thought themselves lost. Peraza, who commanded the guard over the prisoners, ordered his men to point their muskets at the prisoners. Guillermo Prieto dissuaded the soldiers from firing, and they left the room. Landa and one Morett tried to obtain from Juarez an order for the faithful troops not to fire against the mutineers, but he impassively replied that, being a prisoner, he could give no orders. Landa finally agreed to an arrangement that Juarez and the others should be set free and allowed to leave Guadalajara, exempt from recapture within the radius of ten leagues from it. The party had a narrow escape from falling into the enemy's hands again on their journey to Colima, when Juarez not only showed the utmost coolness, but great abnegation.47

Juarez arrived at Sayula on the 23d of March, and found there General Rocha with his force. Before reaching Colima, news came that Parrodi had on that day surrendered in Guadalajara without resistance, and thus failed the coalition of the states in the interior.

48

Santos Degollado, who had hitherto had only the portfolio of government, was now also intrusted with that of war, and with the chief command-incompetent as he had shown himself for high commandsof the constitutionalist army yet to be organized. He was also clothed with ample powers in financial affairs connected with that army.

Juarez now resolved to establish his government in Vera Cruz, where he could make his action better felt. Accordingly, on the 14th of April, he embarked at Manzanillo with the other members of his cabinet, namely, Melchor Ocampo, of relations; Man

47 Full details of the affair at the inn of Santa Anna, Acatlan, appear in Juarez, Biog. del Ciud., 24-6, 47-8; Juarez, Cartas, in Circulares Leg. Mez., 452-3.

18 Parrodi capitulated to Osollo and Miramon. Tepic accepted the reformed plan of Tacubaya March 27th. El Eco Nac., March 28, Apr. 10, 1858; Diario de Avisos, March 29-31, Apr. 5, 9, 10, 1858.

49 Decrees of Apr. 5th at Coliina. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii.

JUAREZ' FLOATING CABINET.

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uel Ruiz, of justice; Guillermo Prieto, of the treasury; and Leon Guzman, of fomento,50 on the American steamship John L. Stephens, and in seven days reached Panamá, whence, via Colon, Habana, and New Orleans, he went to Vera Cruz, landing on the 4th of May, 1858, and forthwith installed his government."1

50 Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1870, 1054-7.

51 Officially announced to governors and others by Minister Ocampo on the 8th of May. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 655-6; Diario de Avisos, Dec. 21, 1858.

HIST. MEX., VOL. V. 47

CHAPTER XXIX.

STRIFE FOR SUPREMACY.

1858-1859.

PRESIDENT JUAREZ-HIS Government at Vera Cruz-WAR OPERATIONS—. ZULOAGA'S DIFFICULTIES-HIS CHANGE OF POLICY-ECHEAGARAY'S PRONUNCIAMIENTO AND PLAN-ROBLes Pezuela's REFORMED PLAN-ZULOAGA SET ASIDE-MIRAMON COMES TO THE FRONT-ZULOAGA REINSTATED— ROBLES PEZUELA RETIRES-ZULOAGA NAMES A SUBSTITUTE-MIRAMON AS PRESIDENT-HIS CAMPAIGN IN VERA CRUZ A FAILURE-BATTLE of TACUBAYA-CONSTITUTIONALISTS' DEFEAT-A DAY OF HORRORS, AND ITS EVIL CONSEQUENCES.

At the end of the last chapter we left the government of Juarez, based on the constitution of 1857, installed at Vera Cruz.

Before proceeding further, I will give here some information on the previous life of this extraordinary man, risen from the lower stratum of society to become one of his country's brilliant lights, statesman, patriot, and representative of a progressive age.

The city of Oajaca, capital of the state bearing the same name, is situated in a small valley near the mountain of San Felipe, a portion of the extensive and complicated ridge formed by the junction in the state of the two branches the Sierra Madre. Twenty-two miles to the north-east of the city is the town of Santo Tomás de Ixtlan, within whose district lies, in the most intricate part of the mountain, the humble though picturesque hamlet of 150 or 200 inhabitants named San Pablo Guelatao, consisting of a few huts of adobe and the rest of straw, but surrounded by fertile soil that yields a variety of fine

fruit, and embellished with a lake to which, for its limpid waters, the people have given the romantic name of Lago Encantado. Here in this spot was born the champion of Mexican liberty and independence, Benito Juarez, on the 21st of March, 1806.1 He lost his mother at his birth, and remained in charge of his grandmother first, and of an uncle next. The poverty of his relatives and the isolated position of his home prevented the boy from receiving even the first elements of instruction, and thus at the age of twelve years he could neither read nor write, and was ignorant of the Spanish language.

The people dwelling to the north-east of the sierra bore a name for honesty and industrious habits, which made them much sought after by the wealthy families of the city for servants, whose compensation was indeed insignificant; but then the boys and girls desiring it had an opportunity to attend school. Juarez followed the example of his companions, and in 1818 entered the service of a worthy and charitable citizen named Antonio Salanueva," who became so much attached to the bright and studious Indian boy that he resolved to educate him for the priesthood, and in due time entered him at the ecclesiastical seminary. The young student's application was truly remarkable, and his conduct exemplary in every respect. He made rapid progress, and had already finished the first year's course of theology, when he threw off the robe, never having taken kindly to the ecclesiastical calling, and went to study law in the instituto de

1The certificate of his christening at the parish church of Ixtlan on the following day states that he was born in wedlock, both his parents, Marcelino Juarez and Brigida García, being pure Indians; their worldly goods consisted of a hut, a little piece of land, and a few domestic animals. They were therefore in not very comfortable circumstances, and could offer their son only a life of toil. Baz, Vida de Juarez, 22-3.

2 Tercero del Cármen que tenia escuela pública en Oajaca.' Castellanos, Refutacion, in Arrangoiz, Méj., iii. ap. 98. Others say he was a bookbinder, and it is barely possible that he occasionally had a book to bind or repair. I am speaking of 1818. Baz, Vida de Juarez, 24; Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 591. Zerecero, Mem., 533, calls him a bookbinder, and a 'tercero descubierto de la tercera órden de San Francisco,' one who, without having taken the vows of chastity and clausure, yet wears a habit similar to that of the other friars.

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ciencias y artes, founded by a state law of 1826. From that time it may be said that he began to pave the way to eminence as a jurist and statesman of the most advanced ideas. Before his admission to the bar, he took an active part in the warm political campaign of 1828, affiliated, as a matter of course, with the yorkinos. Juarez never profited pecuniarily by the legal profession, his mind being too much engrossed with politics. In 1846 he began to figure in the national councils, as a deputy in the federal

The creation of the instituto was looked upon by the clergy as a threat against their order from the liberal party; and though the college was in charge of an enlightened, liberal-minded Dominican priest, war was declared against it. Hence a deadly hatred ensued between the seminario, which represented the old system and continued giving the education of the colonial period, and the instituto, which sympathized with progress and was to impart modern scientific instruction. Juarez experienced the moral pressure of his protector and of the ideas he had been thus far educated in, both requiring that he should stay in the seminario, while his instincts, deep thought, as well as his intimate friends, called him away to the instituto. Miguel Mendez, a pure Indian of bright intellect, who died young, was one of the friends who prompted him to resist his protector's influence. Zerecero, Mem., 536. In 1829 he was appointed to the chair of experimental physics. In 1832 he was made a bachelor of laws, and on the 13th of Jan., 1834, admitted to the bar with the privilege of practice in all the courts of the republic. Baz, Vida de Juarez, 30-1; Juarez, Vida del Ciud., 12.

Juarez' personal appearance was as follows: of less than medium height; dark copper color; his features were those of a pure Indian, with black piercing eyes and a frank countenance. He had a large scar across his face, which, however, did not disfigure it; hands and feet quite small. Open and communicative in matters not demanding reserve, he was extremely reticent in state affairs; a man who reflected and deliberated long before acting. It was his wont to deeply study the letter and spirit of the law, and after forming his opinion on the right interpretation, nothing could swerve him. His temperament was lymphatic bilious, with all the energy and force of the bilious, and all the calm and coolness of his race, even amid the greatest danger. His health was usually good; indeed, only once in his long political career was he confined to his bed till his last illness. He slept but little, and was an early riser. On the 1st of August, 1843, he married Margarita Maza, by whom he had twelve children, most of them girls. His home was remarkable for domestic peace, his wife being a model woman. His private like his public life was pure; never was he accused of corrupt practices. His leisure moments were devoted to study, specially of history; and though well informed on general subjects, his natural modesty precluded all display of his attainments. Juarez, Biog. del Ciud., 40; Salm-Salm's Diary, ii. 30-1. Portraits of Juarez may be seen in Zerecero, Mem., 529; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, v. 398; Id., Gob. de Méx., ii. 344; Payno, Cuentas, Gastos, etc., 601. See also my Life of Porfirio Diaz, chap. vi.

His first public office was that of alderman of Oajaca in 1831; next he was elected to the state legislature, and held the deputyship two years, when, being accused of complicity in an attempted revolution in 1836, he was confined in prison several months. In 1842-5 he was juez civil Ꭹ de hacienda; and then made secretary of the state government; a few months later, attorney-general.