Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/104

84 The executive gave the force of law to all of Forey's decrees to the 25th of June, including one to outlaw malefactors and bring them to trial by a French court-martial. This act displeased a large number of citizens, who could not see the propriety of Mexicans being tried by French officers. The fact is, that the triumviri forming the executive were controlled by their French superiors. The order of Guadalupe was restored by decree of June 30th, on the plea of respect for Pope Pius IX., who had sanctioned it, and for the foreign sovereigns and distinguished personages on whom it had been conferred.

The junta superior appointed the so-called notables who were to constitute the assembly, and, conjointly with the above-named body, were to meet on the 8th of July, to determine the future form of government. It is hardly necessary to say that the SO-called notables were, with a few exceptions, who also called themselves monarchists, the mere tools of the reactionary plotters. Teodosio Lares was chosen president, and Álejandro Arango y Escandon and José

17 Decrees of June 20th and July 1st. Mex., Boletin Ley., 1863, 57-8, 95-6. ''General Forey, Coleccion Completa de los Decretos Generales Expedidos por. . .Mexico'', 1863, 8vo, pp. 40, contains a collection of decrees issued by General Forey, the principal of which order a reduction of import duties, the confiscation of the property of persons taking up arms against the French intervention, the appointment of a commission to regulate the matter of municipal property sold at inadequate prices, as also the privileges of the press. Others relate to the organization of the government and the establishment of courts-martial for the suppression of banditti.