PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LA.MAR 253 impossibility of effecting any reconciliation with it. Desirous of at- .taining such a purpose Santa Anna appealed to his friend Castrillon, his associate in past crimes, who openly refused to see him or have any communication with him. Besieged as he was by his implacable foes, it seemed that there was no door by which the poor Farfulla could escape. But who can catch an eel by the tail? We should like to grasp quicksilver, but we cannot hold it. In his despair he found a friend in Mariano Arispe, Com- mander of the 5th Regiment of Infantry, who was loyal to the Yorkinos and who published a manifesto against the election of Pedraza. With the consent of the officers and soldiers Santa Anna placed himself at the head of this force and left for Perote, thus evading the suit brought against him. Mr. Zavala says that he was received with a salute of artillery, which may be true, although another authority states that he succeeded in taking that place by the means to which he ordinarily had recourse in all emergencies; namely, by falsehood-by making the Commander of that stronghold believe that he was marching with those troops under Government orders. Be this as it may, he took possession of the fort, and in a short time published a proclamation declaring his intention of not recognizing Pedraza as President under any circumstances, although it was evident that he had been elected in accordance with the articles of the Constitution, and of not surren- dering until Don Vicente Guerrero should be substituted for the for- mer. With the intention of making his declaration more pleasing to the populace he demanded the total expulsion of the Spaniards, the same portion of the population with which he had worked until the battle of Tulancingo: Pedraza was elected on the 1st of September, 1828; Santa Anna's declaration was on the 11th. The news reached Mexico on the 14th, and on the 17th the General Congress issued a decree de- claring Santa Anna and his accomplices outlaws. We therefore see this restless and turbulent spirit again cast upon the revolutionary sea, not for the good of his country, but solely for the diabolic purpose of satisfying his mortal hatred of a single man. In order to satisfy his vengeance against Pedraza, he did not hesitate to destroy the Constitution, submerge his country in civil war, and drench his sword with the blood of his fellow-citizens. CHAPTER XI. Rinc6n beseiges Perote. Skirmishes. · Santa Anna marches toward Oajaca. He reaches Chalchicomula. His conduct at this place. He marches to Telmacan. His dissolution. Pursued by Calder6n and Rincon he hurries forward and encounters Colonel Pantoja, who, instead of fighting him, joins him and marches with him to Don Dominguillo. He encounters Don Timoteo Reyes, who, enticed by promises, surrenders without resistance. Santa Anna's treachery and cruelty to him and his officers. He repels Miranda. Surrounded by Calder6n he sign~ an armistice; he violates it, marches to Oajaca, appropriates the public funds and gives himself over to his favorite vices. Rincon marches toward Oajaca. He meets Santa Anna. Battle with and total defeat of the latter. Santa Anna takes refuge in the Santo Domingo convent. He is beseiged by Rinc6n. Santa Anna enters and sacks the San Francisco convent. His adventures. Reduced to the direst necessity he makes proposals to the Government. These are de- clined. He attempts .to escape to Guatemala and is prevented from doing so by Arista. He pleads for his life and offers to surrender. The Aeordada revolu- tion saves him.
Powered by FlippingBook