The morning call., 1890-07-06
A UNIQUE
DOCUMENT.
The Constitution Prepared by
the FilibuSterS.
Regulations for Governing the Republic
Of Lower California.
Extraordinary Powers Vested In the
Council Of Administration Pro-
visions for War.


WASHINGTON, July 5.-There have been
no further developments here relative to the
attempt to capture Lower California from
Mexico and form a separate State or repub-
lie. The controversy over this yexed ques-
tion has been transferred from here to the
sentatives of Mexico and Great Britain are
understood to be engaged in efforts to reach
a peaceful solution of the question until
some settlement is effected. Attorney
General Miller declines to make public the
contents of the report Of Special Agent
Foster. with the testimony taken, etc. Col
onel Foster this week received from friend
in Lower California copy of the constitu-
ton which the conspirators intended to
adopt for their new State or republic. At
his request the Attorney General kindly al
lowed Il representative of the California
Associated Press to make copy of it. The
constitution is as follows:
Draft OF the constitution OF the Republic OF
Lower California. Preamble-1he people of the
peninsula of Lower California, without regard 10
race or language, for tne purpose OF establishing
separate nation and political Government, free
a0d iDdependent OF The Uniled States OF Mexico,
aud with no intention or design OF annexation
either near or ultimate 10 The United States OF
America. do hereby assume their political free
dom from tile said United States OF Mexico.
Article 1.-The Republic of Lower California
Is hereby established this first day OF August,
A. u. 1880, with It's capital at the City OF En-
senada.
Article 1.-THE supreme authority of all polIt.
cal power lies in The people, who, by taking oath
10 THIS constitution, do hereby delegate for the
purposes OF war OF independence their au-
thority as aforesaid TO Council OF Admnistra-
tion.
Article nI-The authority of said Council OF
Administration shall be supreme until peace
shall be declared, when a Constitutional Con-
yention of the people shall be called.
Article IV-Said Council of Administration
SHALL be composed OF The following persOns:
Governor General, Walter Clifford Smith; Com
mandlne- General, Augustus Merrill; Secretary
General. Bascom Asbury Stephens; Treasurer
General, RaufOrd Northing; Attorney-General,
frederick Hall; Postal General. Leroy Walen
lnduslria- eneral, f b. Higgins; Ware eneral,
Edward Hill; Naval. General, John f. James;
Suryey0r-General, Q. A. Harris; Educational
General, -.
Article Van legislative. judicial and execu-
tive functions shall be vested in said Council OF
Administration. quorum shall consist OF
majority of the members, and a majority vote
shall decide all questions.
Article VI-Until the declaration of peace,
martial law shall prevail all over the peninsula
OF Lower California. But the laws OF the RepuD-
lie OF Mexico ana the Kingdom of Spain, as laid
down IN Halls Mexican Law shall remain In
fstee. except wherein they may conflict with this
constitution and such mOdiiicati0ns as may Dc
made by said Council OF Administration. The
writ OF habeas corpus is hereby expressly sus-
pended during the War OF Independence.
Article yII-The President shall preside at all
meetings of said Council of Administration; shall
have The casting vote In case of lie; shall have
the power TO veto. which veto may DO rendered
Intellectual by two-thirds vote of all the mem.
bers Of the Council OF Administration; shall ill
by appointment all offices provided by civil law;
shall Issue and revoke all commissions agreeable
TO The council; shall issue proclamations; shall
n. a n
same; shall nave the power OF pardon, and shall
exercise general supervision over all The Gov
erDment.
The Commanding General shall have full COM
mand OF the army In The field and shall be sub
ject only TO The Council OF Administration.
The Secretary General shall keep the records
Of the Council of Administration aud conduct all
correspondence and be the chief of the diplo-
matte corps.
The Treasurer General shall provide such cur.
rency aud bonds as may be necessary; collect,
keep and pay out public money under The direc-
tlon OF The Council OF Administration.
The Aforementioned shall have control OF
the organization aud administration OF the civil
Government.
The Postal. General shall have control of the
telegraph lines. stage lines, newspapers and
The Industr ial- General shall have control Of
all public lands and Industries which may be ma
tiOnallZed.
1he War-G General shall have control OF all sup
Plies Tor the army.
lie aGeneral shall have charge OF such
vessels as may come under lie control of the
Government.
The surveyor General shall have charge of the
construction OF all roads and fortlications.
The Educational General shall have charge OF
the pub ic-school system, including the military
and naval departments.
Article Nlll-No law or proclamation, except
military orders in the field, shall be effective un-
I'll published In the official Government paper
The Lower California is hereby declared to De
The official paper OF the republic.
Article A-Tbe Republic OF Lower California
shall guarantee to every officer, civil or military,
ana soldier and sailor, l6o acres of irrigable
land, providing the land be not na:loDalized by
The Constitutional Convention.
Article N-The Council OF Administration shall
have the power To carry OH war, conclude peace,
make treaties, regulate commerce. coin money
aud do all things which any sovereign power
may have the right to perform
Article Xl-This constitution may be amend
ed by two-thlfds vote of the members of the
Council Of Administration after one months pre-
ylous notice has been gwen IN writing.