Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/166

146 This constitution failed to satisfy any of the parties. The progressionists saw retrogression in it. The clergy were displeased because certain principles had not been expunged, which were at a future day to bear bitter fruit for them, causing the loss of their influence and property. The army could not find in the law any power entirely dependent on bayonets. However, certain clauses in it were evidently intended to serve as checks to the discretional power of Santa Anna, who, it was expected, would be the first president chosen under the new régime.

President Barragan had to provide resources for the campaign to put down the revolted colonists of Texas, full details of which will appear in the following chapters; and at the same time to face attempts to restore by force of arms the federal form of government. The most prominent of these were made by generals José Antonio Mejía and Juan Álvarez. The first named, after failing in several attempts in Querétaro and Guadalajara, proceeded to New Orleans, and returned in November 1835 with three ships under Mexican colors, and about 200 adventurers, to Tampico, where through the coöperation of the commandant at the bar, he succeeded in capturing the fort on the 16th of that month; but on assailing the town, where the garrison had remained faithful to the authorities against a pronunciamiento in support of federalism, he was disastrously repulsed, leaving behind a number of prisoners, all of whom were dealt with as pirates. As for Álvarez, who operated in