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710 principles and the establishment of a future government. This was the celebrated Plan de Iguala, which I epitomize in a note. Art. 1. The religion of New Spain is and shall be the Roman Catholic Apostolic, without tolerating any other. 2. New Spain is independent of the old, and of every other power, even of this continent. 3. Her government shall be a moderate monarchy, under a constitution specially adapted for it. 4. The emperor shall be Fernando VII.; and should he not present himself within the time the córtes shall fix, to take the oath, then the infante Cárlos, Prince Francisco de Paula, the archduke Cárlos, or any other member of the reigning family that the córtes may designate, shall be called to occupy the throne. 5. Pending the meeting of the córtes, a junta shall provide for convening them, and for the fulfilment of this plan. 6. The junta gubernativa must be composed of the members named in the official letter to the viceroy. 7. Till Fernando VII. comes and takes the oath, the junta shall govern in his name; all orders he may issue shall be held in suspense till he has taken the oath. 8. Should Fernando not come out, the junta shall govern in the nation's name till there be an emperor. 9. This government will be sustained by the army of the three guaranties, of which more hereafter. 10. The córtes shall resolve to continue the junta, or substitute a regency till the emperor's arrival. 11. The córtes shall frame at once the constitution of the empire. 12. All inhabitants, whether white, African, or Indian, are qualified to hold office. 13. Persons and property shall be respected and protected. 14. Secular and regular clergy shall be upheld in their fueros, preëminences, and estates. 15. All offices and public employés shall be continued as heretofore: only such officials as oppose this plan being removed. 16. A protecting army, to be called Ejército de las tres garantías, shall be created to prevent at all hazards any violation of such guaranties. 17, 18, and 19 refer to the organization, privileges, and duties of the army. 20. Offices shall be bestowed provisionally in the nation's name on the most meritorious. 21. In criminal trials the Spanish constitution shall be observed till a Mexican one has been promulgated. 22 and 23 provide against conspiracies, and for the treatment of conspirators. 24. The córtes shall be constituent; and the deputies be chosen with that view; the junta fixing rules and time. ''Gaz. Imp. Mex., i. 81-4; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., v. 116-18; Liceaga, Adic. y Rectific., 434-7; Mex. Col. Ley. Fund., 4-9; Noticioso Gen''., 1821, Oct. 3, supl. 1-2; ''Gac. de Guad., 1821, July 21, 33-4; 1822, May 29, 402-3; Iturbide, Breve Reseña, 11-17; Alaman, Hist. Méx''., v. app. 8-13; ''Ward, Mex. in 1827'', i. app. 5257; ''Mex. Diario Cong. Constituy''., ii. 498-502.

The troops at Iguala pledged themselves to support the proclaimed plan, and the following day was fixed for the administration of the prescribed oath to the officers and men, which was solemnly carried out.

No time was lost in laying the proceedings before the viceroy, and Iturbide addressed two letters to him, one official, and the other confidential, in which he