Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/704

684 On Comonfort's return to the capital, April 3d, the peace it was supposed he had secured was celebrated with feasts lasting several days. He was greeted with much enthusiasm and marks of affection by the authorities and the people, the ayuntamiento presenting him a valuable bâton. In his address to the people he expatiated on his policy, which had been one of clemency. Congress gave him a vote of thanks, but refused to confer on him the rank of general.

Comonfort's energetic course discouraged the marauders of Mexico, Guerrero, Michoacan, and elsewhere. All subımitted, and peace reigned in the republic for a while. It was only for a short time, however. The clergy and army kept up the agitation. A majority of the officers that capitulated at Puebla, and whose sentences had been commuted, endeavored to raise another revolt, railing against the government, whose clemency to them was attributed to fear. The conservative journals of Puebla called demagogues and protestants all persons who demanded that the bishop should check his clergy's seditious utterances from the pulpit. The governors of Puebla and Vera Cruz, on their part, used harsh and even tyrannical measures toward the friends of the church.

Congress approved the ley Juarez as one of the conquests of the revolution. It was also engaged some time with the commissions issued by Santa Anna between the 19th of January, 1853, and the 13th of