even to preach against them. Nuns also again formed themselves into communities. On the night of May 20th the governor of the district caused two hundred nuns, who were living in community in Mexico City, Guadalupe, and Tacubaya, to be turned into the streets. At the same time about seventy Jesuits, friars, and servitors were arrested. The executive, on the 23d, by virtue of the faculties extended to him by the 33d article of the constitution, ordered the banishment of nineteen Jesuits. They appealed, however, for protection to the district judge, who granted it to them. But this was of no avail, for the supreme court annulled his decision in their favor on August 19th.[1] Though the press and the greater portion of the intelligent public approved of these proceedings, the passions of the lower orders were excited, and the severe treatment of the nuns evoked wide sympathy. At a later date — by decree of December 1, 1874 — the sisters of charity were expelled from the country, a proceeding which was regarded by many as unnecessarily severe.
On May 31st the term of the sixth constitutional congress expired. One of its last acts, and by far its most important one, was the approval, on the 29th, of the reform laws proposed as additions to the constitution of 1857. By these reforms the church and state were declared independent of each other, and freedom of religion proclaimed; marriage became a civil contract; no religious institution could acquire real estate or hold mortgage thereon; the religious oath was done away with, an assertion on the part of a witness that he would speak the truth being only required; forced labor was forbidden; and the liberty of man, in respect of labor, education, and religion, declared inviolable. As a consequence, the law neither recog-
- ↑ Consult Riva Palacio, ut sup., 168. 258-60, 291-2; El Federalista, June 4, July 29, and Aug. 1, 1873; El Monitor Rep., May 22-25, July 29-30, and Aug. 21, 1873. Jesuits were also expelled by the senate from Puebla, and some disagreement occurred between the legislature and the governor, who sought to protect them. Id., Mar. 25-26, Apr. 5, 6, 10, 24, Aug. 23, 1873.
