In 1805, during the last years of Spanish colonial rule, he founded the Mexican newspaper Diario de México which he expressed liberal, pro-independence ideas, and was repeatedly imprisoned over it.

After the liberal Cádiz constitution, granted New Spain limited autonomy, Bustamante founded the newspaper El Juguetillo and continued to agitate for full independence.

In 1813 José María Morelos y Pavón, leader of the Mexican insurgency named him as editor in the independence newspaper Correo Americano del Sur.

To the history by Sahagún he added one of the relaciones of Fernando de Alva Ixtlixochitl, selected by him for the passionate spirit which it displays against the Spaniards.

Bustamante published it with a large appendix, under the title Los tres siglos de México bajo el gobierno español hasta la entrada del Ejécito Trigarante (Three Centuries of Mexico Under the Spanish Government until the entry of the Army of the Three Guarantees).

[9] In addition to the autobiography mentioned, and the light shed by his other works, the Diccionario universal de Historia y Geografía (Mexico, 1853), contains an exhaustive account of the man.

The historian Lucas Alamán wrote biographical material on Bustamante, putting in relief especially his private character and the virtues of his domestic life.