Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/781

Rh They could ill restrain their contempt for the race that had triumphed at last, and in January, owing to disturbances which had occurred in Toluca, Iturbide gave orders to disarm them. They were in no mood, however, to submit to such a humiliation, and assumed so threatening an attitude that at the instance of General Liñan, who had been sent to carry out the order, they were allowed to retain their arms. The first division was at once marched to Vera Cruz for embarkation, and quiet prevailed for a time. But Dávila, observing the disappointment caused to many by the yet uncertain result of the late revolution, and the strong party antagonism that had been developed, communicated to the officers of the Spanish troops his project of exciting a counter-revolution; and during March secret meetings were held in a cell of the Franciscan convent at Tezcuco. Iturbide was, perhaps, not ignorant of what was being meditated; and it was even believed by some that he encouraged and fomented the movement to further his own schemes.

Be this as it may, an outbreak directed against the independence of the country would enhance his own importance, prove the necessity of keeping on foot a large standing army, and afford him an opportunity of attacking those Spanish members of the congress who were opposed to him. When the dissension between Iturbide and the assembly became serious Dávila hoped to win back the former to his allegiance to Spain. On the 23d of March he addressed a letter to Iturbide, representing to him the impossibility of his system being successful on account of the opposition of many members of the congress, and unfolding his own plan, invited him to aid in its consummation, while promising him in the name of the king not only forgetfulness of the past, but also recompense for his services. Iturbide received this