Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/556

526 10. The formation of the constitution by the congress, and the oath of the Emperor to observe it, must precede his entry into the country.

11. The distinction of castes is abolished, which was made by the Spanish law, excluding them from the rights of citizenship. All the inhabitants of the country are citizens, and equal, and the door of advancement is open to virtue and merit.

12. An army shall be formed for the support of Religion, Independence, and Union, guaranteeing these three principles, and therefore it shall be called the army of the three Guarantees.

13. It shall solemnly swear to defend the fundamental bases of this plan.

14. It shall strictly observe the military ordinances now in force.

15. There shall be no other promotions than those which are due to seniority, or which shall be necessary for the good of the service.

16. This army shall be considered as of the line.

17. The old partisans of Independence who shall immediately adhere to this plan, shall be considered as individuals of this army.

18. The patriots and peasants who shall adhere to it hereafter, shall be considered as Provincial Militia-men.

19. The Secular and Regular priests shall be continued in the state in which they now are.

20. All the public functionaries, civil, ecclesiastical, political, and military, who adhere to the cause of Independence, shall be continued in their offices, without any distinction between Americans and Europeans,

21. Those functionaries, of whatever degree and condition, who dissent from the cause of Independence, shall be divested of their offices, and shall quit the territory of the empire, taking with them their families and their effects.

22. The military commandants shall regulate themselves according to the general instructions in conformity with this plan, which shall be transmitted to them.