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MEXICO. 225 good practical securities for the liberty of the subject, in lieu of vague theories, and still more vague discussions, upon his abstract rights. Most of the Articles of the Federal Act are transcripts of corresponding articles in the Constitution of the United States. There is, however, an occasional mixture of the old Spanish leaven, which displays itself more particularly in the esta^ blishment of the Roman Catholic and Apostolic faith " to the exclusion of all others" (Article 3), and in the exces- sive precautions which it has been thought necessary to take against the possibility of encroachment on the part of the President. The first of these is the natural consequence of a long apprenticeship, served under the most bigoted nation in the universe : the second arises from the circumstance of an Itur- bide having been first placed at the head of affairs. In 1824, when the Federal Act was framed, the sceptre was but just wrested from his hands, and, for a long time, it seemed doubt- ful whether the Congress would resolve to entrust the Exe- cutive power to a single individual again. Three were ap- pointed during the Interregnum, to exercise the functions of President ; but the inconveniences of a Government thus con- stituted were felt in time, and the absolute necessity of a change reconciled the Chambers to the risk. Of Religion I shall have occasion to speak more at large in the third Section of this book ; it only remains therefore, for me here to call the attention of my readers to the laudable anxiety which the Mexican Constitutional act displays, for the general improvement of the country, by disseminating the blessings of education, opening roads, establishing copyrights, patents, and the liberty of the press, founding colleges, pro- moting naturalization, and throwing open the ports to foreign trade, abolishing the torture, arbitrary imprisonment, confis- cation of property, special commissions, retroactive laws, and VOL. I. Q