CHAPTER IV.
MONARCHISM.
1863.
Government Measures — Junta Superior de Gobierno — Provisional Executive — Forey's Acts Legalized — Order of Guadelupe — Asamblea de Notables — Its Inauguration and Subserviency — Creation of a Throne — It is Offered to Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg — Regency of the Mexican Empire — Monarchial Schemes in Mexico — They are Continued in Europe — French Prevarications — Spanish Aims — Selection of Maximilian — How Effected — His Past Record Action of the Austrian Emperor — Policy of the United States
The work of establishing a government under French supervision was initiated with Forey's decree of June 16, 1863, authorizing the nomination by the emperor s minister, Saligny, of thirty-five Mexican citizens to form a Junta Superior de Gobierno, that is to say, a governmental board,[1] to elect by absolute majority three citizens, who were to form the chief executive authority.[2] The junta was likewise clothed with power to choose 215 Mexican citizens, without distinction of rank or class, aged twenty-five years and upwards, and in full possession of all their civil rights, who, associated with the junta superior, were to constitute an Asamblea de Notables. The duty of this
- ↑ The junta was to meet two days after the publication of the decree of its appointment, presided over by the senior in age, and the two junior members were to act as secretaries. Mex., Boletin Ley., 1863, 48-54; Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 292-3.
- ↑ Two suplentes, or substitutes, were also to be chosen. Among other duties of the junta were to constitute itself into several sections for deliberating on affairs of the various departments of government, such as relations, treasury, war, etc.; when called upon by the executive, to sit as a general assembly to treat of matters of high import.
