Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/776

756 The young president was at once the object of much attention on the part both of his personal friends and admirers, as well as of the supporters of the cause he represented. At a grand banquet in his honor, which took place in the Minería building, the chief clergy were present, with the ministers of France and Ecuador, the latter being the representative of the Jesuit president Doctor García Moreno; the subject of intervention by foreign powers in Mexico was touched

upon by Conde de la Cortina, and a toast was drunk to it. It has been said against Miramon that in 1858 he applied to France for armed intervention, but he denied the charge.

Among the new president s first measures was a heavy tax, which caused much consternation, of one per centum on all property exceeding $1,000 in value.