The sun., 1891-07-12

subordinate officers OF the army and navy;
but Congress. or. In It's recess, the Perma-
nent Deputation, must approve OF the APP
polntment OF other executive officials. What
renders the Executive Office In Mexico more
powerful than its counterpart In the United
States, and has made 1t at times source Of
peril to constitutional rights, Is the twenty
ninth article Of the Constitution. TO which we
have above referred. This article provides
that In cases Of invasion, grave disturbance
OF the public peace. or any other cases mhat-
soeper phich may place society in great
danger or conflict. the President OF the re-
public. In concurrence with his Cabinet
and with the appreciation of Congress Tor, in
its recess, OF the Permanent Deputatlonl
may suspend for a limited time all the guar
antces established by tho Constitution, ex-
| cepting those which assure the life OF man.
As 1t should be relatively easy by Executive
| pressure to obtain majority Of the Per-
| manent DeDutation, which comprises only
| twenty-nine members tho serious dangers
involved In this concession are unmistakable.
| As regards the judiciary snd the function
| which 1t discharges In the federal system,
the Supreme Court OF the United States Of
Mexico Is evidently modelled on our own,
although the method OF choosing its men,
bers is materially different. The Judges are
not appointed by the Executive. but are in
directly chosen by the people through the
medium OF judiciary electors; more
over. they hold office only for six
years. Once elected. however, their
powers are even larger than those vested
in the Judges OF our own Supreme Court.
They have exclusive jurisdiction In all cases
OF conflict between tho laws or acts OF the
federal authorities aud those OF the con-
sttucnt States. They are qualified to de-
tcrmne tho constltutionality Of State
legislation. They have cognizance. like
wise, not only OF controversies which may
arise between one State and another,
and OF those in which tho Union may
be party. but also OF litigation be-
tween State and one or moro citizens OF
another State. 1t Is therefore competent
for tho Mexican Supreme Court to issue
judgment and levy execution against the
property OF State In the suit OF citizen
belonging to another member OF the Union.
In this attribute and in the extraordinary
power conferred In certain casos on tho
Executive by Article 30 above quoted are to
be discerned the forces which have tended
to centralize the Mexican Confederation.
We should add that the prolonged, and for
time successful. opposition which the Con-
stitution Of 1857 encountered, was due to its
sweeping abolition OF ecclesiastical priv
ileges. 1t Is expressly provided that In
Mexico the State and the Church arc inde-
pendent OF one another; that tho Congress
may not pass laws establishing or prohibit
ing any religion; and that no relig-
ious institution may acquire any
real estate. except buildings actually
used for the purpose Of worship.
The organic law also declares that In courts
OF justice the simple promise to speak the
truth and to comply with the obligations
prescribed for witnesses by law shall be |
substituted for the religious oath. It Is in
view OF these regulations, embedded in tho !
nations organic law, that tho Constitution |
now in force In Mexico is regarded as assur- |
ing the permanent ascendancy OF the Lib
cral party.