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MEXICAN CONSTITUTIONAL REGULATIONS.
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would seem to bear very little resemblance to the stability of its free institutions, and the
a mere system of "military despotism," as the permanency of the government, were rendered
Texas colonial insirrectionists assert! The wholly insecutire, and liable to eventual des.
probability is, that the people will possess as truction. The more intelligent and reflecting
much liberty, be equally as well protected in among the Mexican people, were fully sensible
the enjoyment of their inherent, inalienable of this. They found by an experience of years,
rights and privileges; and also witness more that the complicated system of government,
stability in their political institutions, and adopted by their Anglo-American neighbors,
tranquillity among themselves, under such a was not sufficiently understood by the mass of
form of government, than that of a more com- their citizens, and consequently not adapted
plicated system. to their state arid condition. In considering
When it was proposed to organize a Federal the proposal for a change in the Constitution,
Republican government in Mexico, after the the municitality of Toluca expressed the folbrief
reign of the Emperor Iturbide, delegates lowing views and sentiments:were
elected by the people to meet in conven- "eelng, therefore, the pressing and imperious
tion for the purpose. This body was denomi. necessity of terminating and hereafter preventing the
nated a "Constituent Congress," and was abuses which have frequently been made of power by
invested with autliority to frame a Constitution, theauthoritiesofthe different States--usingitformerly
in much the same way as did the "Convention" and at present in several of them to the prejudice of
which framed that of the United States of the the people, with whose happiness (the prime object
North. But in providing for fuiture amend- of all social institutions) they had been entrusted,
ments or alterations of the Constitution, whichbut whlch sacrficed to their own private innwas
subsequently adopted by the nation, the terests or to disgr-aceful passions: convinced, also,
wa- s. s. subsequently adopted by thenation,that it is indispensably necessary to adopt a mode of
calling of such conventions was dispernsed government more consistent with the establishment
with; and the necessary power was delegated of an administration so economical as to repair the
to the general Congress, to be exercised, poverty, decay, and ruin, to which the profession
should the state of the country require it, and complexions of the present system has reduced
under certain formal rules of proceeding. the country, and so stronig as to extricate it from
One of the Articles of the Constitution, grant- opprobrious and oppressive bankruptcy; to supply
ing this authority to the National Congress, is our internal wants, and restore and consolidate our
ing thesewords:-*impaired credit; opposed also to tyrannical and
in these words:-:- absolute power, whether exercised by one or more
"In order to reform or amend this Constitution persons, or by the unbiassed multitude; tired of
or the Constitutive Act, shall be observed, besides enduring sometimes heavy and barbarous oppresthe
rules prescribed in the foregoing articles, all the sion, sometimes dreadful and bloody anarchy;
requisites provided for the formation of laws, ex- desirous at length to see perpetually and irrevocably
cepting the right to make observations granted to secured the peaceable enjoyment of a moderate
the President, in article 106." national and constittutional freedom, and of the other
The Congress was thus constituted a " Con- social rights whih have hitherto been merely nonii
vention," for this especial purpose, entirely , ,
independent of the Executive. The " right to With this understanding of their state and
make observations granted to the President," condition, and this desire to improve it, in
in the formation of general laws, was the same order to secure the peace and happiness of
in principle as that of the Veto power, given to themselves and the successive generations of
the President of this republic. In the case their posterity, the change in the constitl.ubefore
us, it was withheld. It will therefore tion was proposed, Ind sanctioned voluntarily
appear, that the Mexican Congress was duly by an immense majority of the Mexican peoauthorized
to "reform or amend" the national ple. It was also finally "acquiesced in" by
Constitution, when the state of the country them unanimously, with the exception of a
should require it. Whether the actual state small fractional part of the inhabitants of one
of things did call for it, or not, is a pertinent of the states-and that fractional part composed
subject for investigation, before we join the almost entirely of foreigners, many of whom
tevolutionists in their condemnation of the had not acquired citizenship in the Republic.
measure. That body acted upon its constitu- This is the ostensible pretext, (thotigh not the
tional responsibility, and it may be presumed real one,) now urged by the Texas insurrecindependently
of all authority but that of the tionists, for waging war against the Mexican
people, -to whom alone the members were ame- goverinment. They did not pretend to have
nable for the abuse of their power. sufficient cause of complaint, to adopt measures
I have previously stated that the principles for their entire independence, so long as the
of "Nullificalion," as professed by many in hope existed that the Federal form of go.
this country, had taken deep root, and were vernmeoit could be eontinued. It is evioften
practically exemplified, in the Mexican dent, therefore, that they were not oppressed.
Confederacy. The Texas colonists, individu- Blut they deny to the great mass of the Mexican
ally, and some of the States, in their "sove.- people the right to abrogate such institutions
te.gn" capacity, acted them out thoroughly; as their own experience teaches them are
and not only were the tranquillity and pros- unsuited to their condition; unless, indeed,
perity of the nation thus endangered, but even they will give up a large portion of their