Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/633

Rh In addition to this, the government suffered direct military disasters. Its troops had laid siege to Guadalajara December 15th, but met with so severe a repulse that active operations were suspended within a fortnight. The motives of the general in command were evidently similar to those influencing the congress — to watch the turn of the current — for the soldiers could not be relied upon, and the revolutionists were preparing to advance upon the capital. The turn soon came. Arista saw that resistance was useless. After one more vain appeal to the chambers, which opened the regular session with the new year, he resigned January 5, 1853, surrendering the government, in accordance with the constitution, to Chief Justice Juan Bautista Ceballos. He lived for a while on his estate, till exiled in May, when he proceeded to Spain, dying at Lisbon in August 1855.