the provincias internas signed the constitution. Had all this come in time, and in the right way, her colonies might have been saved to Spain. But it was too late. Justice and humiliation were now not enough; she must pay the penalty of her past iniquities. The cost of such an immense representation, and the transportation of the deputies from 2,000 to 6,000 leagues every two years, were points not without consideration.[1]
The córtes proceeded at once to carry out the constitutional clause that created a council of state, making the appointments of councillors, however, only one half the number. Among the American appointees were José Maríano de Almansa, of Vera Cruz, and Melchor de Foncerrada, of Mexico. The constitution, with the order to proclaim and carry it into effect, reached Viceroy Venegas on the 6th of September in the correspondence brought by Llano's expedition from Vera Cruz. After the subject had been duly considered by the viceroy, council, and several corporations called upon for their advice, it was on the 28th published by royal edict with the usual solemnity. On the 30th the viceroy, audiencia, and other authorities residing at the capital, assembled in the reception-hall of the palace; the constitution was read by one of the king's secretaries, and all officials present made oath to keep it. Then followed salvoes of artillery and ringing of bells, while a concourse of people filled the plaza. Religious ceremonies in the cathedral and other official acts fol-
- ↑ The consulado of Mexico said that the 'desamparo de las casas, la molestia y peligros de largas navegaciones,' would keep in constant distress a number of the best families. It also refers to the enormous expense that the transportation and support of the deputies must entail. Mier, whose computation was rather low than exaggerated, sets down the deputies from the ultramarine provinces at 143, besides one third that number of suplentes; the consulado, including the castas, gave 250 deputies and eighty suplentes, costing yearly $1,300,000, besides the expense of transportation.
to the royalist cause, fighting with remarkable zeal against the insurgents. Moreover, a number of descendants from negroes had been ordained as priests; there were others filling honorable positions, and the majority of them were useful men tilling the soil and working the mines.
