324 REVOLTS IN THE NORTH AND IN THE CAPITAL. 



On the 31st of March, 1841, a constitution was proclaimed in 

 Yucatan, which erected it into a free and sovereign state, and ex- 

 empted the people from many burdens as well as the odious intoler- 

 ance of all other religions except the Roman Catholic, that had 

 been imposed by both the federal constitution of 1824 and the cen- 

 tral one of 1836. 



The discontent with Bustamante's administration, arising chiefly 

 from a consumption duty of 15 per cent, which had been imposed 

 by congress, was now well spread throughout the republic. The 

 pronunciamiento of Urrea on the 15th of July, 1840, at the palace 

 of Mexico was mainly an effort of the federalists to put down vio- 

 lently the constitution of 1836 ; and although the insurgents had 

 possession, at one period, of the person of the president, yet the 

 revolt was easily suppressed by Valencia and his faithful troops in 

 the capital. 



But, a year later, the revolutionary spirit had ripened into readi- 

 ness for successful action. We have reason to believe that the 

 most extensive combinations were made by active agents in all 

 parts of Mexico to ensure the downfall of Bustamante and the 

 elevation of Santa Anna. Accordingly, in August, 1841, a pro- 

 nunciamiento of General Paredes, in Guadalajara, was speedily 

 responded to by Valencia and Lombardini in the capital, and by 

 Santa Anna himself at Vera Cruz. But the outbreak was not con- 

 fined merely to proclamations or the adhesion of military garrisons ; 

 for a large body of troops and citizens continued loyal to the pre- 

 sident and resolved to sustain the government in the capital. This 

 fierce fidelity to the constitution on the one hand, and bitter 

 hostility to the chief magistrate on the other, resulted in one of the 

 most sanguinary conflicts that had taken place in Mexico since the 

 early days of independence. For a whole month the contest was 

 carried on with balls and grape shot in the streets of Mexico, 

 whilst the rebels, who held the citadel outside the city, finished the 

 shameless drama, by throwing a shower of bombs into the metro- 

 polis, shattering the houses, and involving innocent and guilty, 

 citizens, strangers, combatants and non-combatants, in a common 

 fate. This cowardly assault under the orders of Valencia, was 

 made solely with the view of forcing the citizens, who were uncon- 

 cerned in the quarrel between the factions, into insisting upon the 

 surrender of Mexico, in order to save their town and families from 

 destruction. There was a faint show of military manoeuvres in the 

 fields adjoining the city ; but the troops on both sides shrank from 



