36 De la Garza, since the days of the poder
ejecutivo,
had exercised a special
military authority in Tamaulipas; it was he who executed Iturbide. Busta-
mante had named him to the Eastern Interior commandancy, and Santa
Anna had deprived him of this command. While Mier y Terán does not
mention him by name, it is clear that the "dependency upon Tamaulipas"
refers to de la Garza. This naturally raises the question of the sincerity of
Mier y Terán's objections. Was he objecting to the plan of the War Depart-
ment or to the person who would be exercising authority over him?
