Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/287

Rh While these events were taking place in San Luis Potosí and Nuevo Santander, changes, unfavorable to the independent cause, were also occurring in Texas and Coahuila. About the beginning of February, Ignacio Aldama had been elected by the revolutionary leaders as minister plenipotentiary to the United States, Padre Juan Salazar being commissioned to accompany him and act in his stead in case of accident, sickness, or death. He took with him no less than one hundred bars of silver, besides a large sum of money for the purpose of purchasing arms and procuring the assistance of 30,000 auxiliaries. At the time when Aldama arrived at Béjar the action of Captain Casas was causing general dissatisfaction: and a counter-revolution was already in secret operation, headed by the subdeacon Juan Manuel Zambrano. Zambrano and his confederates took occasion to spread suspicions about the object of Aldama's mission. He was represented to be an emissary of Napoleon, as evidenced by his uniform, which was ornamented like those of French officers. If, indeed, he brought auxiliaries from the United States, would they not probably avail themselves of the opportunity to gain possession of the province which was regarded with such covetous eyes? On the night of the 1st of March Casas was made prisoner, while Aldama, Salazar, and their escort were detained under the pretence that their passports were not in order. A new government was then formed, with Zambrano as president. This at once proceeded to establish itself as firmly as possible; troops were organized, partisans of the revolutionists were deposed from office, and the imprisoned Europeans released. The unfortunate Aldama and Salazar were afterward conveyed to Monclova in Coahuila, condemned to death by a court-martial, and executed.