Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/37

Rh and reactionists, among which may be mentioned those of Tecali in Puebla, Huisquilucan, and Calpulalpam in Mexico. Marquez attacked San Luis Potosí, and was repulsed. He then overran Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. But on the 20th of October the joint forces of Marquez and Mejía were signally defeated at Pachuca by generals Tapia and Porfirio Diaz, and they fled by way of Mineral del Monte.

The government asked congress for power to raise one million dollars on title deeds of national property at two per centum discount monthly, and to suspend payments to creditors of the treasury for one year, excepting those of the conducta seized at Laguna Seca, and of the diplomatic conventions; but in regard to these latter, the chamber resolved that the government should order their suspension. This event caused great public alarm.

The presidential election, which took place in March, did not at first exhibit an absolute majority, and the congress postponed its decision till the 11th of the following June, when Juarez was declared to be the president of the republic. The formal inauguration took place on the 15th. His title to the executive office was fully recognized. The centre of union during the civil war, he now became the chief of the liberal party, and the representative of legitimate authority and progress. And yet he found great difficulty to organize a cabinet, that presided over by Guzman having resigned because of congressional opposition. Doblado was called to form a new ministry,