364 



STATE OF PARTIES IN MEXICO PUROS. 



Santa Anna was thus once more in the capital and effectually at 

 the head of power ; but he remained only a short time to attend to 

 political matters, and dreading, doubtless, to assume openly the 

 management of the government or to trust himself away from the 

 protection of the military, he hastened to surround his person with 

 the army ; — as commander-in-chief, he effectually controled all 

 the departments of the government. 



In order to perceive distinctly the perilous position of Santa 

 Anna, we must understand the state of parties in Mexico. The 

 revolution which placed him in power was brought about by a 

 union of the federalists with his partizans. Santa Anna, of course, 

 retained an influence over his adherents after arriving in Mexico ; 

 but the federalists were divided into two parties ^— the Puros and 

 Moderados, or, democrats and conservatives. The dissensions in 

 these sections enabled Santa Anna, in a degree, to hold the balance 

 between them. Salas, the acting executive, was a conservative, 

 and Gomez Farias, president of the council of government, was a 

 democrat. Intrigue after intrigue occurred in the cabinet and 

 elsewhere among the ultras to supplant Salas, and several resigna- 

 tions gave evidence of the ill feeling and dissensions betwixt the 

 ministers — Cortina and Pacheco, both conservatives, resigned — 

 and so did Rejon and Farias. The National Guard intimated its 

 discontent with the condition of things very manifestly, and the 

 new cabinet was filled with old enemies of Santa Anna. Mean- 

 while Almonte, the ablest man in the country, retained the ministry 

 of war. 



About this time the state of San Luis Potosi pronounced against 

 the presidency of General Salas, demanding that General Santa 

 Anna should assume the executive functions, or that some one 

 should be named by him. As a precaution against the apprehend- 

 ed attempts upon his life, Salas retired on the 25th of October from 

 the capital to Tacubaya. The greater part of the permanent garri- 

 son of the capital took up its quarters in the same place. Santa 

 Anna was probably determined that General Salas should not 

 obtain too absolute an ascendancy. Report said that Salas was 

 honest enough to attempt to carry into effect all the guaranties of 

 the revolution of Jalisco and the citadel, and that his policy did not 

 suit the chief ; but Santa Anna professed to act in the utmost har- 

 mony with him. 



This outbreak against the provisional government of General 

 Salas was soon suppressed, and Santa Anna remained in command 

 of the armv at San Luis Potosi, but without making any attack 



