Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/181

Rh America, as had been done at Celaya, and stated that as it was his prerogative he should proceed at once to the appointment of alcaldes ordinaries. Thereupon he named José Miguel de Rivera Llorente and José María Hernandez Chico. A few days later he called an assembly of the ayuntamiento, the clergy, and principal citizens, for the purpose of appointing officers of the civil government. The ayuntamiento, however, was not well disposed to the new order of things; and when Hidalgo nominated the regidor Fernando Perez Marañon intendente, he declined the position, as also did the regidores José María Septiem, Pedro de Otero, and Martin Coronel. Hidalgo now became irritated, and when the regidores endeavored to explain that they could not reconcile ideas of independence with their oath of allegiance to Fernando VII., or the motto on his own standard, he angrily exclaimed: "There is no longer a Fernando VII.!" Finding the ayuntamiento thus intractable, without further delay Hidalgo appointed José Francisco Gomez, who had been adjutant major of the provincial infantry regiment of Valladolid, intendente of the province, with the rank of brigadier, Cárlos Montesdeoca his asesor ordinario, and Francisco Robledo promotor fiscal, giving them to understand that they must accept the appointments without demur.

The captain-general now turned his attention to the organization and equipment of his army. The cavalry was quartered in the mining establishments which had been sacked, and for the future protection of which he appointed Pedro Mariño as overseer, charged with the care of them. Two additional infantry regiments were raised; one at Valenciana, of which he appointed Casimiro Chovell colonel, and the other in Guanajuato, the command of which Hidalgo gave to Bernardo