the same time striking a blow at many aspirations, was not well received the soldiers, and erelong their displeasure was manifested in an alarming manner.[1] All discretional powers given to divers generals during the war were revoked by the same general order.
General Diaz, out of deference to the president's wishes, accepted the command of the eastern division for a limited time; at the expiration of two months he retired to private life.[2] The discretional powers vested in Juarez were by him applied to several other uses in the promotion of the country's interests.[3] The government now had an opportunity to carry to completion the intended reforms, and to reconstruct the political edifice. The reorganization of the several administrative branches was a long task, much pruning being needed to retain in service only competent and useful men. It was of paramount importance to establish the judiciary, and Juarez did so at the earliest opportunity, appointing Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada president ad interim of the supreme court.[4] Another decree made valid all judicial acts passed during the existence of the empire, the lawyers and notaries who took part in them being restored to the exercise of their offices. Marriages contracted during the same period were also validated.[5]
- ↑ The claims of these soldiers of the republic were neglected. Riva Palacio, Hist. Adm. Lerdo, 23-6. The president, however, decreed on the 5th of Aug., 1867, special decorations to honor their services. Dublan and Lozano, Ley. Mex., X. 36-7; Boletin Rep., Aug. 16, 1867.
- ↑ When he surrendered the command of the late besieging army, which exceeded 20,000 men, all had been paid in full; he had also covered other large expenses, and still had in hand a balance of over $315,000, which he turned over to the general treasury. After his return to Oajaca his pay as a general of division was tendered, but he refused it signifying to Juarez that he would not return to the service as long as the government pursued a constitutional course. Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 334-5.
- ↑ Privileges for constructing railroads on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and from Mexico to Vera Cruz, were renewed special schools of medicine, jurisprudence, engineering, fine and mechanic arts, agriculture, and for the deaf and dumb were created.
- ↑ The associate justices, also provisionally appointed, were Pedro Ogazon, Manuel M. Zamacona, Vicente Riva Palacio, José M. Lafragua, Mariano Yañez, Pedro Ordaz, Guillermo Valle, Manuel Z. Gomez, Joaquin Cardoso, and Rafael Dondé. See the decree of Aug. 1, 1867. Méx., Col. Ley., 1863-7, iii. 302-6; Boletin Rep., Aug. 4, 1867; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., x. 32-3.
- ↑ Decrees of Aug. 20 and Dec. 5, 1867. Id., 62-6, 209–10.
