national independence. By this act Bustamante, Quintanar, and others who had caused disturbances in Jalisco and elsewhere were relieved of all responsibility for their past proceedings.[1] Whatever fears might be entertained of the minister's abusing such powers under other circumstances were quieted by the general recognition of Victoria's circumspection and benevolence.[2]
Among the acts of the constituent congress was that of declaring the constitutionally chosen justices of the national supreme court. They were all prominent citizens of the capital and states. The first president of the court was the licentiate Miguel Doiminguez, till lately a member of the executive.[3] The constituent assembly closed its sessions on the 24th of December to make way for the first constitutional congress, which began its labors on the 1st of January, 1825.[4] It must be stated to the credit of the former that it not only accomplished much in a short time, but also showed much judgment and tact.[5] The senators and deputies chosen for the constitutional congress, during the interval of peace, were men of sound judgment and moderate views; among them were several of the members of the constituent chamber.
- ↑ Bustamante, who must have his shot at Victoria, says that the president ·blundered in granting those pardons: 'empezó á hacer sus alcaldadas, como la de dejar impunes á Bustamante y Quintanar por las fechorías qé hicieron en Guadalaxara.' Cuad. Hist., MS., viii. 262; Id., Hist. Iturbide, 242, 270.
- ↑ The first cabinet was constituted as follows, and held office during the terms appended to the respective names: Minister of relations, interior and foreign: Juan Guzman, chief clerk, Oct. 10, 1824, to Jan. 11, 1823; Lúcas Alaman, Jan. 12, 1825, to Sept. 26, 1825; justice, Pablo de la Llave, Oct. 10, 1824, to Nov. 29, 1825; treasury, José Ignacio Esteva, Oct. 10, 1824, to Sept. 26, 1825; war, Manuel de Mier y Teran, Oct. 10, 1824, to Dec. 18, 1825.
- ↑ Dominguez was a native of Guanajuato, and had been 'corregidor de letras ' of Querétaro, an office that brought on him much trouble, as has been recorded in the early history of the Mexican revolution. He was a learned and upright man, and a good statesman. His death occurred April 22, 1830. Bustamante, Voz de la Patria, ii, no. 25, 6-7.
- ↑ The president of the republic and his ministers were present at the opening, and mutual congratulations passed between the executive and the congress. Id., ii. no. 6, 1-2; Mex. Col. Leyes, Órd. y Dec., iii. 138, 163; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, ii. 369.
- ↑ Alaman, Hist. Mej., v. 815, though disapproving the federal system which that congress established, speaks of it in eulogistic terms.
