MEXICO. 



495 



od to refuse to recognize the Excc- 

 . but to recognize Congn.-*-', provided it 

 accepted thoir revolutionary plan, and to make 

 amusements for a new election of Represent- 

 atives. Aguirro addressed a circular to vari- 

 ous members of Congress, urging them to 

 take steps in his favor, and to secure the ac- 

 ceptance of the plan by Congress and the 8u- 

 l>r, mo Court of Justice, in order to avoid 

 bloodshed, cautioning them to consider that 

 cis il war would otherwise rend the republic. 



The revolutionists seized 180 bars of silver, 

 belonging to the English raining company of 

 "Catorce." In addition to the forced loan, 

 which Aguirro had previously levied upon the 

 people, he decreed that all property should 

 pay in advance one-third of the taxes for the 

 next year. After allowing his soldiers to rob 

 houses of inoffensive citizens, he demanded 

 one-third of all licenses, and imposed a tax 

 from six to ten dollars on a thousand on all 

 landed property. General Trevina was sent 

 to San Luis Potosi, commissioned by the Gov- 

 ernment to parley with the rebels. As his 

 endeavors had no practical result, Congress 

 authorized the Executive to put 4,000 of the 

 National Guard in the field, and to use $200,- 

 000 to defray the expenses of the campaign. 

 The Governors of Guanajuato, Vera Cruz, 

 Oajaca, and Hidalgo, organized troops for the 

 national service. General Escobedo was in- 

 trusted with the command of the Federal 

 'troops, and immediately set out for San Luis 

 at the head of a considerable force, while 

 General Neri occupied Zacatecas, the Governor 

 of that State having pronounced against the 

 General Government after refusing to surrender 

 a conducta which he had seized, together with 

 $150,000 abstracted from the mint. In the 

 mean while, the revolution in the State of 

 Puebla continued, and the southern portion 

 of Jalisco also pronounced against Juarez, and 

 rose in arms. In Puebla order was restored 

 early in February, but in San Luis Potosi the 

 troops of the Government under General Eocha 

 suffered a severe defeat, losing twenty pieces 

 of artillery. The revolutionary generals, Toledo 

 and Martinez, formed a junction, and compelled 

 Escobedo to retire to San Felipe, and subse- 

 quently to Guanajuato. The Government 

 again raised 4,000 men, and conferred the 

 command-in-chief of all the Federal troops upon 

 General Alatorre. 



Congress closed its session on January 22d, 

 to reassemble early in April. The condition 

 of the country at this time was more unsettled 

 than at any previous period since the downfall 

 of Maximilian. 



Fortunately for the Government, there was 

 an utter lack of harmony among the revolu- 

 tionists. Among the dozens of proclamations 

 which had been issued by as many revolution- 

 ary parties and bands, no two had pronounced 

 for the same leader. During the month of 

 February, the Government gained several im- 

 portant successes. General Escobedo repeat- 



edly defeated the San Luis Potoi rebels and 

 captured several hundreds of them, whom ho 

 set at liberty, in accordance with his promise. 

 Colonel CarUlo and General liocha suppressed 

 the movement in Jalisco, and joined the troops 

 of the Government in ban Luis Potosi. On 

 the 18th a battle was fought near Olocosco, 

 between the Government forces and the reb- 

 els, under command of General Domingucz, 

 in which the latter were completely defeated, 

 losing a considerable number of prisoners and 

 arms. On February 25th the commander of 

 the Federal troops made a successful assault 

 upon the city of Coaltepec, capturing many 

 prisoners, horses, and arms, and scattering the 

 rebels in all directions. The chief of this band 

 of insurrectionists was a son of Santa Anna. 

 The report of these successes inspired the 

 Government and its adherents with new hope, 

 as it was no longer doubted that the loyal 

 army would remain master of the situation. 



Early in March a message was received from 

 General Escobedo, announcing that after oc- 

 cupying San Luis Potosi and gathering the 

 materials abandoned by the rebel General 

 Aguirre in his retreat he followed up the 

 flying rebels with a portion of his troops and 

 overtook them the second day after, and cap- 

 tured 500 men, three cannons, and ten wagons. 

 Among the prisoners were Generals Exega 

 and Lewiston. 



While pursuing the insurgents on the Guada- 

 lajara road, Escobedo came up with the in- 

 surgent General Garcia de Cardena, and de- 

 feated him after an engagement of four hours. 

 Many of the rebel officers and 1,900 men were 

 taken prisoners, and all their artillery was 

 captured. General Gallindo defeated the pro- 

 nunciados in the northern part of the Sierra 

 Puebla, and the Government troops occupied 

 several towns in the State of Zacatecas. Gen- 

 eral Camacho captured the town of Jalapa 

 ^fter a sharp fight, making many prisoners, 

 among them the son of Santa Anna. After 

 these decisive reverses, the revolutionary move- 

 ments appeared to be all on the wane. Gen- 

 erals Cardena and Huerta had succeeded in 

 making their escape with some 500 men, Gen- 

 eral Toledo had about the same number, and 

 these two bodies were all that was left of tho 

 formidable force which had recently menaced 

 the Government. 



The Mexican Congress opened its sessions 

 on the 1st of April. The President sent in the 

 following message : 



It pleases me to-day to congratulate Congress upon 

 the reopening of its sessions upon the day fixed by 

 the Constitution. During your very short recess of 

 two months the rebellion which originated in San 

 Luis and Zacatecas has been promptly and effectual- 

 ly repressed. We can with reason hope in the future, 

 relying with the fullest confidence upon the national 

 good-will, and the firm support with which public 

 opinion sustains and has sustained the legitimate 

 authorities. Some persona, excited by their passions, 

 have been for a long time provoking a civil war, pre- 

 paring and combining the elements of a rebellion of 

 greater magnitude than any since the termination of 



