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PAPERS OF 1\IIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
No. 2454. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF GUERRERO AND BUSTAl\IANTE. LAMAR 30 [Richmond? Texas, 184 ?l GUERRERO The generals Bravo and Guerrero compete in the election for · the office of vice-president Congress decides for Bravo. "The first of April the government of Victoria ended and the new· president took the reins of government in the midst of anxieties, vex- ations and vicissitudes, necessary result of the discontent which was beginning to make itself felt. Never had circumstances more extrava- gant occurred nor more grievous for the supreme authority than those with which General Guerrero saw himself surrounded, on coming into power. On all sides were perceived the symptoms of a complete dis- organization in which the errors and mistakes of the previous govern- ment had no small part, the sole inheritance which had come down to, the modern officials." The country was in a state of almost total chaos, confusion and bankruptcy when Guerrero came into office- The treasury was ex- hausted-the revenues were already pledged for loans made-the army waA unpaid, without clothes, without supplies, transportation and every thing necessary to its comfort and efeciency. The Yorkinos were clam- erous for office and the Escoseses, attributing all the public [misfor~ tunes] to the new administration, altho it had just commenced. The truth is that the latter part of Victoria's administration, the president and cabinet folded their arms and lef[t] things to take their own course.. Under such a state of things it would have been impossible even for Statesmen more experienced in public affairs to have sustained him- self, and given satisfaction to the nation. In the midst of these troubles, assailed by his enemies, and not sustained by his own party, Guerrero was still more embarrassed by the expedition of Barradas. The ar- rival of this invader was daily expected, and yet it was almost impos- sible to raise funds for repelling him in time. Nevertheless the Presi- dent did all that any one .could have done. He made a forced loan, and at the same time stimulated the people [to] make voluntary con- tribution of provisions &C for the support of the army- Santana was appointed to take Command of the expedition against Barradas- "He effected a loan of three thousand seven hundred and five pesos" · Barradas landed at Cabo-Rojo; and on the 31 of July the govern- ment received this ominous news at the very time when all was in confusion in the capital, and when an uprising was made against the. personnel of the administration." In this• situation of affairs it was the duty of every patriot to stand. by the Executive in his efforts to "save the republic and strengthen-- the rule of law; it was a duty of all to rally around the executive for the purpose of cooperating in the national defense." "It had been eight days since the enemy had disembarked in Cabo- Rojo when our legislators were called in order to make laws and decrees· conducive to aiding the government in the branches of the treasury and war." 30 Partly in Spanish.
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