tion of the Peruvian deputy, Dionisio Inca Yumpangui,[1] that the laws of the Indies enacted by the catholic kings for the protection and advancement of the Indians should be made practical. It was ordered that this act of the córtes should be read on three consecutive days in the parish church of each town in America and the Spanish Asiatic possessions.
The discussion of the American propositions was begun on the 9th. It soon became evident that the European deputies had little knowledge of America beyond matters relating to her discovery and conquest. Even the suplentes representing America, though able men enough, knew little in regard to administration, manners and customs of the inhabitants, advance in agriculture, arts, sciences, letters, etc. Vicente Morales Duarez, from Peru, was indeed the only one who had made a study of the authors treating of American affairs. There were present, then, only the two recently arrived representatives, Perez and Guride, competent to enlighten the house. A few days later came another who took an active part, Mariano de Mendiola, deputy for Querétaro.[2] The second, seventh, and eighth propositions were passed without discussion. The first, after a warm debate, was rejected.[3] Negroes and mulattoes had not been embraced in the proposition, because a law of October 15, 1810, had excluded them. Equality of representation for future córtes was all that the Americans succeeded in obtaining for the present. The difficulty encountered by them was the inexpediency of granting equal political rights to the Indian population. Perez was accused of having urged the European deputies to stand firm for the denial.[4]
- ↑ A lineal descendant of the royal family of that country, who when a child had been brought to Spain in the reign of Cárlos III.
- ↑ The oath of office was administered to him Jan. 15, 1811. Córtes Diario, ii. 401.
- ↑ By 64 nays to 56 yeas. Id., 1811, iii. 31.
- ↑ 'Respondiendo él con su cabeza que México no lo llevaria á mal.' Guerra, Hist. Revol. N. Esp., ii. 648; Alaman, iii. 105.
