mirez,[1] assisted by Urbano Fonseca, for justice, Márcos Esparza, for finance, and General Robles, who was retained for the war department. This quartette managed to hold its position into the following year by prudently bending before the winds, content with some slight concessions from a congress which frittered away its time in idle discussions and upon petty questions,[2] and displayed such dissension and lack of method and patriotic zeal that the ministers felt obliged to point out the need for its reorganization;[3] while more than one journal urged its suppression, or at least that of the senate, and gave wing to rumors that Arista might do so.[4]
But the idea was impracticable. With jealous discontent of states, and wide-spread dissatisfaction among the pinched soldiers, the country would not have suffered from the suppression of a body composed mainly of degenerate members, elected by intrigue and intent on pay and bribes,[5] and of those who aimed solely at thwarting a government hated by their party. A number, however, were actuated by the laudable desire to compel a retrenchment so seldom observed, although they might have used a little more judgment in their opposition, and reminded of their duties not only recalcitrant members, but the states, many of which were growing loose in their observance of the federal bond and its obligations, neglecting to
- ↑ Ramirez took possession Sept. 11th, making as usual a host of promises, among others to be guided by public opinion. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1851, 310, etc.
- ↑ The Monitor Rep., Dec. 15, 1851, in reviewing its acts during the year, inflicts a scathing rebuke, in which other journals join.
- ↑ Méx., Mem. Min. Just., 1852, 3, etc.
- ↑ The editor of Las Cosquillas had to seek a hiding-place to escape arrest. The Regenerador of Morelia and Eco del Comercio of Vera Cruz were nearly as bold. The chambers also created trouble by meddling in local affairs of states, and ordering payments where the government sought to economize. Rivera, Gob. de Mex., ii. 382; Id., Hist. Jalapa, iv. 218 et seq. Concerning prorogations, etc., see Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1851, 119, 209, 222-3; Méx., Col. Ley., Dec. y Órd., 1850-1, 200-1, 322-3, 328-9. List of congress members in Mex., Col. Мап. y Guia, 1852, 1-51.
- ↑ As the open accusation ran. While several departments were suffering from a lack of funds, congress took care in the following year to decree an assignment of eight per cent on duties for the payment of its members and of treasury officials. Méx., Legisl, Mej., 1852, 150.
