them the enjoyment of whatever they may plunder while amongst them.
152.—The Consulado, which comprehends the majority of European residents, demanded passports for all its members in the event of the liberty of the press being re-established.
154.—But if it be impossible to execute, at present, the article of the Constitution which relates to this point; it is still more so to carry into effect those respecting popular elections.—The experiment, nevertheless, was made. In a country where a hundred persons cannot meet without some disturbance, seven millions of men were called together, with all the air and outward pomp of absolute sovereignty, in virtue of a law which could never have been intended to apply to such extraordinary circumstances.
157-8.—In the elections for Mexico a thousand intrigues and informalities occurred, which ought to have invalidated the whole proceeding.
159.—The result, however, was, that not a single European, or an American distinguished by his patriotism,[1] was returned as elector. On the contrary, men were chosen who were well known for their attachment to the Independent cause;—men who had opposed all loan or donative to the Mother-country; men who had voted for the Independent Juntas in 1808, or signed the representation of the clergy alluded to in Par. 41.
160.—The rebels had good reason to celebrate these elections, as they did, with salvos of artillery, and Te Deums, for they proved, (as they have themselves said,) "that Mexico, and the whole kingdom, were in their favour, and that resistance would be no longer possible, since the power was in the hands of Creoles, who would force the Audiencia to be silent, or hang the Oidores and all the Gachupines together."
171.—The Viceroy's attempt to calm the agitation of the public by conciliatory measures proved utterly fruitless.
172.—The elections were just what was to be expected from the character of the electors. The two Alcaldes, the two Syndics, and sixteen Regidores, of whom the Ayuntamiento
- ↑ Patriotism is, of course, used by the Audiencia to express devotion to the cause of Spain; as Patriotas were Royalist volunteers.
