Miramon's flight put an end to the deadly strife and unheard of vicissitudes of the last three years. The victorious liberal army, of about 25,000 men, entered the capital on new-year's day amid the joy and enthusiasm of the people, who had draped their houses in white, and poured upon the men a rain of flowers and laurel wreaths. The greeting was one worthy of the army that had fought so bravely to restore the reign of justice and law, as well as the magna charta of the country's liberties, reform and future progress.[1]
After the severe punishment of some malefactors by Quartermaster-general Zaragoza, Juarez arrived at the national capital on the 11th of January, 1861. He had hastened his journey because Gonzalez Ortega was exercising supreme powers in decreeing measures which were of the exclusive province of the executive. The president was enthusiastically greeted by his partisans, as well as by the high military and civil officers, as far out as Guadalupe, and on entering the city in an open carriage, amid the popular acclamation, his presence was further announced by the salvos of artillery. He at once published a manifesto.[2]
and the British naval commander Aldham, with the commanding officer of the French naval forces, Le Roy. Later, on the 22d of March, 1861, complaint was raised in the British house of commons that Miramon, who had stolen money from the British legation, had been favored to escape on a French ship. Juarez ordered that Miramon, Marquez, and all others who were implicated in these affairs should be arrested, prosecuted, and punished, with confiscation of their properties included; of which the British representative was officially apprised. Boletin de Notic., Jan. 27, 28, Feb. 9, 10, 22, 1861; Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., v. 194-5; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ix. 16; Hansard's Parl. Deb., clxii. 250; El Amigo del Pueblo, Feb. 26, 1861; Le Trait d'Union, Feb. 8, 16, 22, Apr. 24, May 1, 1861. All that, however, did not prevent that Miramon should be received and honored at the Spanish court by the queen on the 2d of Dec. of that year.
- ↑ A tragic and bloody episode sealed the end of the reactionary rule. Among the unfortunate victims was Vicente Segura, who had been a forcible writer in favor of the reaction as chief editor of the Diario de Avisos, so often quoted in connection with the last three years' events.
- ↑ Dated Jan. 10th. After congratulating the nation on the success of the constitutional régime over so many difficulties, he solemnly pledges himself to surrender the executive authority to the elect of the people. as he had considered it a deposit intrusted to his responsibility. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., v. 23-6; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ix. 9; Córtes, Diario Congreso, i. ap. 5, no. 4, 93.
