Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/45

Rh Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco — then spelled Xalisco — Mexico, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Oajaca, Puebla de los Angeles, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sonora and Sinaloa under the title of Estado de Occidente, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Vera.Cruz, Yucatán, and Zacatecas. The two Californias, Colima, and New Mexico were admitted as territories. for future decision, and finally, on the 24th of November, the congress decreed that it should also be a territory.

The states proceeded to frame their constitutions, making them conform with the general one. In a note I give the dates on which each adopted its organic law.

Among the last acts of the constituent congress was the creation of a federal district. During the work of framing the constitution no thought had been given to the establishment of a capital or place of residence for the supreme powers of the republic, it being taken for granted that the city of Mexico was the natural capital of the nation. But no sooner had the state authorities become established than differences arose with the governor, Melchor Muzquiz, and it was decreed by the national congress, on the 18th of November, that the city, including a radius of two leagues from the centre of the main plaza, should be under the exclusive control of the general government, which was to appoint a governor to exercise Tlascala's position was left open