2J8
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
his refusal of the position, Santa Anna continues to hold it. Contest between Guerrero and Pedraza for the Presidency. The latter is elected. Santa Anna rebels against his election. He takes possession of Perote. CHAPTER X. On account of the death of one of the Senators of that State it was necessary that the Legislature of Veracruz appoint another man to his place. General Guerrero wanted Santa Anna to receive the nomi-' 11ation for the purpose, as he said, of separating him from his corrupt companions. Santa Anna promptly agreed to this, although he secretly opposed the plan. There was no difficulty in obtaining the appoint- ment, but during the night preceding the election Santa Anna con- spired with the members to elect the Vice-Governor Iberri whose posi- tion Santa Anna wished to occupy. This was accomplished in accord- ance with his desires, and by this means he avoided going to the capital and at the same time obtained a position for which he was very anxious. From that time Guerrero began to distrust his promises. The conspiracy of Santa Anna and Barragan was only the prelude and part of another more extensive one which progressed 'rapidly throughout various portions of the country. This took place in 1827' and is known in history as the Conspiracy of )fontafio or Tulancingo. The Escoceses, or aristocratic party, having been unsuccessful in their civil and constitutional efforts to defeat the Yorkinos, or Repub- lican party, determined to obtain their end by illegal and violent means. "They finally made," says l\Ir. Zavala, "the hopeless resolution of taking up arms, of destroying institutions and of ousting the authorities in order to place themselves at the head of affairs and direct the re- public." Santa Anna joined in this one as he did in all conspiracies. The theater of his first operations was Zacatlan de las Manzanas, in the vicinity of Apan, where our hero made his appearance under the pretense of attending the cock-fights at a fair which was held there~ but in reality to assist in the plot. ~Ir. Zavala, who always favors Santa Anna as much as possible, in agreement with the historical truth expresses himself thus: "It is said that Generals Moran, Santa Anna, Teran and Hernandez were equally implicated. It is also admitted that Santa Anna was present at the aforesaid fair where the conspira- tors met." Very soon we shall see this traitor taking up arms against his companions. The first discovery of this plan was made by ·Don Manuel :Montano who in December, 1827 brought to light a publication containing the four following proposals: first, the expulsion of the Spaniards, second, the departure of l\Ir. Poinsett, third, the aboHtion of secret societies, fourth, the removal of Don Manuel Gomez Pedraza as l\Iinister of War. It was known by everyone that Montano was incapable of being the instigator of so great an undertaking, and was only the instrument of other persons. The real authors of the plan were the Vice President Bravo, General Berdejo and others. This was discovered the following day when they left the Capital and established their headquarters at Tulancingo, a small town seventy-five miles from the Capital. As soon as Santa Anna found out that Bravo had left llfexico he wrote to Guerrero, who had been ordered to march against the rebels, offering to serve in his ranks in order to personally prove his friend-
Powered by FlippingBook