Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/770

750 Juarez appealed to the governors of states to raise money wherewith to meet the French dividend already due and guaranteed by the custom-house at Vera Cruz, and also to enable him to defend the seat of his government.

The failure of Zuloaga to provide for a constitution brought on the destruction of his government. Echeagaray made a pronunciamiento at Ayotla on the 20th of December, 1858; his plan being to summon a congress to frame a fundamental law suited to the needs of the country. Meantime he was to administer the government. Zuloaga at once adopted measures to put down the revolt, assuming personal command of the forces in the city, and forbidding all relations with the rebels. He issued a manifesto against Echeagaray, who was dismissed from the army, and had Manuel Doblado arrested.

The new plan was seconded in Cuernavaca, but met with little favor from either liberals or reactionists, though it claimed to fill the aspirations of the country, which, as Echeagaray said, detested political exaggerations, and only desired a rational freedom.

Zuloaga's measures availed him nothing, for, on the morning of the 23d, Gual's infantry battalion in the capital revolted in support of another plan formed by Robles Pezuela, which somewhat modified that of Ayotla, and was intended to overthrow the existing government. Robles and Echeagaray were to designate the persons who were to organize a provisional government in the manner provided in their plan. Robles was recognized in the capital as the chief of the movement. Zuloaga offered to resign if the objections were to himself personally, but would not give his assent to the overthrow of the principles of his administration.