Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/60

40 Bravo was impeached by the house of deputies. Pending the trials of himself and his fellow-prisoners, a motion for an amnesty was made in the senate, which produced a violent agitation among the yorkino state legislatures, most of which, as well as the ayuntamiento of Mexico city, demanded the execution of the rebels. Congress took a middle course, the only possible one under the circumstances. It neither granted the amnesty asked for by the escoceses nor allowed the trials to proceed as the yorkinos required; and remitting the penalty of death which had been pronounced against some officers, decreed the expatriation of all; and to that end the prisoners were taken to Acapulco. Bravo and others in the following June went to Valparaiso and Guayaquil, whence the former transferred himself to Guatemala and the United States, losing by death on the voyage his only son. The expatriated were later permitted to return to Mexico.

This heavy blow not only left the escoceses powerless, but eventually ruined the yorkino party. This faction, now master of the situation, might have done good service to the republic, correcting abuses, introducing improvements, and securing peace and tranquillity; but, unfortunately, to a great extent it was made up of ignorant, ambitious, and unscrupulous men, to whom the national welfare was of no consequence. Instead of trying to heal the wounds inflicted during the past troubles, they opened new ones. Dissension soon broke out among them, which