CHAPTER XI

FROM 1836 TO 1845

WHILE Santa Anna was warring in Texas, acting President Barragán had died and had been succeeded by José Justo Corro, who proved to be weak and inefficient. On December 28, 1836, Spain recognized the independence of Mexico, and in December, 1839, the first Spanish minister plenipotentiary arrived at Vera Cruz and was cordially received. He bore a great name in the history of Spanish literature and was called Ángel Calderón de la Barca. At the end of the year 1836 the Leyes Constitucionales (Constitutional Laws) were promulgated. The States were changed to Departments, the presidential term was lengthened to eight years, and a Supremo Poder Conservador of five members was established, with almost absolute power over the different branches of the government. General Anastasio Bustamante was elected president of the republic and took possession of his office on April 12, 1837. The Centralists were in power, but the opposition of the Federalists did not cease, and turmoil and discord were the result for many years; revolts and pronunciamientos occurring incessantly; presidents made and unmade; and Santa Anna, at one time dictator, at another, general, and in the interval retiring, as a curious Cincinnatus, to his farm.

And now comes the "Pastry War" with the French, owing to claims of French residents for spoliations during the numerous political troubles. Promises to pay were never kept;

therefore, on January 16, 1838, the representative of France, Baron Deffaudis, left the legation to a chargé d'affaires, and had already embarked at Vera Cruz to return to his country when a war vessel arrived with despatches. In March Admiral Bazoche arrived with a squadron of ten ships, and minister Deffaudis issued an ultimatum, demanding among other things, payment, by April 15, of $600,000, an amount which was a great reduction of the sum due. The Mexican government refused to negotiate while the foreign squadron remained in Mexican waters, and thereupon Admiral Bazoche declared a cessation of diplomatic relations and a blockade of the ports. For some time the French were not able to use force, on account of the yellow fever and of storms, but at the end of October Admiral Baudin arrived with additional ships, in the capacity of minister plenipotentiary and military commander. He had an interview at Jalapa, on November 14, with the Mexican minister of foreign affairs, and not having obtained any satisfaction from him, the French admiral declared that he would begin hostilities on November 27 if the demands of his government were not granted. The Mexicans considered San Juan de Ulua a second Gibraltar, and paid no attention to the threats of Baudin. General Rincon, the commander at Vera Cruz, was ordered to put the fortress in good condition, but he was not given the means to do so, and when Admiral Baudin opened fire, on November 27, at noon, upon San Juan de Ulua, the fortress offered but little resistance. General Gaona defended himself bravely for two hours, but finally capitulated, with the consent of General Rincon, who had sent Santa Anna to report on the condition of the fort. Baudin entered into an agreement with Rincon to suspend the blockade for eight months, provided the garrison at Vera Cruz was reduced to one thousand men and the expelled Frenchmen were readmitted into the country and indemnified.

The Mexican government disapproved of the capitulation, war was declared against France, and the order for the

expulsion of the French residents was renewed. Santa Anna, who had come once more from his farm, was put in command at Vera Cruz, and he and Arista prepared to defend the city. Admiral Baudin might have destroyed the place, but he said that he would not make innocent people suffer, and he sent expeditions against Forts Santiago and Concepcion and one to capture Santa Anna at his house in Vera Cruz. Owing to a thick fog the forts were surprised, but the commander of the third expedition, the Prince de Joinville, one of the valiant sons of King Louis-Philippe, did not succeed in capturing Santa Anna, who escaped half dressed. Arista, however, was taken prisoner. The Mexicans, at the barracks, defended themselves bravely, and Baudin ordered a retreat to the ships. Santa Anna followed the French and reached the shore after nearly all the enemy had embarked. A volley from a cannon loaded with grape-shot wounded the Mexican general in the left leg and killed his horse. Admiral Baudin shelled the barracks at Vera Cruz and the city was abandoned by its defenders and by its inhabitants.

Santa Anna's leg was amputated, and the hero became again so popular that President Bustamante, having gone to Tampico to quell a revolt, appointed him provisional president, March 9, 1839. One month later a treaty was signed by Admiral Baudin and by General Victoria and Minister Gorostiza, by which Mexico agreed to pay to the French $600,000 within six months. As $60,000 had been claimed by a baker, Señor Verdía says that history has avenged Mexico for an unjust aggression by calling it the "Pastry War" (guerra de los pasteles).

The revolt at Tampico which Bustamante had gone to quell soon became a revolution of the Federalists. The latter were defeated at Puebla by Valencia and Santa Anna, and their general, Mejía, was shot. In July, 1840, another revolutionary movement took place in the capital itself. It was led by General Urrea and Gomez Farías and was so successful that President Bustamante was taken prisoner after severe fighting in the city. Santa Anna left his retreat again

and advanced with an army against the revolutionists. The latter were granted favorable terms by Bustamante, and the insurrection came to an end leaving the Centralists still in power. At that time Gutierrez de Estrada, a former minister, issued a pamphlet advocating the establishment of a monarchy under a foreign prince. The plan, which was somewhat that of Iguala of the unfortunate Iturbide, was not well received, and the author was forced to flee from the country.

Peace was again disturbed, on August 8, 1841, when General Paredes pronounced against the government. General Valencia joined him, and Santa Anna also. Bustamante opposed the insurgents, but his troops passed over to the enemy, although he had proclaimed the federation in the great square in Mexico, and he retired from office and went to Europe, respected by all parties. Santa Anna had overthrown the government by his plan or "Bases of Tacubaya," which was that the present executive and legislative departments of the government should cease to exist, and that a junta should name a provisional president, and summon a congress to frame a new constitution within eight months. The junta, of course, chose Santa Anna as president, but the congress elected, according to the plan of Tacubaya, turned out to be composed of a majority of Federalists. This the Centralists could not allow, and through the exertions of the minister of war, Tornel, there was a pronunciamiento of the troops at Huexotzingo in favor of the installation of a council of notables and against the congress that had just assembled. The latter body was dissolved by the executive, and the council of notables met in January, 1843, and, on June 12, adopted las Bases Orgánicas, or new constitution, which was less liberal even than that of 1836. During the periodical retreats of the Dictator to his farm Bravo had been acting president, and then Canalizo, and Santa Anna did not return to the capital before June 3, 1844, although on January 2 he had been declared by congress elected president. He entered the city in great pomp, and ruled with his usual