amidst the somewhat doubtful éclat attending the reburial, with imposing public ceremonies, of the leg he had lost four years before.[1] Bravo, as president of the council, once more assumed nominal charge of the administration on October 26, 1842, with some repugnance, however, for while a strong centralist, he was not in accord with the personal ambition here seeking to thwart the national will. Tornel, the minister of war,[2] was the real executive for the ruler at Manga de Clavo, who, with a view to strengthen his control, had already taken steps to disband the auxiliary and rural forces of the towns and haciendas, which naturally belonged to and sympathized with the people, to strengthen the garrison at the capital, and to ordain that army officers must be educated at the military college, under government control.[3] He had the control and intended to keep it; for there were soldiers and centralists enough at his command. The proposed constitution, aimed against him and his party, could not therefore be allowed to pass into law. Pains had been taken to circulate several of its least favorable clauses, together with the startling discussion on the religious feature, which could not fail to prejudice a large class. Tolerance, indeed, was admitted; the army was to be placed under greater restraint, and during the heat of argument ultrademocratic sentiments had found free expression.[4]
- ↑ He had the weakness to attend the ceremony and inspect the magnificent tomb, and was covered with no little ridicule by certain journals. Another monument was founded in the same month of September in commemoration of the defeat of the Spaniards under Barradas. Santa Anna having shared in this also, a medal was struck with a laudatory inscription of the dictator. Bustamante, Hist. Santa Anna, 84, 240. A pretence for his retirement was found in the illness of his wife.
- ↑ Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., iv. 223, 284. The presidio of Tlatelulco was reëstablished in July.
- ↑ General José María Tornel was the son of a Frenchman by the name of Tournelle, a form changed by the son to obliterate the connection with foreigners, whom he had learned to detest. He belonged to the independent bands and joined Santa Anna in 1820, remaining ever his firm supporter, rising from a position in the war ministry to private secretary of Victoria, governor of Mexico district, deputy, minister to Washington, and cabinet minister. Fossey, Mex., 535-6; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 602-3.
- ↑ Tornel issued a special circular, wherein he condemned the constitution as anarchical, aiming at the destruction of sacred institutions.
