Bonilla went further: he cancelled the exequatur of Consul Black in Mexico, and of all other Ünited States consuls and vice-consuls in the republic. This was, however, made nugatory by Ocampo's circular of April 23d, to governors, confirming anew the exequaturs of all those consular officers.[1]
Mexico had now reached a state of chronic anarchy, and there seemed to be no remedy for it. The socalled conservative party favored an absolute rule with all its sequences; and though holding to a republican form, it was in fact a military dictatorship. It contemplated the establishment of a monarchy. The clergy, which was the most influential wing of that party,[2] and whose chief was Padre Miranda, one of Miramon's ministers, were working for a foreign prince to reign in Mexico, and to that end opened relations with Gutierrez Estrada, of whom more hereafter.[3] The policy of the party was to restore the fueros that the ley Juarez had suppressed; to keep the press under restraint; to have prohibitory tariffs; and to prevent the incoming of foreigners, which might endanger the church. The constitutional government was opposed to all this; and moreover resolved to deprive the clergy of the means to prolong the war.
The reactionists were much exercised to find relief for their great malady — impecuniosity. The minister of the treasury, Sagaceta, was blamed, and then superseded by a young man, Cárlos G. de la Peza, under
- ↑ Ocampo dubs Bonilla's statements hypocritical; the loss of territory under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, being caused by the stupid course of the conservatives, and the sale of Mesilla being the act of the imprudente Sr Bonilla.'
- ↑ Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 440-3.
- ↑ The correspondence between the two men on this plan was intercepted by the liberals, according to Degollado's circular of May 20th to the governor. Árchivo Mex., Col. Ley., iv. 38.
denies Bonilla's charges, adding that his government looked on Juarez as the legal and de facto authority recognized by four fifths of the states and a large portion of the citizens; which was particularly the case in the seaports on both seas, and in the five or six Mexican states contiguous to the U. S. as well as in those of the south through which U. S. citizens have the right by treaty to trade. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., iv. 25-35; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 669; Ferrer, Cuest. de Méx. Ven. Amer. Gen., 429, 438-42.
