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MISRULE AND OVERTHROW OF SANTA ANNA.

The result was the installation on January 6, 1843, of a body of eighty prominent centralists,^[1] who proceeded energetically to work and produced bases for the political organization of the republic, which was formally sanctioned by the government on June 12th, and adopted with imposing ceremonies — the sugar coating of the pill. xxx representative system, yet the franchise, limited to an income of not less than $200, excluded a great part of the population;^[2] the election was subjected to a triple filtering process, during which the government could find ample opportunity to influence it, and the departments continued to be left almost wholly at the mercy of a central government, which appointed the governors and indirectly the subordinate officials, the departmental assemblies being merely councils with the power of a municipal police.^[3] Deputies for congress were required to possess an income of $1,200 and senators $2,000. Of the senate, one third was chosen by the three supreme powers and the rest by the departmental assemblies, which also elected the It declared for a popular

↑ Termed the junta nacional legislativo, with Valencia for president and Quintana Roo for vice-president. Decree with list of names in Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., iv. 352-6. Rules for internal government in Méx., Reglam., 1843, 1-20; Pap. Var., lxxxiii. pt 4. The proceedings of the body are reported in Siglo XIX., Diario Gob., and other journals. The preliminary meetings began on Jan. 2d.
↑ Together with domestic servants, and, after 1850, those unable to read and write.
↑ Deputies to the lower house were elected for 4 years at the rate of one for 70,000 inhabitants; the senate was composed of 63 members, one third from the industrial classes, including merchants, the rest from distinguished men. The congress sessions began on Jan. 1st and July 1st; during the recess sat a deputation of 4 senators and 5 deputies. Four ministers and a perpetual council of 17, appointed by the president, assisted the government. Laws required the sanction of two thirds of the congressional members. The departmental assemblies consisted of from 7 to 11 members, also limited by the clauses affecting deputies. Governors were appointed by the president from at least 5 nominees presented by the assemblies. The supreme judges were, like the president, elected by the assemblies. For full text, see Méx., Bases Orgán., 1843, 1-45. Signed by over 60 members, headed by Baranda as president, and sanctioned by Santa Anna and the four ministers. Also in Méx., Col. Leyes Fund., 228-03; Constituciones, i. pt 4; Vallejo, Col. Doc. Mex., ii. no. 472. Preliminary projects in Méx., Proyecto Bases, 1-51; Pap. Var., clvi. pts 1, 3. Reports and comments in Id., 1xxxiv. pts 1-3; Méx., Observ. sobre Proyecto, 1-16; Ramirez, Mem. Hist. Tehuan., 13-15; Guadal., Observ. Bases. Liberty of the press was declared, but subject to enough restrictions to prevent despotic interference.

[1] Termed the junta nacional legislativo, with Valencia for president and Quintana Roo for vice-president. Decree with list of names in Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., iv. 352-6. Rules for internal government in Méx., Reglam., 1843, 1-20; Pap. Var., lxxxiii. pt 4. The proceedings of the body are reported in Siglo XIX., Diario Gob., and other journals. The preliminary meetings began on Jan. 2d.

[2] Together with domestic servants, and, after 1850, those unable to read and write.

[3] Deputies to the lower house were elected for 4 years at the rate of one for 70,000 inhabitants; the senate was composed of 63 members, one third from the industrial classes, including merchants, the rest from distinguished men. The congress sessions began on Jan. 1st and July 1st; during the recess sat a deputation of 4 senators and 5 deputies. Four ministers and a perpetual council of 17, appointed by the president, assisted the government. Laws required the sanction of two thirds of the congressional members. The departmental assemblies consisted of from 7 to 11 members, also limited by the clauses affecting deputies. Governors were appointed by the president from at least 5 nominees presented by the assemblies. The supreme judges were, like the president, elected by the assemblies. For full text, see Méx., Bases Orgán., 1843, 1-45. Signed by over 60 members, headed by Baranda as president, and sanctioned by Santa Anna and the four ministers. Also in Méx., Col. Leyes Fund., 228-03; Constituciones, i. pt 4; Vallejo, Col. Doc. Mex., ii. no. 472. Preliminary projects in Méx., Proyecto Bases, 1-51; Pap. Var., clvi. pts 1, 3. Reports and comments in Id., 1xxxiv. pts 1-3; Méx., Observ. sobre Proyecto, 1-16; Ramirez, Mem. Hist. Tehuan., 13-15; Guadal., Observ. Bases. Liberty of the press was declared, but subject to enough restrictions to prevent despotic interference.

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