Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

92 THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO.
The government, being supported by bayonets, always totters,
when, from its want of credit, and miserable domestic policy,
it suffers the pay of the troops to fall in arrear. Woe to it in
such dark hours, for then thrives that baleful mushroom, the
Pronunciamiento. Nearly all their revolutions, since their
independence from Spain, have been conceived by ambitious
generals, and achieved by a greedy soldiery.* In these civil
wars, the church, of course, is carefiul to side with that party
most favorable to its interests; and it has been truly remarked
by one of our envoys to Mexico, that, "' no political movement
can succeed there, to which the priesthood is opposed."
The Mexicans have a very well written constitution; but
what is the best system of government worth to those who
have not moral and intellectual power enough to compel its
observance? Where the minds and hearts of the people are
not properly educated, there can be no real freedom; and to
*Even mercenary motives have sometimes been wanting to excuse the disloyalty
of the army-as witness the following passage of history from the Mexican " Notes
of the War:"
" During the last month of the administration of Paredes, in consequence of the
reverses suffered by our troops on the other side of the Rio Bravo, it was agreed to
organize the same expedition which Santa Anna afterward resolved upon. To realize it, pecuniary resources were wanting, and a contract was accordingly made
with the church for $1,000,000, which sum was estimated as being more than sufficient for the division that should march from the city of Mexico. The state of internal politics, and the fear, above all, of abandoning his prey, detained Paredes in
this city, even after Congress had given him permission to march from Mexico,
with the forces that were in garrison, and to place himself at the head of the troops
of the North. This delay began to consume, without profit, the loan from the
clergy, which, being for the most part wasted, obliged Paredes at last to take the
forces and relinquish the government, at the end of July, for the purpose of joining
the army of the North. Then he made payments for the march to all the corps, to
all the officers and chiefs; with which, a few days after, they flew to the citadel to
proclaim a new revolution; and assisted by the very money that ought to have
served to march to Monterey. Infamous intrigues, to which we owe principally
the unfortunate issue of our contest at the North."