Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/79

Rh The political party known as the escoceses, who were accused of complicity in the plot, made no answer to the charge, but denied in toto the existence of the conspiracy; and in their turn asserted that the ministers Gomez Pedraza and Ramos Arizpe, and the yorkinos, had made a mountain out of a mole-hill for the purpose of effecting their long-meditated schemes against the Spaniards, and of destroying at the same time their political rivals. The escoceses even absurdly accused Poinsett of having suggested the idea to Arenas. Possibly the conspiracy would hardly deserve more than a passing notice in history, but for its results. As a fact, it was the precedent, if not the very origin, of the long series of disturbances and violations of personal rights which distracted the country during so many years.

At this time the question of expelling the Spaniards was moved in the legislature of Mexico. Old wounds were reopened, and every means resorted to for keeping up the excitement against the Spaniards, who were accused of being incessant conspirators against the national independence, and for that reason ought to be forced to leave the country. Victoria did nothing to allay the excitement, and Guerrero promoted that measure with all his influence; Gomez Pedraza did the same, though less openly. Serious tumults occurred in Ajusco, Apam, Toluca, and Acapulco, which served as bad examples for the rest