Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-05-04
AFFAIRS OF MEXICO.

Mexico, having achieved her indepcn.
dencc from Spain, after brief trial of an
imperial form of government, constituted
herself Democratic Federal Republic,
and adopted the Constitution of is: 4, by
which the country was divided into i. IS,
each with its Legislature and Governor,
elected by the people, and the supreme
executive and legislative power was placed
in the hands of President and general
Congress, also elected by the popular
voice.
Since that time a struggle has been GO
ing on between the arstocratical elements,
together with the army and the clergy, on
| the one side, to overthrow this form of
Government, and the mass of the people,
on the other, to uphold it. At first, the
part taken by the clergy was secret, but
its influence always suficed to turn the
scale against the successful and permanent
establishment of free institutions. Later,
this influence was exercised with less re-
serve and more unscrupulousness, and in
the last struggle of three years, open war
has been proclaimed between the clergy on
the one side, and the people on the other.
From time to time since 1924 the Consti-
tutional order has thus been overthrown,
and again for longer or shorter periods it
has been established.
Taking up the thread of events at the
beginning Of the year 1854, we find that
at the commencement of that year the Re-
public was under the rule of Santa Anna,
exercising irresponsible power under the
name of President, but with the title of
"Sereno Highnoss." The States were
turned into Departments, and governed by
military Commandants, named by the
President; and the supreme Legislative
and executive powers of the nation were
exercised by the President and his Coun
Gil of seven Ministers. Santa Anna was
the unscrupulous ally of the Church
which waxed fat and naughty in the exer,
else of almost unlimited power over the
consciences and the purses of the people.
Dissatisfaction at this state Of things every
where prevailed, and the people were with
difficulty kept down. Rumors of imperial
aspirations on the part of Santa Anna be-
gan to spread, and this coupled with the
growing cxtortions and increasing power
of the Church, gave birth to the revo ution
of Ayutla.
Commencing on the lst of March, 1854
this revolution of the people, by sponta
neous rising everywhere throughout the
Republic, reached successful issue by the
flight of Santa Anna and the establish
ment of Provisional Government undel
Gen. Alvarez, at Cuernavaca, on the 4tl
of October, 1855. On the 18th of thu
same month, proclamation was issued
calling an election for members of Con
gress, to meet "for the purpose of recon
" stituting the nation under the form of {
"popular. representative, democratic Re
"public," This Congress met on the lStl
of February, 1886, aud, after prolonged
and full discussions, adopted the COnsti
tuition now become famous for the late Ion!
, and deadly struggle of the people in it
defense, and which is known as the Con
stitution Of 1857, Proclaimed on the l2tl
of February of that year, it went into eff
feet by its own provisions, as the supreme
= law Of the land, Oh the 10th of Septem
ber, when a new Congress, elected unde
{ its provisions, opened its sessions, and
President, chosen by the people under tn
same authority, was installed in Office.