Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/522

506 The defects revealed in the constitution of 1812, and to be expected from its experimental nature, were seized upon as weapons by its opponents. The audiencia took the lead in a lengthy representation to the córtes, of November 18th, explaining the origin and growth of the rebellion, which now affected nearly all natives of the soil, and pointing out the inapplicability of the constitution to the colony, with its mixture of races, interests, and feelings. Afraid to expose the defects of the law itself, they preferred to instance the bad results of its partial enforcement, and the danger of carrying out the full text in the midst of civil war. The people were intent on independence, and would regard any concession as due to fear, using it to promote their ultimate object. The country would inevitably be ruined and lost to Spain unless decisive measures were taken to suppress the rebellion, by endowing the viceroy with necessary freedom of action under previous laws. Only when this had been effected should reforms be introduced.

The argument of the oidores that the constitution favored the independence movement, under present circumstances at least, was not entertained by all Spanish residents. The ayuntamiento of Vera Cruz, which, owing to the exceptional local influence of the merchants, was of a European stamp, but firmly devoted to the liberty party in Spain, insisted that the full enforcement of the constitution would tend to quell the revolution by removing all cause for discontent.