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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
of l\Iexico presented him with a gold sword which was very , magnifi- cently made by an able Toluca artist named Coto and which cost 6,000 pesos. When Santa Anna's troops under the command of Valencia or Mejia took that city the sword was still in the possession of the artist. The State had not asked for it nor paid for it and consequently it was necessarily the property of the artizan. Santa Anna ordered it to be taken away from him, but as the owner refused to deliver it, he went to the Governor of the State, who was a prisoner, and this man -was obliged to command its delivery. The silversmith did so and in this way the sword came into the hands of Santa Anna. The artist never received any compensation for it, either from the State or from Santa Anna. Some time afterwards the sword required a second composition, but on being informed that the restoration of the lost stones would cost him five hundred dollars, the villain exclaimed: "It would have been better if the Legislature had given me the value of the sword in money or in cows for my hacienda (for in that way they would have done me a real service) instead of a sword which is far from useful and an expense to me." Bnt enough of personal history. We will continue with the public history. There can be no doubt whatever of the fact that Santa Anna came into power lodging a secret design to destroy the federation which he appeared to reestablish and to make himself dictator for life. This was not a thought born after his elevation to power. He had always cherished it. Trusting to the good fortune which had never forsaken him in his greatest crimes and most audacious undertakings, he flattered himself with the thought that he could manage things bet- ter than Bustamante and accomplish what that leader had failed to do by avoiding the shoals on which the latter had become wrecked. By means of fraud he hoped to gain what Bustamante had been unable to effect by force. The events which follow will confirm this assertion.. CHAPTER XVI. Santa Anna's ambitions. He opposes the reforms of Congress. He defends the cause of the Church and the military despotism which he had just over- thrown. He leaves Mango de Clava and takes over the reins of government. He commences by making Congress hated in the eyes of the nation. The begin- ning of the proposed revolution of Arista and Dur,m. Esclada declares in favor of Santa Anna as Dictator. Duran does likewise. Unda follows his example. Sauta Anua d·emauds and receives extraordinary powers of Congress to stifle the revolution. He sends Cortazar agaiust Escalda aud he himself !~aves to fight Duran, taking Arista with him as second in command. Arista makes Santa Anua a prisoner and proclaims him Dictator for life. He joins Duran in Unda. Santa Anna a prisoner in Cuautla de Amilpas. Movements of Farias and Zavala against the rebels. They incite the people to action. Santa Anna's flight and eutrance into Puebla. He gives an account of his escape and promises to stifle sedition. Incredulity of the inhabitants. He returns to Mexico, sentences outlaws and exiles fifiy individuals who were in favor of the Dictatorship. He places h-imself at the head of a division and marches against Arista and Duran. The rebels defeat Lemus. Victoria de- fends Puebla. Arista and Duran besiege Santa Anua. Mejfa and Arago join the latter. Retreat of the rebels. Santa Auna, Mejfa and Arago pursue them. Arista and Dur(tn publish a pamphlet in San Juan de! Rio disclosing Santa Anna's connection with the conspiracy. They go to Guanajuato. They correct the publications against Santa Anna declaring him to be the author of their movements. Diagreement and separation of Arista and Duran. The latter
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