have seen that, as a mark of confidence, he gave him command of the brigade stationed in Tacubaya.[1]
At the time of taking possession of the presidential chair, Zuloaga spoke in general terms of his intention to secure the just rights of citizens, but did not lay down any policy.[2] He at once appointed his cabinet, made up of men whose antecedents and political opinions clearly indicated that the civil war would be pushed energetically till the influence of the army and clergy should predominate.[3]
The foreign legations rather hastily recognized his government as one de facto. It would have been difficult for them to say on what they grounded its probable stability.
Among the first acts of Zuloaga's cabinet was the organization of a government council with one representative from each state and territory, regulating its functions and duties. The next steps were to restore the fueros, and generally to annul the reform laws passed during Comonfort's administration.[4] Their retrogressive acts did their cause more harm than the liberal forces ever could; inasmuch as the reform
- ↑ Rivera says that though Zuloaga's revolt led to Comonfort's downfall, it is but justice to state that he did not mean to be ungrateful to the late president. Gob. de Méx., ii. 533. Lefêvre speaks contemptuously of his character and abilities: 'Antiguo baratero en una casa de juego, que solo su nulidad le habia designado al clero para que este hiciese de él su hombre de paja.' Doc. Ofic. Mахіmiliano, i. 26.
- ↑ However, the development of a policy in consonance with the reformed plan de Tacubaya was soon after initiated. La Cruz, vi. 558; Méx., El Gob. Sup., 1-9; Córtes, Diario Cong., i. ap. 5, note 4, 20; Diario de Avisos, Jan. 23, 25, 1858.
- ↑ The appointments were on the 24th, namely: Luis G. Cuevas, minister of relations; Manuel Larrainzar, of justice, public instruction, and ecclesiastical affairs, who resigned the office April 22d, being succeeded ad interim by Hilario Elgnero from April 24th, and later by Francisco Javier Miranda from July 10th; Hilario Elguero, of government; Juan Hierro Maldonado, of fomento; and José de la Parra, of war. Hierro was for a time charged with the portfolio of the treasury, which, on the 25th of April, went into the hands of Manuel Piña y Cuevas. Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1870, 1058.
- ↑ The Lerdo law and that on parochial emoluments were repealed on the 28th of Jan. Méx., Col. Ley., Mex., 1861, ii. 1-18; Diario de Avisos, Jan. 28, 1858; El Eco Nacional, Jan. 29, 1858. On the other hand, President Juarez, by his decree of Jan. 19, 1858, reiterated August 30 and January 4, 1859, declared all acts of the revolutionists from Dec. 17, 1837, null and void. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., iv. 3, 7, 13-17; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 654; Buenrostro, Hist. Seg. Cong. Const., i. 60.
