259
PAPERS OF Mn\.Al3EAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
siege to be lifted and Santa Anna not only escaped his miserable plight, but was placed by the new Cabinet at the head of the same troops that had besieged him. CHAPTER XII. The people support the Acordada revolution. Congress assembles and pro- ceeds to count the votes for the presidential election. Pedraza elected. Con- gress declares his election null. Congress proclaims Guerrero President and Bustamante Vice-President. Zavala Minister of Finance. Santa Anna Secre- tary of \Var. The latter marches to Jalapa after the Acordada revolution. His immorality. The public treasury indemnifies him for supposed damages and losses. He goes to Veracruz. Examples of his usual conduct in private life. Barradas' Expedition. Santa Anna is appointed Commander-in-Chief. Barradas lands at Cabo Rojo. Santa Anna sets sail for Tuspan. Barradas takes -possession of Tampico. He marches against Teran. Cowardice and treachery of Garza. Santa Anna attacks Tampico. Opportune return of Bar- radas. Negotiations between him and Santa Anna. Teran joins the latter. Battle and defeat of the invaders. Surrender. Barradas sails for the United States. CHAPTER XII. The revolution of the Acordada had the general approbation of the country. It elevated Guerrero to the Presidency. Congress assembled January 1, 1828, and on counting the votes cast by the Legislatures for the appointment of President, it was found that Pedraza had two votes more than his opponent, and consequently was constitutionally elected; but Congress, heeding the voice of the public, declared Pedraza's elec- tion null and on the 6th of January proceeded to elect Guerrero and Bustamante President and Vice-President. They entered office on the 1st of April, 1829, at the end of Victoria's term. In order to preserve public peace Pedraza went into voluntary exile and left for the United States. Mr. Zavala was appointed Minister of Finance, and General Santa Anna Secretary of War, though we do not know whether the latter ever entered upon his duties. From the revolution of the Acordada, which occured in December, 1828, 23 until the invasion of Barradas in July, 1829, our hero led a ve:ry checkered career which we shall try to illustrate with a few deeds and anecdotes. Having received money-the god of his idolatry-from the new Gov- ernment, he departed for J alapa, marking his way through the country by conduct even more atrocious than his past immorality. His deprav- ity reached such a stage that several families were forced to leave in order to avoid his intolerable insolence and brutality. On his arrival at the capital of the State one of his first o'fficial acts was to force a payment from the public treasury of eleven thousand dollars as an indemnity for damages which his plantation had received during his absence, a plantation which he had bought for six thousand dollars and had not paid for to that time. The claim was unjust, not only be- cause the property and its belongings were not worth that sum, but because he had not really suffered any damage. He went to the city of Veracruz, his favorite place, and there as- sumed the air of those feudal barons who knew no law but their own wills and no reason but force. He maltreated as much as he was able the unfortunate _tenants of his plantation, ·Mango de Clava, by' imprint-
20The night of Nov. 30, 1828, is the date given in De Bow's Review, II, 37.
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