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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
this scandalous violation of the rights of the people, but Santa Anna had at his disposal the National force and dissipated all the coalitions which were formed in J\fichoacan Puebla -~- San Luis Potosi & Guadalajara, protesting at the same time that his only intention was to restrain the innovations of the reformers, but that he would not per- mit any attempt against the federal constitution, which he would sus- tain at any sacrifice. With this fallacious promise he succeeded in deceiving 'the governors of some of the States, particularly the governor of Zacatecas; (Dn Francisco Garcia) Mexia was the last who succumbed in Guadalajara, after General Montezuma had done the same thing in San Luis Potosi; As soon as Santa Anna had dissolved the Congress he called to the management of affairs, men who having before declared themselves against Federal institutions were without Public Employment; , ' In consequence of his measures every thing was tending to place him in a situation which would enable him to [mutilated] by which he might enjoy a greater pow[er than he] already possessed as the President of the United States · He had but one obstacle to overcome, & this was, the resistance that the State of Zacatecas would make against his power, so soon as the dissolution of the Federation should be proclaimed: In order to find a pretext in marching against Zacatecas he caused the new Congress to pass a law abolishing the national militia, & ordering the arms held by the States to be delivered to the general government; The State of Zacatecas opposed itself to this enormous usurpa,tion of power, not- withstanding which Santa Anna assured them officially through the Secretary of State Guiterres Estrada that this measure "contained no malice in the future," & protested that in no event whatsoever should the Federal system be attacked. The Zacatecans enlisted themselves through the country & took the field in order to sustain with arms the rights of the people, but were defeated on the 11th of J\Iay, and in this catastrophe the Mexican Fed- eration found its grave as was proclaimed in all parts by Santa Anna, through his legionaries The authorities of Coahuila & Texas were involved in the common misfortune (disgrace) of the country, Cos dissolved the legislature, ar- rested (imprisoned) the governor, deputies & other high Function- aries, and an unbridled soldiery, became from thenceforth the rulers of the nation; From this epoch is dated the separation of Texas from Mexico N. B. The conduct of S A- was so mysterious & criminal, that before marching on Zacatecas he obliged [mutilated] G. Estrada to write to the authorities to . [mutilated] after the Zacatecans . . . [mutilated J he began to cause Centralism to be proclaimed in all parts of the country if the ministry opposed [illegible] energetically to this act of perfidy, protested solemnly and publicly against it; issued a manifesto in order to prove-that he him- self had been deceived, separated himself from the Cabinet and even left the Republic
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