PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LA11un 245 its prime instigators. The public voice accused l\Iichelena, who was temporarily exercising the executive power, of desiring to supplant the legal incumbent who was a Spaniard named Negrete. Be that as it may, as soon ae the existence of the plot was macle known to the Gov- ernment, Santa Anna offered his services for the purpose of routing the rebels, but as the Government did not want to place any' power in his hands, the minister, Lucas Alam{m proposed to them in Council that Santa Anna be employed as a spy to watch their operations, an employment which was very suited to the principles and talents of the fallen Antonio I. He joyfully accepted the position and carried out its duties to the satisfaction of the ministers. He became involved in the conspiracy, associated intimately with the rebels, attended their meetings and became one of their most active members. While em- ployed in this manner he saw how formidable was the conspiracy and how general and obstinate was the prejudice against the Spaniards. He decided to deceive Alaman and to identify his fortune with that of the conspiracy, thinking that he could gain more advantage by com- manding this than by adhering to the Government. With this purpose in view he proposed to place himself at its head, but when he saw that the .command had been given to Lobato, he suddenly severed the ties which bound him to his companions and revealed their proceedings to the Government. The outbreak took place on the night of the 23rd of January, 1824. Lobato had two thousand men under his command and for some time he filled the Capital with tumult. However, Congress remained firm and conceded nothing. Lobato did not want to attack this body be- cause of the prestige which it enjoyed in the nation. While he re- mained inactive Guerrero arrived in the Capital with his forces. The presence of this leader was sufficient to calm the popular commotion. All the rebels gave up their arms and received the Government's par- don except Staboli and a few accomplices, who, on remaining obstina,te, were made prisoners and sentenced to capital punishment. However~ their punishment was afterward changed to permanent exile. Thus terminated Lobato's conspiracy which lasted three days, and during this time, according to 1\Ir. Zavala, "General Santa Anna, who ran from one place to another, offered Congress his person and his sword"; but it does not appear that either one or the other was accepted. In consideration of the denunciation which Santa Anna made of Lobato's conspiracy, and due to the influence of Rej6n, whom Con- gress had taken as its protector, the case against our hero was closed. As a reward for him, but even more for the purpose of ridding them- selves of him, Congress sent him to a place where he could do the least possible damage, and appointed him Commanding General of Yucatan, to which place he went in 1825. We can say nothing positively in regard to his administration at that place, except that it was brief and corrupt, Among his arbitrary acts is numbered that of embarking his forces without the Government's knowledge for the purpose of invading the Island of Cuba, and because of this and other excesses, the Gov- ernment was obliged to ask him to account for his conduct. For this purpose he was ordered to appear in the Capital. HoweYer, on his. arrival there, instead of receiving the punishment which his arbitrary acts merited, he was appointed Director General of Engineers in that
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