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Show nds ee * . e we ed 7. #2..¢ eee ee ee oe eePe ‘ et ee a ee = "0! hed.e eee or ee > eae Pt he ome Oe a as eed eee ee ee ed Ne en st hte es a. per Pe eeMm HeiReet Pea prerr ae a $8 | a Sar eee ee ee Ba te HES “~ ee ee Seis Pree Oe at et ee e ee tee at PiPe PY Set ~ 5.6 -028~ Te a er ne ee TERRITORY PIT TTT RET EL or Pest nl eee a es ae ote wey Se * 4350W ae ee Tauren OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 9 of the Spanish Cortes of March 18, 1812, the renewal of which was ordered by the law of June 17, 18283. Under the Mexican republic there was little change in the form of government which had previously obtained in the territories, but it seems that the jefe politico or gobernador PEPUTATIONS AND somewhat arbitrarily controlled all branches of AYUNTAMIENTOS the government. The territorial deputation was a sort of legislature, more like the common council of an American city government, composed of four or six members. After the adoption of the constitution of 1837, this body was known as the junta departamental, and later on was called the asamblea. According to Barreiro the territorial deputation was of little force and there is but slight record of any of its acts. Under the Spanish régime there were alcaldes mayores, but under the republic these were changed into ayuntamientos in the larger towns, while the smaller settlements had only ordinary alcaldes. According to Pino only Santa Fé, Santa Cruz de la Cafiada, and Taos had ayuntamientos. The territory was entitled to representation in the congress of the republic but we know of only two men having filled that position, Don Jose Antonio Chavez and General Chavez, for many years a resident of Rio Arriba county, New Mexico. It has been said that General Diego Archuleta was also a deputy in the congress but there is no official record of his election to or participation in the deliberations of that body. The only tribunals of justice were those of the alcaldes or justices of the peace. From the decision of this class of officials there was an appeal to the supreme court sitting at JUDICIAL TRIBUNALS Chihuahua. The course of litigation was exceedingly simple, so far as the proceedings before the alcaldes was concerned. The plaintiff made a verbal complaint or demand to the alcalde, whereupon the latter would order the complainant to summon the defendant. The service of this summons was a very simple matter as all that was required was a verbal announcement by the complainant to the defendant that he appear forthwith before the alcalde.® If the defendant saw fit to refuse to obey this simple mandate, which was a very rare occurrence, the alealde would send to him his baston de justtcia, or 9 Gregg, Josiah, Commerce of the Prairies, B., Investigations and Researches: i, pp. 233-234; Bloom, Lansing |
