CHAPTER XVIII.
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN SPAIN.
1811-1812.
Government of Spain — The Córtes and National Sovereignty — Character of the Members — The Diputacion Americana and its Policy — Its Demands and Character of Concessions — Deputy Perez from Puebla — Deputy Cisneros Asks for Mexican Autonomy and Eventual Independence — Arizpe — Mier — Forced Loan — Representation of the Consulado of Mexico — British Offers of Mediation — National Constitution as Adopted — Its Publication in Mexico — The Press — Election of Ayuntamientos — Animosity of the Natives toward the Spaniards — Constitution Practically Suspended.
The Spanish córtes, all Spanish America being represented therein, were installed as a single chamber at the island of Leon, in southern Spain, on the 24th of September, 1810. One hundred and two deputies were present. Of their number, nineteen were chosen by natives residing in Cádiz as representatives of such provinces as were then under control of the French troops, and which for that reason could not freely hold elections, and twenty-nine were elected by natives of America and the Philippine Islands then dwelling in the same province. These forty-eight representatives sat in the chamber for the time being as substitutes, or suplentes as they were called, until regularly chosen deputies from their respective provinces could appear. Those called to represent New Spain were Andrés Sabariego, lawyer; Francisco Fernandez Munilla, a retired captain; José María Couto, parish priest from Puebla; José Maria Gutierrez de Teran, a retired officer of the royal garde-du-corps; Máximo Mal-
