obstacles and impediments which are yet opposed to it in different points of the federation.

In fact, there unfortunately exists amongst us a portion of men, who are born enemies of republicanism; who are incapable of being reconciled, or of making peace with any thing but that despotism in which they place all their hopes; and for the restoration of which they indefatigably labour, and who would erect their throne of iron and ignominy on the tomb of Freedom. Collected on different points, they form at each a focus of hostility and re-action against the system by which we are governed. They contrive and modify plans, and even seductive plans, but all destructive of order and liberty. They send forth artful agents, who traverse the states to make proselytes, and to concert with men of their own sort. Finally, they circulate printed papers and manuscripts, more or less calumnious, for the purpose of throwing discredit on the principal authorities and officers of the government.

Fortunately for the republic, the plans of these men have been opportunely discovered and hitherto defeated; but, animated by an inveterate hatred against every thing wearing the character of liberty, and pledged to prosecute their designs at all risks, they have by a last effort succeeded in complicating to a certain degree their interests with those of opposing parties; thus dexterously forming, for a certain time, an alliance with the enemies of their views and projects. Accordingly, we have recently seen them interspersed among those who have for their subject of declamation, that the present system and our independence are in danger. In this way the friends, the partisans, and strenuous promoters of the late empire are suddenly converted into zealous patriots, active republicans, and decided federalists.

Fellow-citizens,-It is your liberty is aimed at-against it all the malignant shafts are directed. The design is to root it out from your soil. Your independence, indeed, though VOL. I. No. I.

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constantly opposed, was never less menaced than now--not for want of good will on the other side of the Atlantic, but because the obstacles to the accomplishment of that purpose are constantly increasing. If we thought there were danger of being again enslaved by our former oppressors, would we not have solemnly announced that danger to the nation? Would not the cry of alarm have resounded throughout the whole of Anahuac? Would you not have already called for contributions and extraordinary resources, in order that we might assume an imposing attitude against any invader? No, fellow-countrymen, it is not invasion which the inexorable enemies of public order who live amongst us dread. It is true they proclaim that apprehension: under that pretext they intrigue, alarm, and conspire. We repeat, they do not now fear becoming the victims of Spain, but they would be glad to see the empire re-established. They do not dread foreign despotism, but they are willing to introduce and set up a domestic tyranny. They are not afraid being tied to the car of Ferdinand, but they would gladly see enthroned the idol to which they look for their own aggrandizement. Do not imagine that it is the public good which excites them; private interest is their ruling principle; it carries them away and makes them lose all self-control.

Such is the impulse by which these men are urged into unbridled licence against the government. Such is the stimulus which instigates them to spare no calumny, however gross and ridiculous, in attacking it-calumnies by which they hope to bring the government into disesteem, and deprive it of moral force, being aware that if distrust could be excited ́in the people, disaffection would follow. Hence they wish for confusion, dissension, or a convulsion-in a word, a civil war; in order, in the violence of the conflict, when parties should be most bitterly irritated against each other, to present suddenly the tyrant as a saviour-as a point for rallying around, in the same manner as persons sinking are glad to catch at

any thing by which they may hope to escape the threatened danger.

For our own part, it has been our good fortune never to have had any intercourse with the enemies of our country. Since the event of Dolores, we have constantly been in the ranks of freedom and independence. Called to govern, we have governed under the law. Some of us have at different times descended from the supreme command to obey blindly as the lowest soldier. If these pledges are not sufficient, who can present better claims to confidence? Can those who, from motives of ambition and interest are constantly conspiring? Can the chiefs and agents of the imperial government, who lacerate the bowels of their country, whose conduct disgraces the nation in the eyes of foreigners, and who by their agitations and re-actions do all they can to weaken Anahuac, and to inwite its ancient dominators to make it again their ? prey

Fellow-citizens,-You who wish to have a country, and that that country should prosper and maintain an honourable name, awaken; do not allow yourselves to be taken by surprise. On the one hand, you have the Sovereign National Congress, the Congresses of the respective states, men at the head of the government who have never abandoned the cause of the nation; and with them are the industrions, the friends of order, and all good citizens. On the other hand are men who have done little or nothing for the public good-pretenders of every class, without any merit-persons who regard no country, but as it serves their interest-robbers and assassins by profession. To which side do you turn? Where ought you to bestow your confidence? For whom do you decide? Speak; but in a manner irrevocable; and let your voice forever overawe the artful and malignant seducers.

For ourselves, already pledged to observe and to cause to be observed, the constituent act, nothing can induce us to vacillate, or to retrocede from a resolution to which we have bound ourselves by a solemn oath. If necessary, we know

how to die; but while a breath of life animates us, we shall exert ourselves to consolidate the present system; and we will inexorably prosecute, without distinction of persons, whoever may, directly or indirectly, attempt to subvert it.

MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ. VINCENTE GUERRERO.

Mexico, May 29.

PROCLAMATION

Of the General in Chief of the Army of Operation to the inhabitants of Jalisco.

Fellow citizens-I have at last arrived at the capital of your states; and in my conduct, and that of the troops under my command, you have seen a refutation of the impostures and calumnies of the factious men who dared to represent me as an oppressor of our country's freedom. You have seen with your own eyes, that the respect due to your persons, your homes, and your properties, has not been in the slightest degree infringed; that in the exercise of my commission, I have only employed the high powers which the constitution vests in the supreme government of the federation; and in no way have I interfered in subjects that belong to your separate government.

For my own part, from the time that I planted my foot on the frontiers of the territory of Jalisco, I have only had opportunities of admiring the social qualities which in general constitute your character; and my mind, in contemplating your docility, your courage, and your respect to the laws, and the force of the state, is excited and moved by the powerful and pleasing feelings of country. Its declared enemies, imputing crimes to the supreme authorities of the nation, en

deavoured to rouse against it; and the majority of you, without lending ear to the cry of the passions, remained tranquil, lamenting in silence the public misfortunes. They endeavoured to make you my enemies, and to arm you against your friend, while both I and the forces under me, experiencing the most distinguished hospitality, have scarcely had occasion to lament the follies of an insignificant faction. They endeavoured to represent my troops as the instruments of tyranny and oppression, while you, remembering the small services which we have rendered to the public cause, saw in them only the soldiers of their country-defenders of order and liberty. They endeavoured, in fine, to untie the bonds of an ancient family, to break the bonds of the federal union, and to convert this land, favoured by Heaven and Nature, into a field of mourning, of tears and sorrow; while you, always true-hearted, always patriotic, refused to participate in the plans of those who are selfish, turbulent, or haters of freedom.

Such was your conduct in the lamentable days of madness and disorder, when the unchained passions of some threatened to destroy every thing, and dug a grave for order and liberty. It is thence to be inferred, that when you find yourselves protected by a respectable force which has given so many proofs of its love to your federal institutions, to harmony, and to union, you will continue to afford an example of citizens worthy of the name, and of true republicans.

In the same manner, my ulterior operations and public conduct among you will be consistent with those which you have hitherto witnessed, and will proceed on the truths and principles which, from various points of my march, and with the frankness which belongs to my character, I have expressed to the Congress of the state, and declared in the face of its inhabitants, of the whole nation, and of all the world. I then protested, that to defend you against tyranny, to preserve you from disorder and licentiousness, to establish among you public confidence, to render effectual the harmony which