counteract the schemer by displaying in the worst light the evils he had brought upon the country by his despotic, dishonest, and extravagant measures. By seizure and illegal sale of national or corporation property, by outrageous contracts, suspended salaries and payments, by embezzlement of funds and other means, the nation had been defrauded during his last rule of fully thirty millions, and burdened with an enormous taxation that oppressed every industry and checked development. A large part of these extortions was held and displayed by his adherents in the most unblushing manner, partly in estates taken from the nation or from institutes and occupied as grants or under lease or trust, Santa Anna himself having increased his estates in Vera Cruz to princely proportions, and elsewhere by new accessions.[1]
The efforts of the new government were directed for a time wholly to reform, one feature of which consisted in replacing the many inefficient officials introduced in every department either by favor or with a view to serve as tools. Partisanship prevailed even now in many instances over merit, yet the change, involving a reduction of the excessive staffs,[2] proved most acceptable. At the same time the administration sought to secure itself by redistribution of
- ↑ Notably the fine property of Encero, where he lately lived in regal pomp. 'Era sabido por todos que de Vera Cruz hasta cerca de Jalapa todo el territorio habia llegado à scr propiedad suya.' Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 265, etc. From this Vera Cruz estate he derived a large income by using his influence to monopolize, at times exclusively, the market at the port. Nor did he scruple at smuggling and other illegal methods. See also the ministerial reports. Méx., Mem. Rel., 1845, 60-2; Id., Mem. Hac., 5 et seq. Others came forth in a sweeping invective against this 'Hombre funesto! Hombre de maldicion!' who has consumed the wealth of the country, corrupted its institutions, violated all laws, betrayed all parties. 'Fathers will teach their children to curse thee, and defrauded widows and orphans and impressed and betrayed soldiers and peasants will join in the outcry,' and so forth. An apostrophe issued as a letter in Siglo XIX., Dec. 28, 1844.
- ↑ 91 Santa Anna had issued over 12,000 army commissions between 1841-44. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 282.
Diaz, 20. Santa Anna's health had suffered somewhat during the long imprisonment at Perote, and his life had even been conspired against by a party of jarochos, as the coast rancheros of Vera Cruz were called. Id., Hist. Santa Аnnа, 419-20.
