of five sufficed to pass laws. The first act was to give sanction to the tumultuous acclamation by the army officers in favor of Morelos as generalissimo, a position created by himself with full knowledge that the nomination, almost wholly from among his own men, must fall upon himself, and that the deputies then present would confirm it.[1] The office embraced the executive power, and was to be held so long as the occupant showed fitness for it, with perfect freedom for granting honors and promotion, and with the title of highness, although Morelos preferred to call him self the servant of the nation.[2] The judicial power remained for the present vested in existing tribunals, headed by the congress itself, but a meeting of advocates and learned men was to be called at an early opportunity to elect judges for a supreme court of the same number as the deputies, and with the same term and pay.[3]
The rules issued by Morelos for the guidance of.
- ↑ Yet he pretended to refuse. For list of voters, see Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 177-8. Glowing encomium on Morelos in Bustamante, Elogio Morelos, 20, etc. This took place on September 15th, Verdusco presiding to insure the result. Bustamante, Cuadro, ii. 385-6, 391-5, deplores the military intimidation of the congress, and points to the now clouding star of the leader. 'Desde este instante se fijó la época de las desgracias y desaciertos del Sr Morelos.' Vicario-general Velasco, who started the nomination, was made mariscal de campo, although expecting a deputyship, and sent to Oajaca, as a riddance. Thence he drove into exile two canons, who thereupon carried disastrous revelations to the royalists.
- ↑ The military had to elect his successor, the command devolving mean while upon the next in rank. The congress should assist with arms and money. Warned perhaps by the Texan occurrences, he insisted that no foreign troops should approach the seat of the congress. The execution issued the decrees of the congress, assisted by two secretaries, who in this case were Rosaina and J. S. Castañeda. Further details in the regulations already cited, arts. 14, 25, 45, etc.
- ↑ The judiciary list includes Morelos' secretaries. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 159. An ecclesiastic tribunal would decide in clerical affairs, at present pertaining to the jurisdiction of bishops, and also promote the welfare of the church.
or other outside duties, and in accordance with this rule the captain-generals, except Morelos, were retired, although retaining their title. The secretaries of the body received the title of señoría, with which retired deputies had also to be contented. See additional articles in the regulation issued by Morelos. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., vi. 207-11. The secretaries of the body were C. Zárate and C. E. del Castillo. To its title of Supremo Congreso Nacional Americano was at times added Gubernativo.Gaz. de Mex., 1815, vi. 1105. Coat of arms used by congress given in Soc. Mex., 2d ép. iii. 49; crude descrip. in Zamacois, Hist. Méj., ix. 793.
