for September, the small town of Chilpancingo, which was now raised to the rank of city, under the name of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion.[1]
A main object of the congress was to frame the long-mooted constitution; and to this Morelos also gave a certain direction by drawing up rules for the proceedings of the assembly, and determining a number of vital questions, one conferring on army officers the power to nominate from among the four captain-generals a generalissimo, in whom was to be vested the executive authority, with full powers. Under the circumstances, this was equivalent to appointing himself.
In these steps he had been guided greatly by the draft for a constitution prepared by Rayon early in 1812, and which aimed above all to perpetuate the actual council. According to Rayon's plan sovereignty, emanating from the people, stood vested in Fernando VII., but was to be exercised by a national American council of five members, elected by the provinces and gradually renewed by the change of one member yearly. For the present, vacancies were to be filled by elections made by the existing members.[2] A congress chosen every three years by the municipalities should exercise legislative power, though subject to the decision of the council, which
- ↑ Afterward called de los Bravos from being the birthplace of these insurgent heroes, but the original native name reasserted itself. It was a quiet agricultural town, embracing 8,000 inhabitants within the distended municipality, which stretched along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre coast range and covered also some mining ground.
- ↑ In accordance with the agreement made Aug. 21, 1811, whereby the renovation by election should begin only after the fall of Mexico.
los, Col. Doc., v. 133-4. On following pages are the affirmative replies from different towns. The convocation was based on formal representations from Oajaca, headed by Bustamante, showing the need for such an assembly. Text of document and votes upon it in Id., vi. 487-74. In reply to Rayon's remonstrances Morelos pointed out that a congress could no longer be deferred, and that no other section of the country offered a secure meeting place. 'Seria, no ménos que grande absurdo aguardar otro año, cuando ya no tengamos un pueblo libre del enemigo, en que celebrarla.' He had no personal ambition, such as the presidency, and would abstain from further acts as soon as the council was established. See also letter reproduced in Negrete, Méx. Siglo XIX., v. 512-14, and dated Aug. 5th. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 212, 99, etc.
