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CONSTITUTION AND REFORMS.

Let us now retrace our steps to glance at the general political situation. The clergy of Puebla were resolved to obstruct at all hazards the execution of the Lerdo law; whereupon the government adopted stringent measures. Excommunications were fulminated, but they produced little effect. The transfers of estates went on, though slowly, owing to the conscientious scruples of some and the fear of political persecution on the part of others. Several riots broke out in spite of official vigilance, and numbers of ecclesiastics and military officers had to go into exile.[1]The restless Vidaurri had revolted on the northern frontier, seizing Saltillo and Matehuala; under his name many disturbances occurred. He was favored by San Luis Potosí, now a reactionist centre, which kept up correspondence with other large towns, the capital included, and was offering money to win over the government troops. The whole country was in turmoil. No sign of revolution appeared in the city of Mexico, however, till September; on the night of the 14th a lady gave the president particulars of a seditious movement that was to break out on the national anniversary during the civic procession. Further evidence being obtained, on the night of the 15th the Franciscans were arrested, and their convent being occupied by an armed force, a number of conspirators, some of whom were friars, fell into the hands of the government.[2] In view of this, the ex-

    later than three months after the summons, and the legislatures have the character of constituent, to form or reform their state constitutions, as well as of constitutional bodies to legislate during their session. The governors for once were authorized to employ coercive or other expedient measures to cause the citizens to exercise the right of suffrage granted them by the constitution. Zarco, Hist. Cong. Constituy., ii. 1017-31: Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., iii. 161-85; Buenrostro, Hist. Prim. Cong. Const., 1-22; Diario Debates, 9 Cong., i. 30-2; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 384-99, 409-18, 426-7, 480-1.

  1. Nineteen prominent clergymen were banished. La Cruz, ii. 621, ii. 126. The clergy of the diocese were also, by decree of August 16th, assessed one million dollars damages. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1856, July-Dec., 81-4; Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., ii. 300-3.
  2. 'Sorprendiéndose in fraganti delito y en los claustros y celdas del mismo convento, muchos conspiradores, y entre ellos varios religiosos.' Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., ii. 357-8.