Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/771

Rh Moreover, the provinces themselves were divided into factions, and anarchy for a time prevailed. At the instance of certain towns in Guatemala, a considerable force, under the command of the brigadier Vicente Filisola, had been sent by Iturbide in November to maintain order. In the midst of the confusion a communication, addressed by Iturbide on the 19th of October to Gainza, the captain-general of Guatemala, and setting forth the advantages of annexation, was printed and circulated in all towns, and an order issued for the popular vote to be everywhere taken on the matter. On the 5th of January the votes were counted, resulting in an immense majority in favor of immediate union with Mexico. When this fact be came known to the imperial government, it was necessary to provide for the representation of Central America in the congress, and as the proximity of the installation would not admit of the formally elected deputies arriving in time to be present at it, the government adopted the plan of appointing forty substitutes, natives of Central America, resident in New Spain, to represent those provinces. These were to resign their seats to the deputies as they arrived.

The provisional junta, now about to give place to the national congress, during the five months of its existence had committed many glaring errors. In the first place it had assumed prerogatives which did not belong to it, and its appropriation of the title 'soberana junta' and that of 'your majesty,' by which it was ceremoniously addressed, was nothing less than a usurpation. No sooner was it installed than it arrogated to itself faculties more extensive than those enjoyed by the Spanish córtes. While its duties were clearly limited to the appointment of a regency, the convocation of congress as speedily as possible, and to the regulation of such matters only as admitted of no delay, it at once launched itself upon a comprehensive course