CONSTITUTION OF 1824 RESTORED PAREDES. 359 



friends, in order to induce them to come to an understanding with 

 us. * * * * I will in future, support the claims of the 

 masses ; leaving the people entirely at liberty to organize their 

 system of government and to regulate their offices in a manner that 

 may please them best." 



These declarations, and the knowledge of Santa Anna's sagacity 

 and influence with the masses had probably induced Farias to ad- 

 here to the project of his recall which was embraced in the move- 

 ments of the revolutionists. And, accordingly, we find that upon 

 his landing, Santa Anna published a long manifesto to the people 

 which he concludes by recommending that, until they proclaim a 

 new constitution, the federal constitution of 1824 be readopted for 

 the internal administration of the country. 



Salas, who had previously ordered the governors of the depart- 

 ments to be guided solely by the commands of Santa Anna, imme- 

 diately issued a bando national, or edict, countersigned by the act- 

 ing secretary of state, Monasterio, which embodied the views of the 

 returned exile, and proclaimed the constitution of 1824, in accord- 

 ance with his recommendation. 



Paredes, meanwhile, who had been taken prisoner on the 5th of 

 August, 1846, whilst attempting to fly the country, was held in 

 close confinement at the castle of Perote. Some persons proposed 

 to treat him severely in consequence of his monarchical notions ; 

 but Salas averted dexterously all the spiteful blows that were aimed 

 at him, and he was finally allowed to retire to Europe, where he 

 remained until a later period of the war, when he returned to yield 

 no significant services to his invaded country. Since the termina- 

 tion of the contest he has paid the great debt of nature, on his 

 native soil, and a merciful pen will conceal the faults of a mixed 

 nature which was not unadorned by virtues, and, under other cir- 

 cumstances and with different habits, might have made him a use- 

 ful ruler in Mexico. 



General Salas, who exercised supreme command from the 7th to 

 to the 20th of August, professed to have done as little as possible 

 of his own will, and only what was urgently demanded by the ne- 

 cessity of the case. He boasted, however, that he had effected 

 what he could " to aid the brave men who, in Monterey, have 

 determined to die rather than succumb to the invasion and per- 

 fidiousness of the Americans." In his communications to Santa 

 Anna he urged him to hasten to Mexico as soon as possible to as- 

 sume his powers, and the Mexican gazettes commend him for re- 



