HISTORY

OF THE

REVOLUTION IN MEXICO.

CHAPTER VIII.

Causes which led to the revolution-junta of Seville sends deputies to America-junta established in Mexico-conspiracy against the viceroy-regency of Cadiz-Hidalgo raises the standard of revolt-takes Guanaxuato-the viceroy attempts to conciliate the people-spirit of the revolution spreads rapidly-military preparations of Hidalgo-organizes his army-revolutionists are excommunicated-Hidalgo threatens the capital-he retires-is attacked by the royalists—retreats to the town of Guanaxnato— is defeated with great loss-betrayed-taken prisoner, and executed.

THE causes of the revolution in Spanish America are not. found in any change of policy on the part of Spain, nor in any essential variation in the sentiments of the Americans respecting the parent country. A people who enjoyed no political rights could be deprived of none; no disputes, therefore, could arise respecting the rights of the colonies, and the prerogatives of the crown, as existed between Great Britain and her American possessions. The flames of civil war were not kindled in the Spanish colonies by resistance to a tax on tea, or a denial of the unqualified right of taxation, claimed to be binding on the colonies "in all cases whatsoever"—since to this they had for three centuries quietly submitted. Although the North American and French revolutions may have shed some rays of light over these countries, yet the causes of their recent civil changes are to be sought for solely in the peculiar condition of Spain, and the total derangement of her monarchy.

VOL. 1.

R

Leaving out of the account the unfortunate attempt at La Paz, the bloody drama of the revolution first opened in Colombia, and as the struggle there was most protracted and severe, and its final success having been the means of the emancipation of the other colonies, Colombia seems to possess a more commanding revolutionary character than any of her sister republics. Consequently, in the history of the contest in Colombia, we shall endeavour to give a full and satisfactory account of the causes and events of the revolution, as it respects Spain and her colonies generally; and, as to the other republics, confine our narration in a great measure to local occurrences.

Spain had for more than a century been on a decline when, in 1808, a finishing stroke was given to her degradation, by the ambitious designs of the emperor Napoleon. Not satisfied with having reduced the peninsula to a condition little above that of a conquered state, and with draining off its resources to support his wars, Bonaparte made one of the boldest attempts recorded in history, to seize on the country, and transfer the crown to his own family. Partly by fraud, but more by force, he obtained possession of the persons of Ferdinand VII., his father, and most of the royal family, caused them to pass over into France, and detained them at Bayonne, where, in May 1808, the father was constrained to abdicate to his son, and the latter to renounce his crown to Joseph Bonaparte.

And as all the regulations respecting Spanish America must be approved of by the Council of the Indies, a decree of that council transferred the dominions of Spain, in America, to king Joseph, in confirmation of the cessions at Bayonne. Bonaparte sent agents to America to communicate to the Spanish chiefs, and through them to the people, the political change which had taken place, and to demand their allegiance. All the Spanish chiefs, with the exception of the viceroy of Mexico, seemed willing to yield to this revolution, and acknowledge the supremacy of their new sovereign; they being all assured of retaining their places. At this period it was the people, and not the royal governors, showed their loyalty; they were shocked at the thought of being transferred like so many cattle, to another master, and that master Napoleon Bonaparte, who had done so much to oppress their parent country. They were indignant, too, at the foul treatment which their sovereign had received. An unusual ferment was excited among the people; the proclamations of Bonaparte were burnt, and his agents glad to quit the country to save their lives. This spirit prevailed, in a greater or less degree, throughout Spa

nish America.

who

A similar spirit soon disclosed itself, also, in old Spain, and a general revolt of the inhabitants against the authority of the Bona

partes, occurred in the peninsula. Intelligence of this reached Mexico on the 29th of July, 1808. It immediately raised the feelings of the people into the highest enthusiasm. In Spain, juntas were established in the different provinces, for their government and security. The junta at Seville styled itself the supreme junta of Spain and the Indies; several other of the provincial juntas claimed the like superiority, which led to dissensions in the peninsula, and distracted the Americans, so that they knew not which to acknowledge, as entitled to their allegiance. Before the enthusiasm had subsided in Mexico, the deputies sent by the junta of Seville arrived in America, to demand the sovereignty of the country; and, to induce the colonies to yield obedience to the junta, the deputies represented that its authority was submitted to throughout the whole of Spain.

Such was the hostility of the people against the French, and their loyalty and zeal toward their sovereign, that they seemed ready to acknowledge the authority of any tribunal in Spain, although self-created, which claimed their allegiance in the name of their king. A meeting was called of the civil and military officers, and a general disposition prevailed to recognise the pretensions of the Seville junta; but during the debates on the question, despatches were received from the junta of Asturias in Spain, denouncing the ambitious views of the junta of Seville, and warning the Mexican government against acknowledging its pretensions. The regency which Ferdinand had established at Madrid, on his leaving the country, also claimed the supreme power in Spain and America. These numerous tribunals in Spain, claiming the. supreme authority, and the obedience of the colonies, and denying each other's claims, produced distrust among the Americans, and placed them in a perplexing dilemma. The power of the monarchy was overthrown or suspended, and there being no government in Spain, not even a government de facto, which could claim their obedience, or which afforded them protection, their situation suggested the necessity of providing for their own security, by the establishment of some provisional government. The Cabildo, or municipality of Mexico, on the 5th of August, 1808, presented a memorial to Iturrigaray, the viceroy, for the assembling a junta, from which we make an extract :

"Juntas of the government, and respectable bodies of the cities and kingdoms, are no more than in exact conformity to the law, which ordains that all arduous cases shall be considered of in general assemblies. As in existing circumstances, in consequence of the seizure of the king, the sovereignty is vested in the nation, in order that its interests may be consulted, the united authorities, together with the municipalities, which are the heads of the peo

ple, do exactly the same as would the monarch himself for the general welfare.

"Mexico has in view the same principles that influenced Seville, Valencia, and the other cities of Spain; and she is empowered, in like manner as the above two faithful capitals, to do what she conceives is advisable in such urgent circumstances.

"These examples point out what ought to be done—to organize a governing junta, composed of the royal audiencia, the archbishop, municipality, and deputies from the tribunals, ecclesiastical and secular bodies, the nobility, and principal citizens, as well as the military. This junta shall deliberate on the most weighty subjects that concern us, which shall be determined conformably to our interests.

"The junta is necessary; for, although we are at present free from the urgent danger which threatened us on the side of France, we, nevertheless, ought not to neglect our means of defence, till we receive such positive advices, as may place us perfectly at ease. It is at the same time necessary to satisfy the wishes of the people, by restoring to them those means they formerly had of appeal to the Council of the Indies, or to the person of the king; and, finally, many amendments ought to be made in the nomination to secular and ecclesiastical dignities. These are the only means, in consequence of the absence of the monarch, by which the kingdom, being thus united, may overcome all its difficulties.

"This union of authorities is likewise necessary, as being the best means to produce unanimity in the minds of the people ; which will prevent the fatal consequences which must arise throughout the country from disunion. Every one will then be happy; their patriotism and wishes will be united by love, enthusiasm, and a sense of the public good.

"The city, consequently, thinks that the time is arrived for adopting the same means as have been carried into effect in Spain. The junta which your excellency is to form, for the present, of the authorities and respectable bodies above-mentioned, when the representatives of the kingdom are assembled, will carefully examine its interests, &c.

"But the two fundamental points on which the junta is to act, ought not to be forgotten. The first is, that the authorities retain the full extent of their power, in the same manner as if the derangement which we deplore in the monarchy had not taken place; that is, that your excellency shall still hold the same power which the laws grant, and that the same be observed with respect to the other tribunals. The second is, that in order to fill up the immense void which exists between the authority of your