Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/310

290 Riva Palacio, García Conde, and La Rosa, resigned their offices, as if fearful of the situation in which they had placed themselves. The following were then called to succeed them: Manuel de la Peña y Peña, secretary of relations; Bernardo Couto, of justice; Pedro Fernandez del Castillo, of the treasury; and Pedro María Anaya, of war. These ministers had to face the old evils, and also to meet much opposition by reason of supposed lukewarmness on the war question.

Several officers of the first division, stationed in Querétaro and San Luis Potosí, refused to obey the orders sent them to advance upon the frontier, and mutinied. General Paredes asked leave to visit Mexico, where he could verbally arrange the plan for the campaign in Texas; but it was not granted, as he was suspected of an intent to revolt against the government, as Álvarez had done in Guerrero.

The army was discontented, owing to reforms the executive had desired to introduce, though he had abandoned his project in order to induce it to march with alacrity to the frontier. Paredes was finally summoned to Mexico, and ordered to surrender his command to Filisola, but his officers opposed the change of commanders, and Paredes then detained the force that under Gaona was on the way to Saltillo.

A plan was now favored by the friends of the government to call on the clergy to contribute to the support of the national honor with a loan of fifteen million dollars. It was seconded by both houses of congress, and it seemed as if the hour of trial for the church had come. It was saved this time, however,