statesman and journalist, but also a historian and writer of travels. I give in a note an account of his works.[1]
While the events above recited were occurring in Yucatan, General Bustamante, vice-president of the republic and commander of the largest military division, proclaimed on the 4th of December a plan destructive of his government, under the pretence of restoring constitutional order, and the observance of the laws which he and his accomplices said were infringed by the dictatorial powers vested in the executive — powers which, though, perhaps, not judiciously used in every instance, never became oppressive.[2] Santa Anna tried to prevent this movement, and not succeeding, surrendered both his civil and military commands, the former to Manuel Arguelles and the latter to Colonel Antonio Juillé.[3]
Bustamante, though a yorkino, was influenced by Jose Antonio Facio,[4] a number of discontented yorkinos, and not a few escoceses, or novenarios.
- ↑ Ensayo Histórico de las Revoluciones de Mexico. This work is in two volumes, 8vo, the first of which appeared in Paris in 1831, and the second in New York somewhat later. It gives us the history of Mexico from the breaking-out of the revolution in 1808 to 1830. The most valuable portion is that in which he speaks of the events that he had a direct participation in, as a member of the constituent congress, governor of Mexico, and minister of stale, which lie describes in a flowing, elegant style, and with remarkable force, defending the acts of the federal party, of which he was one of the most eminent members. Any impartial and unprejudiced critic will recognize in the author a learned publicist, historian, philosopher, economist, and statesman. Another edition, also in two volumes, appeared in Mexico in 1845.
Zavala s other work was his Viage á los Estados Unidos, Mérida, 1846, which is preceded with a sketch of his life and writings, by Justo Sierra. The book, according to Zavala's own statement, has not the merit of originality, and did not entail on him much labor, as the descriptions, documents, and even many of the remarks were either taken from others or from memoranda made on the spot. That is what he said himself, hoping that it might be useful to his countrymen. But the fact stands that it is a philosophic work, showing a deep study of the manners and customs of the American people, and more specially of their political institutions, which were so closely copied by the Mexicans.
- ↑ Alaman himself uses these words respecting their use: 'En lo general fué mas bien benético que opresivo. Hist. Méj., v. 846.
- ↑ He then withdrew to his hacienda of Manga de Clavo to watch the course of events. Suarez y Nararro, Hist. Méx., 172.
- ↑ Facio, Guerrero s mortal enemy, was a Mexican by birth, but educated
