Page:The War with Mexico, Vol 2.djvu/23

Rh orders to Rejon had been to hold the post whatever Salas might do, found public sentiment at the capital too strong for him, and concluded to accept the change. Rejon's conduct had excited so much dissension and alarm, that his removal gratified all sensible persons at Mexico. The rumors and the disturbance were now attributed officially to agents of the United States, and comparative quiet returned. 3

The aims of Santa Anna and those of the Puros may have been exactly contrary in these events; but both overshot the mark, and they suffered a common loss of prestige. As one method of restoring it, they induced the governors of San Luis Potosi and Queretaro to declare that within their jurisdictions the Liberator would be recognized as head of the nation until the assembling of Congress; but their principal scheme was to carry the Presidential election. Congress, chosen on the first day of November, was to elect, and it consisted chiefly of men termed by well-to-do citizens "the dregs of society" that is to say, poorly educated radicals taken from the masses. 3

This appeared to ensure a Puro triumph, yet there were serious difficulties. Rejon had been discredited, and the former administration of Farias had left painful memories. Besides, it was feared that his election would offend Santa Anna, who of course was not on very cordial terms now with the tribune of the people, and preferred to have a weak man like Salas, with whom satisfactory relations had grown out of the Rejon episode, continue in power. At one time Almonte seemed to be the Puro favorite; but finally it was decided to cast the Presidential vote for Santa Anna, who could not legally hold the chief political and the chief military offices at the same time and would no doubt remain with the army, and to elect Farias to the Vice Presidency as the actual executive. 3

Even this combination, however, met with strong and unexpected opposition. The conservatives and moderates were naturally against it; certain states for the voting was done by these quasi sovereignties as units could not forgive Santa Anna for past misdeeds, and the powerful Church party looked upon Farias as Antichrist. Finally Escudero of Chihuahua, whose delegation held the balance of power, opened