Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/262

 224 MEX I CO. sident, who shall publish and circulate it without observation (Article I67.) The ensuing Congress, in the first year of its ordinary ses- sions, shall discuss the report submitted to its deliberation ; and make such reforms as it deems expedient ; but no change can ever be made by the same Congress which declares its expediency. (Article 168.) In addition to the rules prescribed in the preceding Arti- cles, all the forms usually observed in the enactment of laws must be adhered to in the case of each change in, or addition to, the present act. (Article I7O ) The Articles of this Constitution, which establish the liberty and independence of Mexico as a nation, its religion, and form of government, the liberty of the press, and the division of the Supreme Powers of the Federation, can never be varied. (Article I7I and last.) Mexico, Oct. 4, 1824. REMARKS. The principles of the system, some account of which has been given in the preceding pages, are too generally under- stood to require comment. It is certainly well adapted, by the subdivision of the governing powers, to a country of such vast extent as to render the transmission of orders, from any central point, dif- ficult, and uncertain : and thus, although in other respects Monarchical institutions might have been better suited to the habits, and previous education of the Mexicans, I am inclined to think that, both in the institution of local governments, and in the advantages which these Governments have derived from the immediate example of the United States, the adop- tion of the Federal system will be found to have been pro- ductive of many good effects. It has given to Mexico the benefit of our own experience in the science of government, as well as of that of the Americans, and substituted at once