POLITICAL HISTORY. 337 
the country back again to its ancient allegiance. Its rival party, or 
Yorkino, meanwhile, was as positively opposed to all foreign interference, 
central rule and monarchial tendencies, as it was devoted to Federation 
and Republicanism. 
The influence of State Rights and Federation were known to be hostile 
to the centralization and efiicacy of arbitrary powers ; and there is but 
little doubt, that the aristocratic faction was favored in its operations by 
those European powers and their emissaries, who sought to gain by intrigue 
an influence on this Continent which they had lost in the recent wars. 
It is alleged, by some, that this was perceived by the Minister who so ably 
represented us at that period, with the new Republic ; and he is charged 
with having procured the charter for the opposing lodge, and with foster- 
ing and stimulating the designs and leaders of the democratic party. It 
is not necessary for me to treat of the propriety with which a foreign 
Minister could interfere in the domestic strifes of the Government to which 
he is accredited, nor do I believe that Mr. Poinsett ever stepped beyond 
the limits of his official duties and rights in regard to these matters in 
Mexico. Yet I cannot but think it was both his right as a man, and 
his duty as a diplomatist, (faithfully representing a republican nation 
near another Republic on the American Continent,) to do all in his power, 
lawfully, to cherish and vivify the spirit of freedom in the country to 
which he was accredited, and to overcome the efforts of European powers 
for the establishment of a state of things directly hostile to American 
principles and interests. It is unnecessary for me to pursue this subject 
further, as the wisdom of such diplomacy must be evident to all who 
know the difficulties and temptations with which a young, inexperienced, 
and distracted Republic is surrounded at the outset of its political ex- 
istence. 
But the term of Victoria's administration was not to end without some 
signal opposition to himself personally. In December, 1827, General 
Bravo denounced the President as connected with the Yorkinos. He took 
arms against the Government, proclaimed himself in open revolt, and 
was speedily subdued and banished ; but the seed of discord had been al- 
ready deeply sown ; and in the election which subsequently occurred, 
Gomez Pedraza, who was the candidate of the Escoceses, obtained the Pres- 
idency by a majority of but two votes over Guerrero, his competitor. 
Thus, amid the most angry excitement of embittered parties, terminated 
the first chief magistracy of the new Republic. 
It should be recollected, that during this administration Iturbide had re- 
turned from his banishment, and was shot almost immediately after land- 
ing. It is the general impression, that this act was not desired by the 
Government, and that the execution of the illustrious patriot was alone 
owing to the indiscreet zeal of his captor. 
Scarcely had Pedraza been elected, when symptoms of discontent were 
manifested among the liberals. The Yorkinos had been foiled most un- 
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