Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/353

Rh independent existence by New Spain was not admitted by any European Power, and was loudly denied by the Mother country, was found to be by no means an easy task.

To trench too suddenly upon the privileges of the Holy See, and to attempt to exercise, at once, the right of Patronage formerly vested in the King, without the possibility of obtaining the confirmation of the Pope, was thought too dangerous an experiment in a country, where a compliance with the popular prejudices of the day rendered it necessary to insert, as the third article of a Constitution, (liberal enough in every other respect,) a declaration that the exercise of no religion but that of the Church of Rome should be tolerated within the territories of the Republic.

Under these trying circumstances, great prudence was necessary, and great moderation has been shown. The clergy, in every instance, have preferred the interests of the order in general, to any prospects of individual advancement.

Far from insisting upon hasty, or premature changes, the old Spanish Dignitaries have not only been allowed to retain undisturbed possession of their preferments, but even vacancies have not been filled up, in the hope that the speedy conclusion of a Concordat with the See of Rome would give the Government a right of Patronage, to which not even the most zealous Catholics could object.

Of the probability of such an arrangement there