conceded the presidential seat whenever he attended the sessions of the junta, whether by inadvertency or design, seated himself in the chair in the centre, leaving that on its left to be occupied by the president of the congress.[1] The breach of etiquette might have been passed over in silence but for the jealous interference of Pablo Obregon, a deputy for the province of Mexico, and decidedly hostile to Iturbide. With more spirit than caution, he emphatically claimed observance of conventional rules. The disagreeable mishap was adjusted by the condescension of Odoardo; Iturbide retained the seat,[2] and the oath was duly taken; but none the less was the germ of discord sown. Thus terminated the first session of the first congress of independent Mexico. The two following days were devoted to public festivities, and to the reception of the tribunals and corporations which hastened to offer their felicitations on the auspicious event.
On the 27th, congress commenced its more serious labors. Its members were almost immediately divided into three distinct parties, namely: the Bourbonists, who rigidly sustained in all its articles the plan of Iguala, and wished to erect a constitutional monarchy with a prince of the house of Bourbon as king; the Iturbidists, who likewise adopted the plan of Iguala, with the exception that they desired to place Iturbide on the throne; and the republicans, who ignored the
- ↑ The other four members of the regency occupied seats on the right and left of these chairs. Bustamante, who was seated near by, states that Alcocer was the cause of Iturbide's taking the first seat. 'Iturbide á quien guiaba Alcocer osciló sobre el que deberíá tomar: pero este le dijo con voz regañona que todos oimos este, este, y le indicó con la mano el principal.' Id., vi. 44. This question of etiquette had already been discussed and decided, the righthand seat being assigned to the president of congress, and that on the left to the president of the regency. Gac. Imp. Mex., ii. 50-1. The reverse positions would virtually have ceded to Iturbide the right to preside whenever the two powers deliberated together.
- ↑ Alaman incorrectly states that Iturbide vacated the seat in silence and took the other one. Hist. Méj., v. 496. The author of Még. Bosquejo Rev., 153-4, says that no change was then made, but the mistake was rectified in future; and such is the inference from Bustamante's account: 'Salióse del paso por la moderacion del presidente Odoardo.' Cuad. Hist., vi. 44.
