378 MEXICAN POLITICS OF THE DAY WAR SPIRIT. 



sistance to the invaders, and he was thus enabled to form his plans, 

 to collect men, means and munitions, and to commence the system 

 of fortifications around the capital. "War to the knife," was still 

 the rallying cry of the nation. The Congressional resolutions which 

 had been passed on the 20th of April, immediately after the battle 

 of Cerro Gordo, proclaimed " every individual a traitor, let him be 

 private person or public functionary, who should enter into treaties 

 with the United States !" Parties in the capital were, nevertheless, 

 not unanimous upon this subject. There were wise men and 

 patriots who foresaw the issue, and counselled the leaders to come 

 to honorable terms before the capital was assaulted. Others craved 

 the continuance of the war with the hope that its disasters would 

 destroy the individuals who conducted it to an unfortunate issue ; 

 and, among these, they saw that Santa Anna was finally pledged to 

 abide that issue for weal or woe. Nor were politicians wanting in 

 the Republic who honestly looked to the prolongation of the conflict 

 as a blessing to Mexico, believing that it would result in the com- 

 plete subjugation of the whole country by American arms and its 

 final annexation to our Union. 



In June a coalition was formed at Lagos by deputies from Jalisco, 

 San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Mexico and Queretaro, in which these 

 States combined for mutual defence ; but, while they opposed peace, 

 they resolved to act independently of the General Government. 

 Many other parts of the republic looked on the scene with apathy. 

 There was no longer a revenue from foreign commerce. The pro- 

 ducts of the mines were smuggled from the west coast in British 

 vessels. Disorder and uncertainty prevailed every where in regard 

 to the collection of the national income from internal resources. 

 Individuals, and not States, corporations or municipalities, were 

 now to be relied on for support ; and, as the most important parts 

 of the nation on the north and east were virtually in the enemy's 

 hands, the whole effort of the frail authorities was confined to the 

 protection of the capital. In the midst of all this complication of 

 confusion Santa Anna found that the election for President, which 

 was held by the States on the 15th of May, had resulted unfavor- 

 ably to his pretensions, and, by an adroit movement, he prevailed 

 on Congress to postpone the counting of the votes from the 15th of 

 June until January of the following year! All who opposed his 

 schemes of defence or resistance, were disposed of by banishment, 

 persecution or imprisonment, nor did he fail to establish so severe a 

 censorship of the press, that, in July, it is believed, but one paper 

 was allowed to be issued in the capital, and that one, of course, en- 



