posed that in all matters belonging to the war and treasury departments, the sovereignty of the Seville junta should be acknowledged, but not in those of patronage and justice. These views were opposed by the Marqués de Rayas and Villa Urrutia, on the ground that the sovereignty was indivisible. Although the plurality of votes was in favor of Aguirre's motion, the result was ineffective, owing to further complications caused by the arrival that same night of despatches from deputies of the junta of Oviedo, which, like that of Seville, claimed royal authority, as holders of the crown for the lawful king of Spain. 19[1] On September the 1st the viceroy summoned another council, at which he stated that Spain was in a state of anarchy, since all juntas wished to be supreme. The complication caused by the claim of two separate Spanish juntas to the supreme power led to a suspension of action, and a resolution to wait for further news was passed. But the indiscreet language of the viceroy was construed into a hint that he intended to depose Aguirre and Bataller and other oidores, [2] and it was suspected that he was fully aware of nightly meetings which were now being held by the faction opposed to him, and at which were discussed plans of overthrowing him.
Again and for the last time Iturrigaray convened a junta on the 9th of September. The main point discussed was the convocation of a general congress and the establishment of a provisional government. Great confusion marked the proceedings. Villa Urrutia was the main promoter of the idea, and to him were
- ↑ Id., i. 536; Negrete, Mex. Siglo XIX., i. 102-104. Called by Villa Urrutia 'la junta de Asturias.' Pap. Var., clvii., no. xxxiv. 7.
- ↑ Cancelada, Verdad Sabida, 30-7. The fiscal Borbon, in a long address, made use of expressions highly flattering to Iturrigaray, whom he called the vicegerent of the king. 'Bien, bien,' replied the viceroy, 'pues si yo lo soy, cada uno de V. SS. guarde su puesto, y no extrañe si con alguno, ó algunos tomo providencias.' Bustamante, in Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 235; Rev. Verdadero Orig., ii. 38. Guerra ascribes still stronger language to Iturrigaray. 'Cada uno guarde su puesto, que yo hare que todas lo guarden, y si se viere que hago alguna demostracion con algunos Señores, no sera extraño porque habra fundamento para ello.' Rev. de N. Esp., i. 93.
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