[732] [BARRAGAN DECREE]
Office of the First Secretary of State, Interior Department. His Excellency the President pro Lem of the Mexican United States to the Inhabitants of the Republic. Know ye, that the General Congress has decreed the following: Art. 1. The present government of the states shall continue, notwithstanding the time fixed by the constitution may have expired; but shall be dependent for their continuance in the exercise of their attributes upon the Supreme Government of the nation. Art. 2. The legislatures shall immediately cease to exercise their legislative functions: but before dissolving (and those which may be in recess meeting for the purpose) they shall appoint a Department Council, com posed, for the present, of five individuals, chosen either within or without their own body, to act as a council to the governor; and in case of vacancy in that office, they shall propose to the Supreme General Government three persons possessing the qualifications hitherto required; and until an appoint- ment be made, the gubernatorial powers shall be exercised by the first on the list who is not an ecclesiastic. Art. 3. In those states where the legislature cannot be assembled within eight ·days, the Ayuntamiento of the capital shall act in its place, only for the purpose of electing the five individuals of the Department-Council. Art. 4. All the judges and tribunals of the states, and the administration of justice, shall continue as hitherto, until the organic '1aw relative to this branch be formed. The responsibilities of the functionaries which could only be investigated before Congress, shall be referred to and concluded before the Supreme Court of the nation. Art. 5. All the subaltern officers of the state shall also continue for the present (the places which are vacant, or which may be vacated, not to be filled), but they, as well as the officers, revenues, and branches under their charge, remain subject to, and al the disposal of, the Supreme Government of the nation, by means of the respective Governor. Palace of the Federal Government in Mexico, Oct. 3d, 1835. Miguel Barragan, [Aeling President] A. D. Manuel Diez de Bonilla
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