Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/480

464 subdistricts, all of whom the government could have reliance on. But under the constitution the system was reversed; it behooved the ayuntamiento to aid the alcalde in protecting life and property and preserving public order. The difficulty now was this: how could the preservation of order be left to the very persons most interested in disturbing it? This state of suspense lasted till the 3d of December, the viceroy's saint's day, San Francisco Javier, when the recently chosen electors, taking to themselves un due importance, called on him to present their con gratulations, and he received them with marks of displeasure. The Pensador Mexicano, of which mention was made before, had been declaiming in several numbers against the government. It had extensively expatiated on the complaints of the Americans, demanding an armistice, in order to let those who had taken up arms be heard, and then wait for the decision of the national córtes. In the number of December 3d, while pretending to felicitate the viceroy, it was insulting; and speaking of the edict of June 25th, justly called the sanguinary edict, it ended by asking in the name of the clergy and their flock that it be revoked. The viceroy hesitated no longer. He summoned the justices, fiscales, and alcaldes del crímen to a consultation, which lasted several hours, and was advised by twelve of the thirteen functionaries that he should suspend the freedom of the press. In the edict published on the 5th of December were given the grounds for the suspension, and the old laws and regulations were restored, the