congress for amendment. The president was to rule, with a consultive council, composed of one representative from each state. All authorities re-