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Rh report that the government was negotiating a treaty to sell the Californias, Chihuahua, New Mexico, and a part of Sonora. The governors of states nearest to Querétaro who could easily come there had been invited by Peña to hold conferences on the 10th of November. Those of Puebla, Querétaro, Michoacan, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and the vice-governor of Zacatecas came. Jalisco accredited a commissioner. The governor of Mexico failed to appear. Those governors closed their conference in the middle of December, declaring that they would sustain the federal government in the fulfilment of its duties.

Anaya surrendered the executive office on the 8th of January, 1848, to the person designated by the constitution, namely, the president of the supreme court, Peña y Peña, and took charge of the portfolio of war, ever acting in accord with his successor, who continued his labors to secure a peace. He earnestly urged the assembling of congress without delay, hoping that the deputies would not forsake their country's interests at this time of tribulation. The governors were asked to coöperate to that end, and were assured that the administration would endeavor to avert the military occupation of the states yet free, by negotiating a treaty of peace which should not tarnish the national honor and dignity. With all these exertions, on the 1lth of January only eight senators and 26 deputies had come to Querétaro.