Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/801

Rh To preserve at least a shadow of the legislative power, Iturbide established a junta, which he styled 'instituyente' composed of forty-five members selected from the deputies of the dissolved congress. The installation took place on the 2d of November, Castañiza, the bishop of Durango, being elected president. In such an assembly, the tool of course of the emperor, was vested the legislative power until the meeting of a new congress, for-the convocation of which regulations were to be formed by it without delay. But the business most urgent was to find some means of raising money. Nor did the junta nacional instituyente waste time, but on the 5th passed a decree ordering a forced loan of $2,800,000. As the collection, besides being attended with trouble, would be a slow process, and as there was then lying at Perote and Jalapa nearly $1,300,000 belonging for the most part to Spaniards who had left the country or were on the point of departure—money awaiting safe conduct to Vera Cruz for shipment to Spain—Iturbide seized it and applied it to government purposes, a proceeding which brought down upon him much censure, and alienated the good-will of many.