he issued a proclamation on the 10th of June, setting forth the reasons for abandoning the capital. He sent circulars to all the governors, investing them with ample powers,[1] and forthwith organized his government.[2] He drew resources from Matamoros, where, in consequence of the civil war in the United States, an active trade was carried on.
The most active measures were at once adopted for an energetic struggle in defence of the sovereignty of the country and its republican institutions. Both the general and state officers used their best endeavors to organize military forces; and by the latter part of June there were concentrated in Querétaro about 12,000 men of all arms. We are assured, however, that even at this critical period intrigues were going on around Juarez, who was led by Plácido Vega, it is said, to believe that Ogazon and Doblado had placed a numerous army under General Marquez de Leon to overthrow his government. The result was that Ogazon threw up his office of governor of Jalisco. Doblado received orders to surrender his
- ↑ He gave them authority to act in urgent cases when unable to receive timely instructions from the government. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ix. 623-7; Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1870, 586; La Voz de Méj., July 11, 1863; Lefêvre, Doc. Maximiliano, i. 277-9.
- ↑ His cabinet ministers then were: Juan Antonio de la Fuente, of relations; Jesus Teran, of justice; José Higinio Nuñez, of the treasury; Felipe B. Berriozábal, of war, who was, Aug. 18th, succeeded by Comonfort. Fuente being sent on a foreign mission, Manuel Doblado took his place from Sept. 3d to 10th, when he was succeeded by Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada. Teran resigned Sept. 1st. The cabinet on the 10th was formed with Lerdo, José María Iglesias, Nuñez, and Comonfort.
Iglesias, as a member of the official circle, was of course perfectly acquainted with the republican plans and movements, and could have given the best possible history thereof; but the articles being for publication, he evidently dared not reveal these facts, and confined himself to those relating to already known campaigns, and to one-sided statements tending to awe the enemy and to encourage republicans. The chief contents of the articles are reviews of foreign relations, French, English, Spanish, and American debates, and popular views of the Mexican question; ironic and bitter denunciations and comments on the imperialist administration; and short and hasty reviews of military movements for the month, etc. All the articles are compiled with little regard for exactness or completeness; many are jumbled and full of empty talk — repeated in the various letters — on foreign affairs and policy. The material on the French, imperial, and foreign affairs, being obtained from the newspapers of the time, has its value, but is impaired by hasty concoction and one-sidedness; the other smaller portion on republican movements is guarded, garbled for prudential reasons, and superficial.
