Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/248

228 proposed constitutional reforms, without any prospect of speedy result, although congress had been sitting front January till the close of June and met again in July. The delay being due greatly to the double consideration required by two chambers, some departments began to urge a joint session, while others advocated a special convention for the task; but nothing was done, save to change two of the ministers.

This naturally increased the irritation, and Paredes, who had been merely feeling the public pulse, came out boldly on August 8th with a manifesto, appealing to the nation against an incapable administration which had humiliated Mexico among the nations, imperilled its integrity, allowed it to be ravaged with impunity by Indians, yet burdened it with debts, while the army stood neglected, the people oppressed with taxes, and industries paralyzed. It demanded the convocation of an extraordinary congress to reform the constitution, the executive being meanwhile vested by the poder conservador in a citizen worthy of confidence, with extraordinary power. The complaint and the demand were just enough, but the latter was but a mask, as usual. It implied a dictatorship in the hands of Santa Anna, for the 'citizen worthy of confidence' could be none other than that arch-intriguer, who had of late been repeatedly lauded by the people.

It must not be supposed, however, that Paredes