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THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS.
61

President Victoria was not hostile to the Spaniards from the mere fact of their nationality; he had, on the contrary, shown favor to many of them who served under him. He abhorred supporting severe measures against them, and only did so when his ministers represented the necessity of such measures for the safety of the nation, and even of the Spaniards themselves, whose lives were often in great peril from popular violence. It is doubtful if the government could have guided the masses into the path of right and justice. Nevertheless, the president endeavored to allay the convulsion, but his feeble efforts availed nothing — instance the results of his intercession when the Parian was sacked in December 1828. The consequences of that scandalous occurrence were that large amounts of capital were taken out of the country, and the merchants of Europe suspended their operations in Mexico. [1]

    disposed to the country's institutions; also their sons, if they followed the example of their fathers, and resided in the republic; likewise those practising some science, art, or useful industry therein, and free from suspicion. A previous law of May 10th had suspended all Spaniards from office. The other allowed pensions to such as did not go to reside in the enemy's country. The government from time to time, notably on the 20th of March, 1829, issued most stringent laws and orders against these subjects of Spain. A few were excepted, however, among whom were those who had served in congress, and had remained loyal to Mexico, and the officers and crews of the line-of-battle ship Asia. Dublan and Lozano, Legis. Mex., ii. 12, 47-8, 66, 98-106; Mex. Col. Ley. y Dec., 1829-30, 9-10, 15-16; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., MS., viii. 151; Id., Voz de la Pairia, i. nos. 4, 5, 11-19, ii. no. 16, iii. nos. 20-4, iv. nos. 2-9; Arrillaga, Recop. 1828, 35-206; 1829, 47-195, 205; Tornel, Breve Reseña Hist., 166-71; Zavala, Revol. Mex., ii. 125; Gaz. de Mex., 1826, May 13; 1827, May 10; Mex. Mem. Est. Libre, 1828, p. 3.

  1. The constitution was thus shattered, and the germ of illegality became finally rooted. Tornel, Breve Reseña, Hist. 310-12, 332-424; Alaman, Hist. Méj., v. 839-43; Dublan and Lozano, Legis. Mex., ii. 90-1; Suarez y Navarro, Hist. Méx., 92-134; El Espíritu Púb., 1828, Nov. 2 to Dec. 28; 1829, Jan. 1 to Feb. 28; Arrillaga, Recop., 1828, 250, 252, 258, 273; 1829, 4-6, 45-6; 1830, 83-5, 113-14; Gaz. de Mex., Extr., 1828, a, 1-4, b, 1; Mex., Col. Leyes, 1829-30, 1-2, 8-14; Dispos. Var., ii. 55-6, iii. 144, 149, 151; Figueroa, J., Observ. de un Ciud., 1-2; Alvarez, J., Manif., 116-18; Puebla, Mem. al Cong., 11-14; Bustamante, Voz de la Patria, i. nos 2-10, 15-19, 25, 27, 29, 30, 35, iii. nos 1-5,8-17: Id., Hist. Iturbide, 149-50, 241-2; Id., Hist. Gob. Victoria, MS., 555-76; Pedraza Manif., 52-92; Zavala, Revol. Mex., ii. 76-79, 83-149; Id., Manif. del Gobr., 1-39; Id., Viage á los E. U., 6; Santa Anna, Pronunc., 1-124, and 54 pp. of annexes; Rincon, M., Justificado, 1-89 and 1-108; Unda, P. V., Esposic., 1-32; Id., Sorpresa del Campo, 1-19; El Parian, Prim. Represent, del Com., 1-65; Molinos, Prision; Méx., Juicio Impar., 1-32; Méx. Manif. Disput., 4-7; Cuevas, Porvenir Méx., 472-80; Martinez, Revol. Méx., i.