such powers, in matters of war and treasury, was discussed, and Comonfort was advised to appoint ministers before formally bringing the subject before congress. He did not heed the advice. José M. Cortés y Esparza, as acting minister of gobernacion, applied for unlimited authority, and encountered the greatest opposition, many of the deputies not deeming that the situation actually required it. Comonfort then resolved to assume it, and indeed he needed full powers, for the reaction, though constantly receiving heavy blows, was not crushed. It kept consciences troubled, recruited proselytes, and without scruples as to means, maintained alive the fire of sedition. Congress refused to allow the president to move outside the law, and yet granted the governors extraordinary powers. Comonfort still acted prudently, appointing a cabinet,[1] who had some conferences with committees of the congress, and the difficulties were done away with, though charges had been already preferred against the president. The report on ample powers was much discussed, however, and greatly opposed as unnecessary; but certain acts of the reactionists made their necessity clear enough. Congress, however, refused to grant all that was asked for, and on the 3d of November suspended only certain clauses of the constitution till the 30th of April, 1858.[2]
- ↑ Minister of relations and chief of the cabinet, Juan A. de la Fuente; of justice, ecclesiastical affairs, and public instruction, Manuel Ruiz; of the treasury and public credit, Manuel Payno; of war, José García Conde; of fomento, Bernardo Flores; and of gobernacion, Benito Juarez. The last named took possession on the 3d of Nov.; the others had done so on the 20th of Oct. Méx., Мem. Насіenda, 1870, 1053-4.
- ↑ The constitutional articles suspended were nine: namely, freedom of speech, of the press, of assembling, and of bearing arms; respect of domicile; the term of detentions; guarantees in criminal proceedings; application of penalties by civil authority, and use of property, etc. The government was also empowered to borrow six million dollars on as easy terns as possible. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., iii. 1008-13; Buenrostro, Hist. Prim. Cong. Const., 160, 163-70, 175-87; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 644-9. Minister Juarez in a circular stated that it was not the governinent's intention to suspend these guarantees in all the states at once; and that it would use the extraoråinary powers only when indispensable. In fact, we are assured that at the public discussion in congress it had been said that they were allowed 'por solo la confianza que inspiraba la presencia de Juarez en el gabinete.' Juarez, Biog. del Ciud., 20.
