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304 exclusion of all others" (Article 3), and in the excessive precautions which it has been thought necessary to take against the possibility of encroachment on the part of the President.

The first of these is the natural consequence of a long apprenticeship, served under the most bigoted nation in the universe: the second arises from the circumstance of an Iturbide having been first placed at the head of affairs. In 1824, when the Federal Act was framed, the sceptre was but just wrested from his hands, and, for a long time, it seemed doubtful whether the Congress would resolve to entrust the Executive power to a single individual again. Three were appointed during the Interregnum, to exercise the functions of President; but the inconveniences of a Government thus constituted were felt in time, and the absolute necessity of a change reconciled the Chambers to the risk.

Of Religion I shall have occasion to speak more at large in the third Section of this book; it only remains therefore, for me here to call the attention of my readers to the laudable anxiety which the Mexican Constitutional act displays, for the general improvement of the country, by disseminating the blessings of education, opening roads, establishing copyrights, patents, and the liberty of the press, founding colleges, promoting naturalization, and throwing open the ports to foreign trade, abolishing the torture, arbitrary imprisonment, confiscation of property, special commissions, retroactive laws,