of his speech and the impetuousness of his thinking. With him also occupied distinguished positions Porfirio Diaz, Buenrostro, Alfredo Chavero, José V. Baz, Francisco Hernandez, and others.[1]
Among the first acts of the congress was, after a warm debate that followed the reading of a communication from Comonfort, to declare that he ceased to be president on the 17th of December, 1857. Compellation in addressing authorities and corporations, heretofore entitled thereto, was suppressed.[2]
The reactionary party continued its work, and armed parties were committing hostilities in various localities. Mejía, who was again in his lair in the sierra of Querétaro, defeated Colonel Escobedo, and augmented the number of his followers. Guadarrama and Tovar were roving and robbing in Jalisco. Lozada, the robber chief of the sierra of Alica, looked on the government with contempt, though occasionally manifesting a disposition to recognize it; but always did as he pleased. A party of guerrillas attacked Tasco and shot the British vice-consul. There was a plan to constitute a Sierra Madre republic.
A strong column of the three arms sent to Puebla under Zaragoza to check reactionary movements was received with a marked coldness,[3] and it was even feared that some officers who had been mustered out of service would make a disturbance.
The clergy showed their opposition. An objec-
- ↑ The members of this congress took no oath; they made a protestation to do their duty faithfully. This of itself was a sanction of one of the reforms.
- ↑ This law was reiterated July 18, 1871. In the investigation of charges against officials that took part in the coup d'état of 1857, Juan José Baz was unanimously acquitted; but the ex-minister Payno was condemned in July, almost by acclamation. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 616; Baz, Vida de Juarez, 207-8; Buenrostro, Hist. Seg. Cong. Constituc., i. 138-9, 147-52; Id., Hist. Prim. y Seg. Cong., nos 48-51, 64-7; Le Trait d'Union, July 24, 1861; Méx., Derecho Intern., 3d pt, 1162-3.
- ↑ A part of that expedition was the Oajaca brigade. The object was to force Gen. Felipe Chacon, who was still in arms, to submit. Chacon surrendering, the city was occupied without resistance. Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 140-1.
