222 MEXICO. by Arbitration, in any stage of the proceedings, nor shall be allowed to commence an action without having had recourse, previously, to the Judgment of Conciliation.* (Articles 155 and 156.) GENERAL PRINCIPLES WITH REGARD TO THE STATES OF THE FEDERATION. 1. The Government of each State shall be divided in a manner similar to that of the Federation. (Article 157-) The State Legislatures shall determine the time, for which all public offices within the State, shall be held by their re- spective constitutions ; (Article 159 ;) as likewise the mode in which justice shall be administered in all civil and criminal cases, in which the supreme jurisdiction belongs to the State Tribunals. (Article 160.) 2. The obligations of the States are, to organize their Go- vernments and system of internal administration, in conformity to the Federal Act. 3. To observe and enforce the general laws of the Union, and the Treaties concluded by the Supreme Government with Foreign Powers. 4. To protect their inhabitants, respectively, in the full enjoyment of the liberty of writing, printing, and publishing, their political opinions, without the necessity of any previous license, revision, or approbation. 5. To deliver up criminals reclaimed by other States. 7. To contribute towards the liquidation of the debts recog- nized by the National Congress.
- This Judgment of Conciliation was one of the few, the very few,
really good and useful provisions of the Spanish Constitution. It prohi- bited any two parties from commencing a law-suit, until they' were pro- vided with a certificate from a Constitutional Alcalde, (not a lawyer) stating that a judgment by Arbitration or Conciliation, had been tried before him in vain.
