Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/43

Rh unite her fate with the nation they respectively represented. The former was for a time indisposed to allow her the discretion conceded to the other provinces of Central America, and she was in hourly danger of becoming a bone of contention between these two nations, or a prey to internal strife, each power having numerous partisans in Chiapas. Fortunately a more generous policy was adopted by the Mexican congress, on the 26th of May, 1824, the executive being instructed to place Chiapas in absolute liberty to make her choice. The decree was hailed by the junta suprema gubernativa of the province with demonstrations of delight. Compliance therewith was decreed June 24th, and the departments were required to clearly manifest their opinions and disband the troops. The ayuntamientos of the capital and of almost all the other towns, holding the junta in high respect, left to it the decision of the question. The partisans of Guatemala did not fail to make efforts to win the province for Central America. Opposition was also encountered on the part of the asamblea of Guatemala, and much trouble was caused by the contending elements. The junta in all its proceedings exhibited prudence, and thereby averted a revolution with its concomitant evils. On the 12th of September the junta proceeded in the presence of a Mexican commissioner to the examination and qualification of the reports of the committees named at the session of August 28th. It appeared therefrom that there were 12 departments, one of which was Soconusco, with 104 pueblos, the population being