of government.[1] There was much dissension among the members, Rayon's failure at Toluca contributing to bad feeling; for Rayon laid the responsibility of the failure on Liceaga for not keeping him supplied with ammunition. Liceaga, on his side, in a letter to Rayon, showed much displeasure at the appointment of Cos as vicario castrense.[2] Rayon's defeat at Tenango still more increased the ill feeling, and tended toward the dispersion of the junta, which soon followed. Rayon, foreseeing that Castillo would soon come against them, prevailed on his colleagues at Tiripitio to separate, Liceaga going to Guanajuato as general of the northern provinces, and Verdusco to Michoacan as general of the western division, while Morelos should have command of the south, and Rayon himself retire to his own home, Tlalpujahua, to fortify it, and carry on thence operations in the province of Mexico.[3] All were to raise as many troops as possible.
These measures accomplished, they were again to meet at such place as should be agreed upon. Informed that Castillo had begun his march from Toluca on the 16th of June, Rayon departed next day for Tlalpujahua, taking with him the printing materials, artillery, and everything of value that could be trans-
- ↑ Padre Bringas, in his arguments against Doctor Cos' plans, says that Liceaga and Verdusco during the holy week observed the same ceremonial as the viceroy at the cathedral of Mexico; and that Verdusco presented him self to receive the communion in a general's uniform with a clergyman's stole. Alaman, on the authority of Father José María Salazar, a friar of San Diego, denies the statement, saying that Verdusco appeared simply in his ecclesiastical robe. Hist. Méj., iii. 150. Among the junta's acts was one appointing Doctor Cos vicario castrense, who removed several priests from their parishes, arrested and sentenced to the chain-gang some ecclesiastics, and granted marriage dispensations. This brought out an energetic decree of the diocesan chapter of Mexico, declaring his acts null, and fulminating censures. This same body recommended to the viceroy the removal of Father Correa from Nopala, and the deprivation of his prebend in the colegiata of Guadalupe from Doctor Velasco. Both priests were excommunicated for having joined the insurgents. Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 709, 711.
- ↑ Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., ii. 122; Bringas, Impugn.; Alaman, Hist. Méj., ii. 443-5.
- ↑ An act to that effect was adopted on the 16th of June, and published by edict, and in El Ilustrador Americano of the 20th of June. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., iv. 280-1; Negrete, Mex. Sig. XIX., v. 260-2; Alaman, Hist. Mej., iii. 149-53; Rivera, Gob. Mex., ii. 41.
hist. mex., vol. iv. 27
