No. 477.
Mr. Morgan
to Mr. Evarts.
Mexico, June 29, 1880. (Received July 15.)
Sir: The election for presidential electors took place on Sunday last, the 27th instant. It passed off quietly, in this city at least. The result has not been announced. It will not probably be known for several weeks.
The electoral colleges meet on Sunday, the 11th proximo. The candidates before them are General Manuel Gonzalez, Justo Benitez Ignacio Mejia, Trinidad García de la Cadena, I. L. Vallarta, and M. M. de Zamacona. It is believed that neither of the candidates will receive an absolute majority of the colleges. In that event the election will devolve upon the chamber of deputies. What the result will be in that body is pure speculation.
General Gonzalez is reported to be supported by President Diaz, and it is supposed that he will have influence enough in the chamber, when it convenes in September next, to elect his candidate.
On the other hand, it is stated that the President will not have sufficient influence to accomplish this purpose; in which event all the other candidates have agreed to unite their respective friends against Gonzalez upon the person among them who has the largest vote, and thus defeat him; in which case, General Mejia probably has the best prospects of success. But this is all mere speculation. Neither, I think, does any man know enough of the future to be able to say whether the result of the election, either by the electoral colleges or by the deputies, will be accepted by the disappointed candidates. Certain it is, I have been informed, upon what I consider reliable authority, that the governors of several of the States have lately purchased a large quantity of arms, which would seem to indicate an appeal from the ballot to force. I shall, henceforth, endeavor to keep you informed as to the prospects.
I am, &c.,