Lacunza, and Ramirez de Arellano succeeded in escaping from the country.[1]
The time had now come when the government might have disarmed party hatred, and gained the support of its former opponents; but the men in power adopted the policy of persecution, continuing to punish the imperialists with confiscation of their estates, thereby reducing whole families to indigence. Howsoever justifiable such a course, not all the liberal party looked with favor upon the proceeding, a portion of the progressionist press strongly condemning it as unconstitutional.[2] The confiscation was decreed pursuant to the law of August 16, 1863; but the president, exercising his discretional powers, finally commuted it, deciding that the persons who had incurred it should pay instead a fine, to be fixed by the secretary of the treasury.[3] The imperialist prisoners were disposed of in an order of July 14th; many of them were sentenced to imprisonment, and together with those from Querétaro were sent to Perote. A still larger number was liberated, but to continue under the surveillance of the authorities.[4] Twelve of the most prominent imperialists were expelled from the republic.[5]
A portion of the press was trying to prevail on the
- ↑ It is understood that Marquez, after a six months' concealment, during which his aged mother was in constant agony dreading his arrest, resolved to hazard an escape, and effected it in daylight, disguised as an Indian charcoal vender, occupying 16 days to reach Vera Cruz, all the time in danger of detection. He had to tarry five days at the port, where he finally embarked for the U. S., whence he went to reside in Habana, at which place he eked out a living as a pawnbroker.
- ↑ El Monitor Republicano of Aug. 3, 1967, declared it a violation of the constitution of 1857, and altogether unjust.
- ↑ All claims such persons might have against the government were forfeited, however. The benefits of the decree were not extended to persons declared traitors to the country. Méx., Col. Ley., 1863-7, iii. 321-3; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., X. 42-3, 109-10, 112; Tovar. Hist. Parl., i. 65-400, passim.
- ↑ Such as captains and subalterns, and officials of an inferior order. Méx., Col. Ley., 1963-7, iii. 278-9, 259.
- ↑ Among the last were Bishop Ormaechea, and the ex-ministers Marin, Mier y Teran, Portilla, and Torres Larraínzar.
