Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/519

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ADMINISTRATION.
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A similar result obtained in the formation of the provincial assembly. According to the constitution, each intendencia could regard itself as a province and choose its own assembly;[1] but the definition not being very clear, the intendencias united to elect one body for the whole country.[2] At the election of deputies to the córtes in Spain,[3] each intendencia acted for itself. Owing to the wide control of the insurgents, the representation of one for every seventy thousand souls was attained only in certain provinces, and here the Indians were almost wholly disregarded, and the Europeans nearly so, mestizos joining the creoles in controlling the choice which fell mainly on ecclesiastics and lawyers.[4] When the time came for sending the deputies, the viceroy declared that no funds could be spared for their expenses; they who wished to go must do so at their own cost. Only a few could afford to undertake the journey, and so the representation faded to a shadow.[5]

The change in the administration of justice began in May. Special tribunals were abolished with a few exceptions, such as army and church, and the audiencia was deprived of extra-judicial privileges. Prom-

  1. To be composed of a president, intendente, and seven members. There was a vagueness in art. 332, however, which left the impression that the president was the viceroy, now known as gefe superior, and which implied that New Spain was but one province. Consult further the text in Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., i. 375, etc.
  2. Mexico chose two, one for itself and one for Oajaca, which being wholly in the hands of Morelos, could not take part in the election. The two were Provisor Alcocer and J. M. Fagoaga. For rules governing the body, see Mex. Col. Dec. y Ored., 91-5, 103-4; Gaz. de Mex., 1813, iv. 446. The guadalupes reported the result joyously to Morelos. Bustamante, Campañas Calleja, 177. Election was performed by an electoral college, constituted by a secondary vote.
  3. The election for Mexico began July 4th, and ended on July 18th. Of the 41 partidos in this province, only 22 appointed electors, 29 in number, who chose 14 deputies, whereof 9 were lawyers and 5 ecclesiastics.
  4. Caste distinction was sharply discussed at the time in the córtes, partly owing to the exclusion of negro blood from equality. Córtes, Diario, xx. 319, etc. Comment on election influences in Pap. Var., clviii. pt 56, 1-4.
  5. From Mexico only two were sent, and those partly by way of expulsion, as they were deemed dangerous to the public peace, Canon Alcalá and Licentiate Cortazar. Alaman, Hist. Méj., in. 423. In Córtes, Actas, 1813, i. 62, the representation from New Spain proper is put at 11, and from the provincias internas at 2, Yucatan being counted by itself.