Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/242

222 Early the following morning, July 16th, the contest was resumed. The revolutionists had secured possession of the treasury and made use of it to gain adherents, but the government displayed greater strength and activity than had been expected, and they feared a bitter fight. Intimidation having no effect on the president, who would promise nothing beyond efforts to prevent bloodshed if consistent with honor, it was determined to release him and try negotiations. They demanded a reëstablishment of the constitution of 1824, pending its revision and acceptance by the state legislatures as existing in 1834; the installation of a provisional government, restricted to directing foreign relations, the states being left at liberty to organize their interior administration; and the abolition of excise. These proposals were not entertained, as may be supposed, and the fight burst forth anew, varied by sallies, pursuits, and siege operations, with great injury to the city, stagnation of trade, and suffering to the inhabitants, of whom a large proportion had to flee from their houses into the suburbs and country. This state of affairs continued for twelve days, at the end of which the plaza especially presented a woe-begone appearance, with business buildings in ruins and the palace disfigured, its rich furniture and even the archives scattered and ruined in barricade service. All this time reënforcements had been received by the government, and larger bodies were on the way under Santa Anna