Page:Mexico under Carranza.djvu/65

Rh

 President and Vice-President were assassinated and, due to the complicity or weakness of the other powers, the nation was left without a constitutional representative. Then I, as governor of the state of Coahuila, and in obedience to the constitutional provisions, articles 121 and 128 of our fundamental charter, assumed the representation of the republic in the terms in which the constitution itself vests me with this right, and supported by the people which rose in arms to regain its liberty. In fact, the above-mentioned articles provide the following:

"'Every public officer, without exception, prior to his taking possession of his charge, shall render an oath that he will sustain the constitution and the laws emanating therefrom. This constitution shall not fail in force or vigour, even though on account of rebellion its observance may he interrupted. In the case that pursuant to a public disturbance a government contrary to the principles sanctioned by the constitution may be established, as soon as the people regains its freedom its observance shall he reëstablished and, according to it and to the laws which by virtue of it may have been enacted, those who may have figured in the government emanated from the rebellion shall be tried as well as those who may have cooperated in the movement.'

"With a view to realising the above-mentioned purposes, I have deemed proper to inform the nation upon the political conduct to be observed by the constitutionalist government, in the performance of the program of social reform contained in the decree of December 12, 1914."