MODERADOS SANTA ANNA AT SAN LUIS. 



365 



upon our forces on the Rio Grande after the defeat of Ampudia at 

 Monterey, or endeavoring to prevent our subsequent capture of 

 Victoria and Tampico. 



On the 23d of December congress voted, by states, for provisional 

 president and vice president. Each state had one vote in this elec- 

 tion, determined by the majority of its deputies. Twenty- two 

 states voted, including the federal district of Mexico, and two ter- 

 ritories. Santa Anna's opponent, Francisco Elorriega, was the 

 choice of nine states, and Gomez Farias was elected vice presi- 

 dent. The day before the election the members of the cabinet 

 threw up their portfolios ; and, in the midst of his evident political 

 unpopularity with the politicians Santa Anna. seems to have been 

 left by the authorities at San Luis Potosi with an army destitute of 

 efficient arms, of military knowledge, and of the means of support. 

 Santa Anna accepted the provisional presidency. 



Meanwhile our army had been advancing steadily since the bat- 

 tles of Resaca de la Palma and Palo Alto on the 8th and 9th of 

 May, 1846. California had fallen into our hands, and New Mexico 

 had been subjugated. Tampico was, also, ours, and Taylor had 

 pushed his victorious army to Saltillo. Santa Anna stood, at bay, 

 in San Luis Potosi ; for he was not yet prepared to fight, and 

 popular opinion would not permit him to negotiate. In this forlorn 

 condition he resorted to the usual occupation of the Mexican gov- 

 ernment when in distress, and issued, despatch after despatch to 

 stimulate congress, the cabinet and the people in the lingering war. 



Nor was the government of the United States, meanwhile, inatten- 

 tive to this position of affairs in Mexico, or indisposed to afford the 

 government an opportunity to reconcile our difficulties by negotia- 

 tion. Two distinct efforts were made by Mr. Buchanan, our secre- 

 tary of state in the summer of 1846, and in January, 1847 ; but 

 both proved abortive, and we were therefore obliged to continue 

 hostilities. 



At length, when Santa Anna perceived the enfeebled condition 

 of General Taylor, and believed that Scott would be for a long 

 time hindered from effecting his attack upon Vera Cruz, he marched 

 to Buena Vista and experienced the sad reverse which we have al- 

 ready recounted. As soon as the battle was over the wily and 

 discomfited chief immediately began to repair the losses of his 

 arms by the eloquence and adroitness of his pen. In a long ac- 

 count of the battle he treats the affair as almost a victory, and 

 leaves the public mind of Mexico in doubt as to whether he had 



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