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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LA11rAn
This was a very happy e~ent for Farfulla, for the loss of his head would have been the result of the situation, if Echavarri had remained faithful to the Emperor. After this Santa Anna left for Tampico and from there for San Luis Potosi in which place we will now leave him while we pass on to occupy ourselves with other particulars. CHAPTER VIII. Echavarri•s desertion is the signal for a general revolution. Iturbide occupies Istapaluca with two thousand men. He resolves to reconcile himself to his enemies. He-sends Negrete to Puebla to treat with the liberating forces. Negrete joins the enemy. The Emperor returns to the Capital and calls together the constituent Junta [Instituyente]. The old Congress convenes. Fifty-eight members assemble. Iturbide appears before them. His humiliation. He re- nounces the crown. Congress denies his power to renounce that which did not belong to him. The liberating army enter the Capital. The revolutionaries assemble the old Congress. A decree is passed declaring Iturbide's coronation null and ordering his expulsion from the country. He reembarks for Liorna. Informed of his return Congress declares him outlawed. Iturbide disembarks at Soto de la Marina. He is arrested by Garza and executed. Remarks upon the principal leaders engaged in the revolution. A provisional government is formed after the fall of Iturbide, with Victoria, Bravo and Negrete at its head. The provinces are declared States. A new Congress is installed. New organiza- tion of the parties. Proceedings of Congress. Election of the President and Vice-President. The Constitution is drawn up and the new Government begins. to function. · CHAPTER VIII. The umon of the two belligerent forces was a death blow to the hopes of the Emperor. We will not elaborate at length in tracing his down-fall. It was as rapid as was his ascension. The principal de- tails lack importance and are not necessary to our present purpose. The desertion of Echavarri and his army was the signal for a general revolution. Nearly all of the provinces declared in favor of the Re- public in rapid succession. After this the war was purely nominal. Iturbide, at the head of two thousand men who remained faithful, occupied the small town of Iztapaluca twelve miles from the Capital, but with this insignificant force it was imp_ossible to place a dam be- fore the impetuous torrent which advanced against him, and his only hope of salvation consisted in reconciling himself to the enemy whom he ·could no longer oppose. When the liberating army-for that was what the revolutionary forces were called-reached Puebla, Iturbide's friends were filled with consternation and began to desert him. He sent Negrete to ask the insurgents what would satisfy them. Negrete. joined the enemy. The Emperor then saw that the sun of his power was sinking to its death. He returned to the Capital and called the constitutionat Junta in special session. He decided that the new Congress which he had promised should be organized, but the concession was made, rather late; his enemies were not pacified with it nor did circum- stances permit of procrastination. Under such circumstances and as a last resource he adopted the convocation of the old Congress. The 58 members who were still in the city were installed on the 7th 0£• March; and indeed, it must have been very shameful and humiliating- for the Emperor to appear before those whom he had threatened, per-.
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