Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/309

Rh José Joaquin de Herrera was born in Jalapa in 1792, and entered the Spanish army as a cadet of the Corona regiment in 1809. He was among the first to second Iturbide's plan de Iguala, entered Mexico with the trigarante army, and was then commissioned a brigadier. Herrera aided the downfall of the emperor, and in March 1824 became secretary of war under President Victoria, proving himself a good republican, and an honorable man, a character which he sustained to the end of his life. It was his uprightness that gave him a political standing, his talents being only mediocre.

Herrera thought that now was the best time to bring about the settlement of the Texan question, and save his country from a sanguinary, compromising, and ruinous war. But the press kept up its clamor, and the opposition qualified as perfidy and treason all attempts to maintain peace with the American usurpers, war being deemed the only recourse to save the national honor. The administration, under that pressure, had then, though regretfully, to adopt the war policy, which at once unified the opinion that had been formed in July; many who had formerly favored compromise being now for war. Hence the erroneous impression of the friends of the government that the division on the Texan question had ended.

The departmental assemblies tendered all their resources, and private citizens vied with one another in pecuniary contributions and offers of service. Local authorities organized the militia, and prominent officers asked to be employed against the Americans.

Soon after Herrera's election, and before his inauguration, the members of the cabinet, namely, Cuevas,