Perote

“ Iturbide had inaugurated his insurrection by seizing, at Iguala, a million of dollars belonging to the Manilla Company, on its way to Acapulco. He made another like seizure at Perote; but these high-handed measures, while they proved but a drop in the bucket toward sustaining his government, increased his embarrassments, by destroying all confidence; so that his new authority had stamped upon it the unmistakable marks of dissolution. He was an emperor without traditional associations; he had an empire without a revenue; a large standing army without pay. ”

“ Gen. Patterson now came riding by, saying, "Good morning, men; I suppose you all feel cold. We answered, "Yes, sir; and hungry, too" [Laughter] , and he passed on, after which a mula, loaded with bananas, came along. We captured the fruit and divided it among the men, after which we left camp for Perote, saying, "We will not starve as long as we can get anything to eat."
We arrived in camp about 2 o'clock, p.m., and took up our quarters in the town of Perote, much fatigued, tired out and hungry, yet feeling rejoiced that we arrived safely. ”

“ On capturing the post he learned that the rout at Cerro Gordo had been complete. Three thousand cavalry passed the strong hold of Peroté in deplorable plight, while not more than two thousand disarmed and famishing infantry had returned towards their homes in the central regions of Mexico. From Peroté Worth advanced towards Puebla on the direct road to the capital. ”

“ The fortress of Perote was designed originally by the Spanish government as a depot for the treasure intended for shipment from Vera Cruz, in which the gold and silver would be safer than at an exposed sea port during that dangerous period of Castilian history, when all the nations of Europe were anxious to plunder her colonies.{124} Situated far in the interior of the country and in the midst of a wide plain, it does not absolutely command any of the approaches either from the coast to the inner states, or to the coast from the capital. ”

“ Yet, for all this, the men feel jubilant (gosozo) at the capture of the famous Castle of Perote, where, for many years, many of our best citizens and soldiers have been imprisoned, and now has the honor of holding to the breeze the American flag. We all feel placentero (jolly) . ”

“ Yes; they were going to pay a little social visit then to some particular friends of theirs, in Perote!"
The stammering grandeur of their manner, and their familiar questions to persons who had never set eyes upon them before, afforded no little diversion to the troop; yet it had no effect in moderating the garrulity and condescending patronage of Señor Zarios and his buxom dame.
They then introduced their hopeful son and heir to the notice of the company. "Was there such another child to be found anywhere? Was he not beautiful?—a fit subject to dedicate to the service of Our Lady herself? ”

“ General Santa Anna has engagements with himself. He has determined to command them all, and allows them to fight amongst themselves, provided he governs, Paredes is in fact furious with Valencia, accusing him of having interfered when not wanted, and of having ruined his Plan, by mingling it with a revolution, with which it had no concern. He does not reflect, that Valencia was the person who gave the mortal wound to the government. Had he not revolted, Santa Anna would not have left Perote, nor Paredes himself have passed on unmolested. ”

“ Sending 350 men to Perote, he himself made an excursion to Huatusco. His intention was to march against the capital and overthrow the new government, but he was abandoned by his men, the very troops that had served under him against the Spaniards. Whereupon Bustamante accredited two commissioners near him to confer on public affairs, and the result of the conference was that Santa Anna gave up his plan and proclaimed that inasmuch as Guerrero had abandoned his post, he felt compelled to recognize the lawful authority of Vice-president Bustamante. ”

“ Santa Anna had over six thousand men entrenched on this side of Puebla, and is going to dispute our march further.
Sunday, May 9, 1847.—This morning a party of soldiers and myself paid a visit to the town of Perote, and I must say that we were sadly disappointed, for we found it no great place. Very little business is carried on here, and a very slim market for Sunday, probably the buhonero senorito (peddler ladies) are afraid to bring their produce to market, fearing us Yankees would insult or not pay them. ”

“ Intermarriage has produced a race of Perotes who never having had the benefit of finding their proper level by contact with a more elevated and extended sphere, consider themselves the very salt of civilization, and are even more afraid than the members of the Legations themselves, of mingling in general society. ”

“ Santa Anna protested loudly against. his merit, and against the presumption, as he termed it, of bringing to trial the constitutional president of the country, guiltless as he was at least of treason. [81] Nevertheless, he considered it best to present a de fence of his late attitude. As virtual president, it was his duty to take steps to suppress the revolution of Jalisco, which threatened the peace of the country and stood arrayed against the constitution itself. If in so doing he had among other acts proceeded arbitrarily
Fortress of Perote. ”

“ The soldiers of the escort came riding back to the diligence; and the captain, galloping up to the window, gave himself great credit for having "frightened away the robbers."
We arrived at Perote when it was nearly dusk, supped, and started again at eleven o'clock at night. We passed a horrible night in the diligence, and were thankful when daybreak showed us the beautiful environs of Jalapa. It is singular that on a second impression, returning by this road, the houses appear handsomer than they did before, and nature less beautiful. ”

“ About the same time, Don F—— M——, a Spanish broker, who had gone to Manga de Clavo, was sent to Guadalajara, and had a conference with Paredes, the result of which was, that the plan of that general was withdrawn, and it was supposed that he and Santa Anna had formed a combination. Shortly after, the Censor of Vera Cruz, a newspaper entirely devoted to Santa Anna, pronounced in favour of the plan of Paredes, and Santa Anna, with a few miserable troops, and a handful of cavalry, arrived at Perote. Here he remains for the present, kept in check by the (government) General Torrejon. ”

“ Manuel Robles Pezuela was a native of Guanajuato. [27] In 1852 he was minister of war, and the next year, being dissatisfied with the political situation, he resigned his office and military rank, and went abroad, travelling through the United States, England, and the continent of Europe as far as Turkey, and visiting the principal fortresses and scientific and military establishments. In September 1858 he returned to Mexico and aided Echeagaray to capture Perote, having had restored to him his rank as a general. ”

“ The unfortunate precedent of appealing to arms after an election, instead of submitting to the result of the ballot, became so established that the elections were little more than a farce. Pedraza, the conservative candidate, was chosen against Guerrero, liberal, by a majority of two. Santa Anna upon this pronounced in Perote, declaring the election of Guerrero valid. Attacked by the troops of the regular army, if such it may be called, he entrenched himself in Oaxaca, in the Convent of St. ”

“ PUBLIC PROMENADES.These are the favourite walks of the Perotes; and the gay dresses of the ladies, who, in joyous parties, ramble along the silent and gloomy pathways, contrast oddly with the sad and mournful character of this place of tombs. We again strolled about in this ground after dinner; but were soon tired, the cold being too severe to be pleasant; and even the inhabitants retire early. The evenings at Pera are not agreeable, there being no public amusements into which one can enter; and society is so garbled with form and etiquette, that it is hardly worth seeking ”

“ Gaz. Méx. (1784-5) , i. 228-30; Diario, Méx., ii. 132; Guia de Hac. Rep. Mex., ii. 129-40. ↑ As a warehouse for provisions and war material to aid Vera Cruz, and as a rendezvous for troops to keep a foreign enemy in check, Perote was, owing to its climate, very valuable; but as a fortress it was not worth much. Revilla Gigedo, Instruc., MS., i. 527-8. ↑ Carrion, Plan de Defensa, MS., 404-591, in Pinart, Col. Diario, Not., etc. ↑ The most favored was that of Lieutenant Colonel Pedro de Alonso, which called for large supplies in and out of San Juan de Ulúa ”

“ But the people are sanguine in their hope—they think to accomplish their liberties in a few years.
In the provinces of Buenos Ayres a long civil war has raged, which is now about terminating in favor of the more liberal party, aided by Brazil.
Peru is tranquil. The public prints of Lima, its capital, have interested me much—they are in Spanish, and I have spent days in their perusal. The Government of Peru is much influenced by England and the United States. Its constitution guarantees liberty of the press, of speech, and of worship. ”

“ When he was explaining to me the plans of his faction, the future of Peru hinged on the peaceful succession to President Romaña.
After Señor Candamo had been chosen for a faction which had not even proposed an opposing candidate, to seek to prevent his inauguration and put in its own [p. 167] man—who never had made even a pretence of seeking the suffrage of the electors—meant to precipitate, if not actual revolution, a condition fully as bad. It meant to destroy the confidence of foreign capital, and to take from Peru the prestige which she slowly was regaining among South American nations. ”

“ The Independence of Peru was the crowning glory of the Spanish-American revolution. Here, in the heart and centre of colonial monarchism, where the very existence of society seemed to be threatened in the event of a change of government, and the vigilance of the authorities was so active that a single word in favor of liberty, spoken in an unguarded moment, was sufficient to place its author under the fatal ban of the Holy Office, the patriotic spirit had, nevertheless, grown and developed, awaiting only a fair chance to dominate an overpowering environment. ”

“ The election was held, and some of the hot-heads, among whom was Señor A——, did undertake to question the result, and for a brief period the fate of Peru trembled in the balance. It was settled by the stern displeasure of General Nicolas de Pierola, the former President, himself the chief actor in many revolutions and at that time the leader of the Popular Democratic party. He told his radical followers that insurrection against the government would be treason to the nation, and Señor Candamo was inaugurated with his support. ”

“ San Martin returned a few days ago, and has since re-assumed the reins of Government, as “Protector of the liberty of Peru.” Every exertion is making here for the formation of a congress. The greater part of the representatives are already elected. All the liberated provinces elect their own members for congress freely; the right of [46] voting is, I believe, much the same as in the United States. Representatives are chosen for those provinces still under the dominion of the Spanish army, from among the inhabitants of those places at present residing in Lima. ”

“ Whatever else it be, a Republic it certainly is not, and never has been a Republic. Its political constitution and its laws have nothing whatever to do with the people, nor have the people aught to do with them; and they care for them as they care for the theory of gravitation, or any other portion of demonstrable knowledge, from which they may indeed derive some animal comfort in its application, but the application of which will probably never enlighten their souls. The people of Peru know as much of liberty as they know of the Virgin Mary. ”

“ The empire of Peru well deserved the title of Magnificent. The highest civilization attained on the Western Hemisphere had been reached on this South American coast. A form of government unique in history had been developed and put in operation by a capable and enlightened people. It was a "communistic despotism," a community with a despot and a ruling class superimposed upon its socialism. ”

“ It is as well known to you as it is to me that it is the will of his Majesty that the ordinances shall be complied with and enforced in all these kingdoms. If you should make any changes, or order anything contrary to the wish of your prince, no doubt you will be looked upon as well informed and wise men by those of Peru who have armed themselves to defend their properties. But it is his Majesty the Emperor who, in this case, must be served, and without fear. We should take up arms and be ready to march against the rebels. Do not think that it is not seen what these people desire. ”

“ The military spirit was too strong, and the principles of representative government were too little understood in the beginning of the new life of Peru to admit of a strict conformity to the republican constitution; and it is not surprising that the descendants of a race of soldiers, with all the traditions implanted by an absolute monarchy, should err at first in their interpretation of political freedom. ”

“ We find at one time six self-styled presidents of Peru—each with his share of partizans, more or less numerous, and with a force at his command varying from one to five thousand men—oppressing the people, levying contributions, shooting and banishing the adherents of his five rivals. ”