Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/546

516 The discussion began to grow warm, and it was insinuated that the Viceroy was nothing more than a mere Captain-General of a province, not entitled, as such, to dispose, in any way, of the revenues of the State, which belonged exclusively to the Real Hacienda; and this error, originating in our new laws, and fomented by the factious, to whom nothing could have been more advantageous than such a division of power, was about to precipitate us into an abyss of misfortunes. I had foreseen these evils, and the point to which the Provincial Juntas would carry their pretensions; but the scandalous occurrences which took place in Yucatan, where the Provincial Deputation, after disembarrassing itself of the authority of the Captain-General, decreed, and actually carried into effect, a project of free trade, by throwing open all the ports to Foreigners, without taking into account its dependence, in all financial matters, upon this Viceroyalty,—confirmed my suspicions, and made me accelerate the declaration of the paramount authority of the Viceroy throughout the kingdom, and of the submission due to him by all the Deputations, supported by the opinion of a number of ministers, and lawyers, as will appear by the inclosed copy of the decree.

(Refusal of the Junta of Monterey, capital of New Leon, to acknowledge Don Joaquin Arredondo, as Military Commandant, and Gefe Politico, of the Internal Provinces, or to furnish him with necessary supplies.)

Such is the vacillating and depressed state to which I have seen myself reduced here:—without power, without authority, without representation, or dignity,—deprived of that assistance which the Audiencia has always afforded by its Dictamenes, and Acuerdos, to my predecessors;—subjected, in some measure, to the legal opinions of a Fiscal, and Auditor, and consequently unable to consult any one but them on the most critical occasions;—without a sufficient number of troops to extinguish the rebellion at once;—without money, or reliance upon the public corporations;—struggling, at the same time, with the armed bands of the rebels, and the machinations of secret traitors;—trying to restrain the insolent disobedience of the one, and the hardened fanaticism of the others; in the midst of a confusion of ideas with regard to the government, with