hundred pesos was ordained throughout the country, to cover the budget for six months;[1] also an impost on goods entering San Luis Potosí, the actual headquarters of the republican government. Another source was the severe sequestration decree of August 16th, applied to all adherents of the empire, and directing the immediate sale of their property to the best bidder, the product to be divided between the republican treasury and those injured in body and estate by the war, as well as active adherents of the cause.[2]
The imperialists sought to counteract this by declaring annulled any sales or gifts by the Juarists, and by affirming a former decree of confiscation, yet explaining that it would be applied only against those bearing arms against the empire, other seizures being provisional, to withdraw resources from the enemy.[3] This was certainly a less exacting measure than that of Juarez, at least on the face; and a still more effective order was the suppression of forced levies, which was intended to conciliate the Indians and lower classes. Yet contributions, fixed and casual, had to be continued, although they were less burdensome than those enforced by the other side,[4] owing to the flow of funds from France; and retaliations, often most terrible, were exacted by either side upon towns and districts which had, under pressure, yielded allegiance to the other.[5]
- ↑ Payable in two instalments. Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, i. 75-7. For efforts to raise loans in the U. S., see Legac. Mex., 195 et seq.
- ↑ The sale money from city property to be divided into three equal parts — for the treasury, for wounded and widows and orphans, and for indemnifying those who had suffered confiscation at the hands of the enemy. Of country property, one half was to be distributed among active republican adherents of the district concerned, and the other half sold and divided as above. De. tails follow as to the classes embraced in the confiscation, and other points.
- ↑ Decree issued August 21st. Méx., Boletin Ley., 1863, 240-2. On Oct. 8th the confiscation decree against Puebla republicans was set aside out of pity for the families.
- ↑ The unusual quota from industrial establishments ordained in July may serve as an indication.
- ↑ Forey inflicted, Aug. 27th, a heavy fine on Tlalpan for the murder there of a French soldier, and threatened to kill one prominent hostage for every
