gent orders were issued for Haro's arrest. A decree of March 31st provided that the governors of Puebla and Vera Cruz should seize the property of the church, and without neglecting public worship, apply the remainder of its revenue to the payment of damages caused by the rebellion to private citizens, and to pensioning widows, orphans, and those crippled by the war. The clergy, of course, made a strong protest against this law.
Though the chief points of policy and war had preferably occupied the government's attention, other matters of general usefulness were not neglected for the advancement of education, trade, and other industries.[1] Among the most important decrees was one of January 9, 1856, to hold Santa Anna, his ministers, governors, and other subordinates, responsible for their illegal acts, both to the nation and to individuals.[2]
So much expedition had been used to bring about the assembling of the constituent congress that the first preparatory meeting took place on the 14th of February.[3] The labors of the chamber were of no particular interest till the 21st, when by 72 votes against seven the decree of Álvarez that called Comonfort to occupy the executive chair was ratified.[4] This confirmation by so large a majority was equivalent to a special vote of confidence; it not only secured Comonfort's position, as it became grounded on
- ↑ Several ports were opened to commerce, and other facilities afforded to commerce, as well as to manufactures, and mining, as well as for developing education. Foreigners were given the privilege of owning real estate under certain conditions; permission issued for founding the town of El Progreso in Yucatan, and for navigating the Mescala River; the public debt was duly attended to.
- ↑ Their estates were accordingly sequestrated, and placed at the disposal of the supreme court to meet damages. No judicial costs were to be charged. Some months later Santa Anna was sentenced to pay heavy sums. Zarco, Hist. Cong. Constituy., i. 121-6; Méx., Diario Ofic., March 31, 1870; La Bandera de Ayutla, Feb. 9, 1856.
- ↑ Ponciano Arriaga was chosen its chairman, and the secretaries were Isidoro Olvera and Francisco Zarco.
- ↑ Zarco, Id., 61; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii., 129-30; Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1836, Jan.-June, 386-7; Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., i. 782-3.
