Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/237

Rh reform, and the poder conservador declared on November 9th that these could be entertained by the congress even before the time properly designated by the constitution, so long as its cardinal bases were respected. The concession was not deemed sufficient by the federalists, but their opponents prevailed, and the government gained renewed confidence, although the frequent ministerial changes continued to stamp its policy as extremely vacillating, greatly owing to a jealous fear of Santa Anna. With the opening of 1840, however, came news of a fresh outbreak, this time in Yucatan.

The peninsula had quietly submitted to the overthrow of the federal system in 1834, but when in addition long-conceded privileges were infringed or set aside by the introduction of excise, the increase of custom-house duty, the levy of funds, and the dragging away of local militia to suffer and die in campaigns against friendly Texas, then patience came to