Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/96

80 senseless stupidity of the people in thus spending their lives and substance to minister to the follies of Spain's licentious and imbecile rulers.

In regard to his government, the viceroy fully believed that his conciliatory policy toward the discontented would allay any spirit of revolt that might exist; nevertheless, he deemed it right to carry out the measure adopted by his predecessor for the maintenance of public tranquillity, and on the 21st of September, 1809, permanently established the court initiated by Garibay, under the name of junta consultiva. This court, which Lizana named the junta de seguridad y buen órden, was composed at first of three members of the audiencia and a fiscal, and its jurisdiction extended to all cases of French tendencies and infidelity to the crown of Spain.

Hitherto the independent party had formed no concerted plan of operation. The arguments, however, which had been employed by the partisans of Iturrigaray, and their opponents, suggested ideas which led to the belief in the possibility of independence. The former, in defending Iturrigaray's character from the aspersion of disloyalty, urged that had he established an independent nation, it could not long have continued as such. Whether Spanish or French arms prevailed, an invincible force would quickly be sent against the revolted colony. Their opponents in reply imprudently endeavored to prove that Mexico could well sustain her independence. The force of their arguments was such that the more eager of the