tionists decided to act, and in September a formal plot was laid at Valladolid in Michoacan for the overthrow of the government. [1] The principal persons in the scheme were José María Obeso, captain of the militia regiment of Valladolid; a Franciscan friar, Vicente de Santa María; Manuel Ruiz de Chavez, cura of Huango; José Maríano de Michelena, lieutenant of the Spanish infantry, and at this time engaged at Valladolid in recruiting for his regiment; his brother, the licentiate José Nicolás Michelena; Maríano Quevedo, lieutenant of the regiment of New Spain, also present on recruiting business; and the licentiate Soto Saldaña. These and some others met and discussed a plan of action. With great caution they endeavored to confine discussion to two questions: whether they would be able successfully to resist the French in case Spain succumbed, and thereby preserve the dominion for Fernando; and whether, such being their object, they ought to maintain their ground if opposed. Adherents to the cause were despatched to Pátzcuaro, Querétaro, Zitácuaro, and other places to promulgate the scheme; and by the middle of December their operations had been so successful, that the 21st of that month was appointed as the day on which to raise the standard of revolt; their intention being first to seize the asesor of the intendencia, José Alonso de Teran, and the comandant Lejarza, and then proclaim the revolution in the intendencia of Guanajuato. The regiment of native infantry, commanded by Obeso, could be relied upon, as also the detachments with Michelena and Quevedo; and it was confidently expected that with the promise of release from the payment of tribute, eighteen or twenty thousand Indians would immediately join their standard. Hitherto the plans of the revolutionists had been conducted with such caution that the government officials appear to have been wholly unaware of the movement; but on the
- ↑ See Michelena's account of the influence which these arguments had upon the independent party. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., ii. 5.
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