Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/681

Rh the following year; a councillor of state in 1846, he soon after held the highly responsible position of adviser of the war department.

Carrera was well aware of the difficulties he would have to encounter, and tried to resign the powers thus placed in his hands, but was prevailed on to accept them as a duty he owed his country to save her from the anarchists. Each wing of the conservative party was working for its own aims.

Carrera issued a proclamation offering to organize the national guard, reform the army, regulate the treasury, and respect personal rights, which offers could not satisfy the leaders of the revolution. The several departments of government were in charge of the oficiales mayores, or chief clerks, men who had been dumb in the presence of despotism, and now, in order not to lose their pay, had consented to wear the cap of liberty.

Another complication in Carrera's way was the pronunciamiento at San Luis Potosí of Güitlan's brigade under the direction of Antonio Haro y Tamariz, on the 13th of August, just previous to the news reaching that place of Santa Anna's desertion of his post. That movement had in view the deposal of the dictator, and the summoning of a congress to represent the national sovereignty, solemnly pledging protection and respect of property, the clergy, the army, and of all classes of society. Copies of this plan were forwarded to the chiefs of the revolution of Ayutla, inviting them to aid the effort to restore peace and consolidate a government. Haro y Tamariz, as the head of the plan, abolished the conscription and capitation tax, establishing also freedom of the press. His movement was distinct from that