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Show LEADING 4 MEXICAN OF NEW FACTS HISTORY TERRITORY ot in on the 24th of February, 1822, this congress . Imcons a titution. drafting i of Mexico for the purpose President between began struggle a mediately ee ITURBIDE Iturbide and the members of the congress, ‘a EMPEROR finally culminated in the election of Iturbide as emperor on the 19th day of May, 1822. He 2ist day of July following.* Oe ii ok oe 1899, Iturbide dissolved the constituent congress by force and created the national instituent council : junta. This body was installed three days later. Meanwhile tt e masses of the people and many officers of the army were much dissatisfied. General Santa Anna revolted, proclaiming, in the name of the nation, a republican government, and declaring that the three guaranties of the plan of Iguala must be inviolably observed. From pe ees > et ee ee ed Pe eddete RIE i held. and i a AGUSTIN ELECTED 1 Bancroft, H. H., History of Arizona and New Mexico, vol. iv, pp. 7 a ‘*Elaborate preparations were made for the coronation of the emperor ane consort. The commissioners appointed to draw up the regulations and oe a to be observed at the ceremony had handed into congress the result of thet " bors more than a month before. In the impecunious condition of the cite : was impossible to manufacture crowns and other Insignia of royalty ae priately magnificent. But display must not be wanting, so jewels a .a were borrowed, and though the national pawn-shop refused to lend its es 50 and pearls, the regalia were bright and glittering with fictitious sp nr When the eventful day arrived the city was gay with many colors, as a balconies and windows fluttered banners and streamers and pennons; Ww of a ee oe Sy cat ert ee eg eer ae e rer SeSy ot ta dee the walls were decked with floral wreaths and devices in fresh ore ET flags waved from church towers and turrets. The congress met at eight 0’¢ ae “a ; and two deputations, each composed of twenty-four members, proceeded “ 2 provisional palace to escort the emperor and empress to the cathedral. “a on two raised daises, one lower than the other, thrones had been erected, ; the right and left of which were seats for the ‘venerable’ sire and the pau and princesses of this mushroom monarchy. The procession which accompanie the royal presence along the carpeted streets was as imposing as inexperience, by the aid of imitation, could make it. There were masters-at-arms ushers, pages and maids-of-honor in gorgeous attire, and a master of the and ceremony with his suite of attendants. On velvet cushions were borne the royal ap with which the imperial couple were about to array themselves, and the signe ring and the Sceptre, and the patch-work crowns. At the entrance cathedral two obsequious bishops received the emperor and empress and istered to them the holy water. and the ceremoni hig Mangino, ead, who Then they were conducted to the lower thrones The regalia were placed on the altar ve h Iturbide and his spouse were consecrayg : , and assumed the royal robes. the president then of the performed with to the admin Congress, his own now The regalia having been blessed, placed hands the the diadem act of on Iturbide’s eoronation of the empress. Thereupon they ascended the thrones on the higher dais. conclusion of the service the officiating bishop, in a loud ; voice, exclaimed, ‘Vivat Imperato r in aeternum! ’ and the people replied, and empress,’ ’? ‘Long live the emper? OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO December 5, 1822, and other generals The only official consequence to the D until they were finally successful, Santa Anna remained in arms against the empire. act, during the reign of Iturbide, of momen t or people of New Mexico, so far ag record ed, is what is known as the ‘‘Colonization Law of THE COLONIZATION Iturbide,’’ which was passed by the national LAW OF ITURBIDE council on J anuary 3, 1823, and on the day following was signed by the emperor and promulgated. This act provided for two kinds of grants ; the one to promoters called empresarios, who should bring in two hundred families under contract with the executive, and the other to individuals to be made by the common councils, called ayuntamientos. On March 7, 1823, the constituent congress, which had been dissolved by force of arms by the emperor, recon vened, and on the 19th of March, Iturbide presented his abdication to that body. The congress refused to allow him to abdicate, but on April 7 , 1823, declared that his coronation had been an act of force and violence and void, as were also hereditary succession and all titles that had emanated from the crown.? The colonization law of Iturbide seems to have been a matter of great concern to the people and their repres entatives in the constituent congress, for within a week after the promulgation of the decree of banishment for Iturbide, the congress passed an order suspending this colonization law until such a time as a new act or resolution on the subject might be enacted. Under the plan of Iguala it was expressly proclaimed that all officials then in New Spain, or Mexico, wheth er political, ecclesiastical, civil, or military, should remain and exercise the same func2 Mex. Col. Ley. Fund., 115: '* The coronation of D. Agustin The decree de Iturbide of banishment was as follows: of right, there is no oceasion to discussbeing the work of violence and his abdication of the crown. onsequently the hereditary succession and the titles emanating from the Coronation are declared null; and all acts of the government from May 19th to March 29th are illegal, remaining subject to the revision of the existing fovernment for approval or revocati on. 3. The Executive measures for the Speedy departu re of D. Agustin de Iturbide power shall take from the territory of the nation. 4. This shall take place at one of the ports of the Mexican Gulf, @ neutral vessel being chartered at the state’s expense to convey him and his family such Place as he may designate. annually are to assigne d to D, Augustin de Iturbide 5. During his life $25,000 payable in this capital, on the condition that he establish his residence at some point in Italy. death his family shall enjoy After his a pension of void or pensions of the montepio $8,000 militar.’’ under the rules established |