463'
PAPERS OF °MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
mediate results were the elevation of Guerrero to the presidency, the expulsion of Pedraza from the country and the pillaging of the city of Mexico for three days; the most remote consequences have lasted until this hour, and are still being felt. Such was the work of a man of great capacity, energy, and patriotism; and although the propriety and policy of this deed has been doubted, the purity and integrity of his motives have never been suspected; and with regard to the pil- lage of the city, it is proper to say that it was done contrary to the will and order of Zavala, and should be considered as one of those out- rages which no human power can prevent nor foresee when an angry people take up arms. . At the time of the Revolution of the Acordado Genl. Santa Anna occupied, the castle of San Juan de Ulua, with very few soldiers, who, almost died of hunger and thirst, and he could not leave there because the city was surrounded by the army of Gen. Echavarria. Frnm this critical situation Santana was relieved by said revolution; because, as soon as Echavarria was notified of that event, he broke up his camp and retired to another point. Then Santa Anna left Vera-Cruz with his small force, and went to Zavalete, where he promulgated his plan of government, which was the final means of elevating him to the Presidency . . It is not necessary to write in detail of the sanguinary events which followed rapidly upon the Revolution of the Acordado.- Suffice it to say for the present, that Guerrero was expelled from the presidency by Bustamante; and that Bustamante was expelled from the same station by Santa Anna. By such events the nation was left without a Presi- dent, when Pedraza was recalled to the country, and with the consent and approbation of both parties entered on the duties of the Presidency and functioned, until the conclusion of his term. Santa Anna suc- ceeded Pedraza.- At that time Santa Anna was the great champion and upholder of lib- eral principles. He was the friend of the Federation and of the c;on~ stitution; enemy of the Church and defender of the rights of the people; and with his open declaration of these sentiments and views, he gained the confidence and affection of Seiior Zavala, who then supported his pretensions to the presidency under the bi:lief that Santa Anna was, the sincere friend of the country and would be the shield of its lib- erties. But the hopes which had been founded on the promises of this imposter, soon all disappeared. As soon as he was secure in his au- thority with full power and ability to correct the predominant evils of the day, and to reestablish the constitution of the country, in place of effecting these most noble objects and sustaining the liberties of the people, he abandoned himself to his hypocrisy, and with unequalled audacity, publicly proclaimed himself Dictator of the nation. The veil so brilliant and deceiving which had hidden his deformity was torn asunder; and in place of the affable semblance of the patriot, he pre- sented to view the physiognomy of a Demon, burning with the fires of inferno. He jeered at the credulity of the nation with a malignant. smile; and then trampled the constitution in the dust.- As the frozen\ serpent, warmed into life in the bosom of the laborer, bit his preserver· to death; thus Santa Anna paid, with ingratitude and persecutions th~ affections and the confidence of his friends.-
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