Personal ambition was the main object with him, and finding from the preparations of Juarez that this might be imperilled, he entered freely into the negotiations opened by Bazaine, who held out both threats and promises. Not venturing to give in his adhesion to the empire without the consent of the people, he ordered, on March 2d, that their votes should be taken on the matter.[1]
Aware of the negotiations, Juarez had on the 26th of February issued a decree dissolving the union of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, formed by the ambitious Vidaurri a few years before, and declaring them in a state of siege. A week later he issued a proclamation imposing the penalty for traitors on all who obeyed the summons to vote issued by Vidaurri, now virtually considered as removed from his government.[2] This threat, sustained by the gathering Juarist forces, intimidated the people from voting, and signs of defection appearing among the troops,[3] Vidaurri sent commissioners to Juarez, offering to retire into private life if the past were overlooked. The president replied that submission must be unconditional. Vidaurri had prepared for defence, and would agree to no such terms; but on learning that the troops marching against him numbered about 7,000, under Miguel Negrete, minister of war, he abandoned the city with a force of over 1,000 men. These soon abandoned him, and he fled into Texas. The Juarists occupied Monterey March 29th, and the government installed
- ↑ The vote to be registered before the local authorities in two books, 'uno con el titulo de votacion por la paz, y el otro con el do votacion por la guerra.' Dublan and Lozano, Ley. Mex., ix. 679. Additional documents bearing on the attitude of Vidaurri may be consulted in Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, i. 263 et seq., ii. 10-16; La Eslrella de Occid., April 8, 1864, etc.; Periód. Ofic, Mar. 5, 1864, and other journals of the day.
- ↑ The last decree is dated March 5th. Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, ii. 9-10; Dublan, ix. 673-4. The separation of the state was contrary to the constitution of 1857, and Minister Lerdo sought in a circular to excuse it on the ground of Vidaurri's tyrannical and treasonable acts. Lozano, in Vega, Doc., i. 443-4, expressed a wide-spread sentiment that Juarez should have left Vidaurri to be judged by the nation, and not imperilled the cause by drawing troops from exposed provinces for the sake of fighting him.
- ↑ Vidaurri had only 2,000 men, of whom only those under Colonel Quiroga could be relied upon.
