farias's controversy with the church. 



367 



Mexican nation, and satisfied that these could only be secured by 

 the successful imitation of our federal system, together with the 

 destruction of the large standing army, and the release of the large 

 church properties from the incubus of mortmain. 



There was much discontent in Mexico with the election of these 

 two personages to the presidency and vice presidency. Reflecting 

 men thought the union unnatural, and although the desperate times 

 required desperate remedies, there was something so incongruous 

 in the political alliance between Farias and Santa Anna, that little 

 good could be expected to issue from it. The clergy were alarmed 

 for its wealth, and the moderate party was frightened by the ha- 

 bitual despotism of Santa Anna. The latter personage was in fact, 

 regarded with more favor at the moment by all classes, than Farias, 

 because the country had reason to believe him a man of action, and 

 familiar in times of danger and distress, with all its resources of 

 men and money ; and as he was entirely occupied with the organi- 

 zation and management of the army at San Luis, the opposition 

 party directed all its blows against the administration of the vice 

 presidency. 



A few days after the installation of the new government, the 

 agitation of the mort-main question was commenced in congress. 

 The Puro party united with the executive, made every effort to 

 destroy the power of the clergy, by undermining the foundation of 

 its wealth, while the Moderados became the supporters of the ec- 

 clesiastics, under the lead of Don Mariano Otero. 



At length the law was passed, but it was not a frank and de- 

 cided act, destroying at once the privileges of the clergy and de- 

 claring their possessions to be the property of the republic. In 

 fact it was a mere decree for the seizure of ecclesiastical incomes, 

 which threatened the non-complying with heavy fines if they did 

 not pay over to the civil authorities, the revenues which had for- 

 merly been collected by the stewards of convents and monks. 



This act, comparatively mild as it was, and temporary as it 

 might have been considered, did not satisfy the clergy, even in this 

 moment of national peril. They resorted to the spiritual weapons 

 which they reserved for extreme occasions. They fulminated ex- 

 communications ; and published dreadful threats of punishment 

 hereafter for the crime that had been committed by placing an im- 

 pious hand upon wealth which they asserted belonged to God 

 alone. This conduct of the religious orders had its desired effect 

 not only among the people, but among the officers of government ; 

 for the chief clerk of the finance department, Hurci, refused to 



