This act was the signal for revolt throughout the country: it was adopted by all the Provinces in rapid succession, and by most of the Military Commandants. Amongst others, by the Marquis of Vibanco, then commanding a large body of troops at La Puebla, and by Generals Guerrero and Bravo, who left the Capital in order to proclaim the new system upon their old scene of action in the West. General Nĕgrētĕ likewise joined the Republican army, and defection soon became so general, that Iturbide, either terrified by the storm which he had so unexpectedly conjured up, or really anxious to avoid the effusion of blood, determined to attempt no resistance.
On the 8th March, 1823, he called together all the members of the old Congress then in the Capital, and tendered his abdication, which was not accepted, because there were not at the time members enough present to form a house. On the 19th of March, he repeated the offer, and stated his intention to quit the country, lest his presence in Mexico should serve as a pretext for further dissensions. The Congress, in reply, refused to accept the abdication, which would imply (they said) a legal right to the Crown; whereas his election had been compulsory, and consequently null: but they willingly allowed him to quit the kingdom with his family, and assigned to him a yearly income of twenty-five thousand dollars (about five thousand pounds) for his support.
