power for inspecting and revising all financial matters.[1]
The council of state had to frame bills, decide in ministerial disputes, and give advice. The private cabinet, forming the medium of communication for the sovereign, comprised two departments, for civil and military affairs.[2] The country was divided into eight military districts,[3] each in charge of a chief, and at times placed temporarily under a commissary for correcting abuses by officials, inspectors being also appointed to make tours through departments for the same purpose. The departments, fifty in number,[4] were to be ruled by prefects appointed by the emperor, and guided by a departmental council.[5] Districts were placed under sub-prefects,[6] also assisted by councils, and municipalities with no less than 3,000 inhabitants were governed by ayuntamientos, popularly elected.[7] Smaller municipalities were controlled by comisarios.[8] There were five grades of tribunals, of which the
- ↑ Including those of municipalities and other public bodies.
- ↑ Each under the care of a chief. See also Méx., Reg. Gabinete, 3-18.
- ↑ Besides these, whose commanding generals at the time are named in Diar. Imp., April 10, 1865, sup., there were formed two great 'commandements,' the first at San Luis Potosí, embracing the north-east provinces, under Douay, the second at Durango, for the north-west, under Castagny; a third was proposed in the south, under L'Hériller; but Bazaine not giving enough troops, it was abandoned. Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 505-6.
- ↑ List in Almanaque Mex., 1867, 43; Arrangoiz, Méj., iii. 274. Varying in size from that of Valle de Méjico, with 410 square leagues and 482,000 inhabitants, to that of California with about 8,400 square leagues and 12,000 inhabitants, the most populous being Guanajuato, with over 600,000 people upon an area of 1,452 square leagues, and the least Mapimí, with 6,700 people upon 4,500 square leagues. This evidently unequal division, of Guanajuato at least, was influenced by ministerial courtesy, says Arrangoiz, the minister of fomento being a native of the latter department. Méj., iii. 275. The capitals were also badly selected in several instances, for significance and position. The existing division, fixed in 1857, embraced 22 states, 6 territories, and the federal district.
- ↑ Of five members selected by the supreme government from the nominations of the prefect.
- ↑ Appointed by the prefect, subject to approval.
- ↑ Varying from 5 to 19, according to the population, and half of it renewed every year. Every Mexican over 21 years, and with honest livelihood, could vote.
- ↑ Appointed like alcaldes, by the prefect. For a special treatise on local administration, see Trigueros, Ramos Municip., 1-66. By decree of Oct. 12th, three maritime prefectures were created, at Vera Cruz, Acapulco, and Mazatlan.
