Jump to content

Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/685

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
PRESIDENT ÁLVAREZ.
65

Doblado desisting from their pretensions.[1] The plan of Ayutla, reformed at Acapulco, became the law for all, and Álvarez the representative man of the ideas embodied in the revolution. He then continued his march to Iguala, intending to tarry at Cuernavaca.

The reaccionarios now began to throw obstacles in Álvarez' way, hoping to reap advantage for themselves from the abnormal position in which the country was placed. They objected to his appointment of the representatives, demanding that the states should make it. Álvarez paid no heed to their subtle arguments, and issued at Iguala, September 24, 1855, his decree appointing one representative for each state and territory, and summoned them to assemble at Cuernavaca on the 4th of October to elect a president ad interim, and comply with the other requirements of the second article of the plan of Ayutla.[2] The representatives assembled at Cuernavaca on the 4th of October, in convention, with Gomez Farías as their president, and Benito Juarez, F. de P. Cendejas, and Diego Álvarez as secretaries. On the same day they declared Juan Álvarez to be the president ad interim of the republic.[3]

  1. The parties signed an act to that effect at Lagos, in Jalisco, Sept. 16, 1855; Comonfort being also recognized as Álvarez' representative and second in command. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., i. 57-9.
  2. Among the most prominent of the 25 representatives thus appointed were: Félix Zuloaga, Guillermo Prieto, Melchor Ocampo, Benito Juarez, Ponciano Arriaga, J. M. Lafragua, Valentin Gomez Farías, and Juan José Baz. Id., 75-8; La Voz de Son., 1855, Nov. 9, 16.
  3. The election was officially published in Mexico on the 19th of October. Méx., Col. Ley. Fund., 322; Mex., Legisl. Mej., 1855, 450-2, 459; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 582-4.