declared for his impeachment, on the ground that he had attacked the system of government established by the constitution, dissolving the departmental assembly of Querétaro, and so forth; that he had promoted the decree suspending congress, and that he had risen with armed force against the reëstablished constitutional government.[1] Proceedings were also continued against Canalizo and the ministers, and a large number of the leading officers who had upheld them were suspended to answer for their course.[2] The late party was influential, however to be treated with great severity, and by decree of May 24th the past was consigned to oblivion in a general amnesty, yet this did not restore to the pardoned their offices,[3] and it included Santa Anna, Canalizo, and the four ministers only on condition that they should leave the country, the first-named forever, the others for ten years, giving bonds to answer pecuniary claims against them.[4]
- ↑ This report was made on Feb. 24, 1845. As regards the first charge, he was declared liable under art. 90 of the organic law. His share in suspending congress was manifested in several official and intercepted private letters, as reproduced in the Causa. See Santa Anna, Dictámen del Gran Jurado, 1-24; Pap. Var., xxvi. pt 8. The dictámen was approved by a vote of 90 against 7. The case thereupon passed to the supreme court, where it continued till May. The process with documents attached exists in Santa-Anna, Causa Criminal, Acusado del Delito de Traicion, Mex., 1846, 1-245, ap. 1-180. Portions of this appear in separate form under Méx., Causa Santa Anna, 1-180; Santa-Anna, Expediente, 1-176; Id., Proceso, 1-53; Pap. Var., xxvi. pts 7, 10 With additional points and comments in Bustamante, Mem. Hist. Mex., MS., i. 202-84, ii. 2-140, passim; Diario, Exact. Mex., MS., 1-68; Santa Annu, Apel. al Criterio, 8-14; Escalera y Llana, Méx. Hist., 70, etc.; and in the journals of the day, as Monit. Constit., Mar. 4, 1845, etc., and others already quoted. Voz del Pueblo and Defensor Leyes defended him warmly.
- ↑ Over 60 in number, nearly all from the army abandoned by Santa Anna before Puebla.
- ↑ Although even these were conceded to most of them. Distinctions and life positions were recognized. Méx., Col. Ley., 1844-46, 111-12. The amnesty, so common a measure in Mexico, had been mooted since February, Algunas Observ., 1845, 1-20; Amnistia, 3, etc.; Pap. Var., lxxxv. pt 1, clxxiii. pt 19, and considered in congress, in éx., Dictámen sobre Amnistia, 1-8; Id., De la Mayoria, 1-20, and practically conceded by May 12th, La Minerva, May 13, 1845. Ex-president Bustamante took advantage of it to return.
- ↑ They were to be allowed half of the pay granted them under the last life position held previous to Nov. 29, 1844, on condition of residing where the government indicates. They had to ask for a stay of proceedings against
verbiage, which add to its weakness. It exists in separate form under SantaAnna, Exposicion, 1845, 1-43, also in Pap. Var., xxvi. pt 6, lxxxv. pt 2.
