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128 of the people made it both useless and expensive to attempt holding this state, so remote from the centre of operations. The French accordingly restricted themselves for a while to a not very effectual blockade of the river mouth. The republicans, on the other hand, were so encouraged by their success as tɔ advance into Vera Cruz, under García, and lay siege to Minatitlan, which surrendered March 28th.

These advantages were neutralized by French successes in Yucatan. A strong party, headed by General Navarrete, had pronounced for the empire, in the northern part of the state, and incited by district rivalry, they seized the pretence for invading Campeche, which upheld Juarez. Captain Gloué assisted with a naval force, and the city yielded on January 22d Navarrete could not be induced to join in a Tabasco campaign, but the imperial control over the Términos region served in a measure to sustain the faction lately rising in Chiapas.

President Juarez had, meanwhile, been so pressed by troubles nearer home as to find little time to deplore the disasters overwhelming him in the central and western provinces. Discontent, as we have seen, was roused in many quarters against several of his acts, invested as he had been with dictatorial power; yet the feeling could be traced chiefly to personal jealousy, which seized upon military reverses for the purpose of casting discredit upon the executive. At this time the term of the supreme judges expired, and congress not being in session, and an election difficult to make, Juarez assumed the responsibility of appointing others. This gave fresh cause for outcry against a president whose prestige was obscured by flight.