293'
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
Government which was composed of half of the senators a~d which, according to the Constitution, should have been installed the day after the adjournment of Congress. This placed the supreme power of the nation in Santa Anna's hands, there being no law but his will and no authority but his bayonets. Some of the Legislatures protested these revolutionary movements, but the usurper scorned -their complaints, and the nation was too submerged in a profound stupor to be able to make any organized resistance, with Santa Anna, supported, as he was, by the Clergy and the aristocracy who boldly and actively de- fended him. Embarrassed by the little or no resistance which he encountered, the usurper became more overbearing, bold and licentious than ever. In conformity with the plan of Cuernavaca he annulled the liberal reso- lutions of Congress, increased the army, revived the ancient monarchi- cal system of public instruction, suspended the judicial proceedings against his friends, gave offices to those against whom he had fought, and oppressed, prosecuted and punished all whom he suspected of being his enemies. At the same time he did not forget to give himself up to all kinds of vice, luxury and prostitution by attending cock fights, balls, theaters and public diversions of all sorts where he was con- spicuous for his fantastic dress, hiEi resplendent ostentation, noisy c<;m- versation and insulting familiarities with the ladies. All of this was not the sudden and instantaneous intoxication of triumph, but the impulse of a heart naturally depraved and always ready to throw itself into crime, wickedness and depravity. 1n this way the usurper continued his despotic career from the vio- lent dissolution of Congress in 1834 to the formation of another in 1835 whose members, elected at the suggestion of Santa Anna, were merely his instruments and slaves. General S. F. Austin, who was in Mexico during that time and witnessed the scenes which took place, in speaking of this Congres~, said: "A new Congress, revolutionary and in no way constitutional, was installed the 1st of January, 1835. It was decidedly aristocratic, ecclesiastic and centralistic in its policies. A number of petitions were presented to it from several cities and towns requesting it to change the Federal form of government and establish a Central form. These petitions were all of a revolutionary character which Congress called declarations in favor of centralism. They had been compiled by revolutionary and partizan assemblies, directed by the Clergy and the military. Petitions in favor of the federal system and the Constitution were also sent and protests made against those revolutionary measures by the people and by some of the State Legislatures which still preserved enough firmness to express heir opinions. These were disregarded and their authors prosecuted and placed in prison. A congress organized in the manner we have seen could work under the mandates which had given it existence. Santa Anna's policy was to make Congress carry out his plans on their responsibility instead of on his own. He explained his proposals, gave Congress to under- stand what he desired, dictated its measures, and then left the mem-" hers to work as though he had no connection with their proceedings.- Dominated by this false idea, and hoping to deceive the nation by it, he remained in the Capital after the organization of the aforesaid
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