Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/750

730 whom Comonfort had arrested, and soon after released because no complicity in the revolt of January 11th appeared against him, now found himself placed by circumstances at the head of affairs; and pursuant to the reformed plan of Tacubaya, summoned a body of representatives, among whom were some bishops and other ecclesiastics, to meet on the 22d and choose the president of the republic. They met accordingly, made José Ignacio Pavon their chairman, and after some unnecessary discussion for forım's sake, inasmuch as two or three military chiefs and the clergy had the whole control, Félix Zuloaga was chosen president by twenty-six votes, against one cast for Echeagaray and another for Santa Anna. The oath of office prescribed by the committee, containing the obligation to support religion and national independence, and to promote union among the Mexicans, and the general welfare, was administered to Zuloaga a little after midnight on the 23d.

Zuloaga was born in Álamos, Chihuahua, in 1814, and in 1834 became a lieutenant of national guards. In 1836 he was transferred to the engineer corps, in which branch he served several years in various parts of the country. In 1843 he was a brevet lieutenant-colonel. During the American war he prepared defences in Monterey, Saltillo, between Vera Cruz and Mexico, and lastly, in the southern part of the capital. The next two years he served in the southern campaign as a brevet general of brigade, and in 1855 was promoted. That year he was taken prisoner, and Comonfort not only saved him from being shot, but had him at his side until the triumph of the revolution of Ayutla. Later he intrusted to him the military operations in the sierra de Querétaro, and afterward employed him in the two campaigns of Puebla, and appointed him a councillor of state. Finally, we