Sentiments of the Nation, or Points

Outlined by Morelos for the Constitution

Jose Maria Morelos

After Hidalgo's death, another parish priest, Jose Maria Morelos, emerged as the most
prominent military leader of the revolutionary forces. Morelos was a mestizo (some
have described him as a mulatto) from Michoacan, who had studied briefly with
Hidalgo and who joined the rebellion in its early stages. He was afar more competent
disciplinarian and military strategist than Hidalgo had been, but his forces, too, were
eventually scattered, and he was captured and executed in 1815. In 1813 he declared
independence and convoked a Constitutional Congress at Chilpancingo, Guerrero,
where he presented a summary of his political and social ideas. They make for curious
reading today, since they feature many concepts that would soon be clearly identified
with "liberalism"for example, the equality of individuals before the law, popular
sovereignty, fair taxation, and an end to slavery and servitudewhile at the same
time upholding strict religious intolerance and established hierarchies.

1. That America is free and independent of Spain and of all other Nations,
Governments, or Monarchies, and it should be so sanctioned, and the reasons
explained to the world.
2. That the Catholic Religion is the only one, without tolerance of any
other.
3. That all ministers of the Church shall support themselves exclusively and
entirely from tithes and first-fruits (primicias), and the people need make no
offering other than their own devotions and oblations.
4. That Catholic dogma shall be sustained by the Church hierarchy, which
consists of the Pope, the Bishops and the Priests, for we must destroy every
plant not planted by God: minis plantatis quam nom plantabir Pater meus Celestis
Cradicabitur. Mat. Chapt. XV.

5. That sovereignty springs directly from the People, who wish only to de
posit it in their representatives, whose powers shall be divided into Legislative,
Executive, and Judiciary branches, with each Province electing its representa-

190 Jose Maria Morelos

tive. These representatives will elect all others, who must be wise and virtuous
people. . . .
6. [Article 6 is missing from all reproductions of this document. Ed.]
7. That representatives shall serve for four years, at which point the oldest
ones will leave so that those newly elected may take their places.
8. The salaries of the representatives will be sufficient for sustenance and
no more, and for now they shall not exceed 8,ooo pesos.
9. Only Americans shall hold public office.
io. Foreigners shall not be admitted, unless they are artisans capable of
teaching [their crafts], and are free of all suspicion.
ii. That the fatherland shall never belong to us nor be completely free so
long as the government is not reformed. [We must] overthrow all tyranny,
substituting liberalism, and remove from our soil the Spanish enemy that has
so forcefully declared itself against this Nation.
12. That since good law is superior to all men, those laws dictated by our
Congress must oblige constancy and patriotism, moderate opulence and indi
gence, and be of such nature that they raise the income of the poor, better
their customs, and banish ignorance, rapine, and robbery.
13. That the general laws apply to everyone, without excepting privileged
bodies, and that such bodies shall exist in accordance with the usefulness of
their ministry.
14. That in order to dictate a law, Congress must debate it, and it must be
decided by a plurality of votes.
15. That slavery is proscribed forever, as well as the distinctions of caste, so
that all shall be equal; and that the only distinction between one American
and another shall be that between vice and virtue.
16. That our ports shall be open to all friendly foreign nations, but no mat
ter how friendly they may be, foreign ships shall not be based in the kingdom.
There will be some ports specified for this purpose; in all others, disembark
ing shall be prohibited, and 10% or some other tax shall be levied upon their
merchandise.
17. That each person's home shall be as a sacred asylum wherein to keep
property and observances, and infractions shall be punished.
18. That the new legislation shall forbid torture.
19. That the Constitution shall establish that the 12th of December be cele
brated in all villages in honor of the patroness of our liberty, the Most Holy
Mary of Guadalupe. All villages shall be required to pay her monthly devotion.
20. That foreign troops or those of another kingdom shall not tread upon
our soil unless it be to aid us, and if this is the case, they shall not be part of
the Supreme Junta.

sopjoyyj EirejAj asof

i8i Jaquiaidas t>i 'oupiredreq3
apuam/ opBuSj uop 'oxsuvduioo
srq pUB 'errasoo X oSrepiH pnStjAj uop aouas *oaaq 3B3J aqi jo sjuatu aqi
sXbavtb Suuaquiauiaa 'pjsaq aq prnoM Xatp aBqa os djoa\s atp padsBjS Xaqi pUB
*siqu Jtaip paurrepoid aidoad am pire pawsd uoubn aqi jo sdfl am Xsp jBtp
uo joj 'usSaq Xuaqrr pajDBS mo XBp aqi puB aouapuadapui jo Xjd am jo Xjbs
-jaATUtre atp sb JBaX ipsa pajBiqapo aq pqs jaqtuaidas jo qi9i aqi jbujl z
saaXojduia oncmdjo
sauBres aqi pUB jeas. aq: jo sjsod aqj Xsd oa juapujns aq rreqs 'Xuiaua atp ujojj
paaBDsyuoD spoo am jo uopBjjsramrpB astA\ atp pire 'uonnquiuoD [rems srqx
sjaipo pire 'amqua aqi '[X|odououi uavojd] oouvjss am *[xb: sares] mvqvyp aqi
treqa aAtssajddo ssaj aq mA\ xprqM 'aSjBqo jqSij Xjrenba jaqious jo 'sSuru.rea
srq jo auaDjad aAtj XBd rreqs renpiAtpui qoEa pus 'papua aq pmoqs suopisod
-un pire saxBi 'samqui aAissaaddo X|qrq jo aDUBpunqE jBaiS aqa asqj, "ct
XnunoD aqi jo swsd aiouiaj aqi in sjaqioaq jno 01 qjrej aq:
aiBSsdoad oj u35jB3Japun aq Xruo jreqs suoprpadxn sauo 2tnoEas Xp^padsa
'uiopSupi atp jo sanuiT aqi apisino suoprpadxa ou aq rreqs aaaqi :reqx '**
I6l UOllVtf 3t/J fo JJW3UJUWPC;

Plan of Iguala
Agustin de Iturbide

After more than ten years of sporadic violence, when the fighters for independence
had been reduced to little more than guerrilla bands, Mexican independence was
quickly and unexpectedly consummated when a royalist general, Agustin de Iturbide,
reached an understanding with rebel leaders and issued a vague declaration of in
dependence in the town of Iguala (in what is now the southern state of Guerrero).
Former royalists and rebels joined forces and rallied around this plan of the "Three
Guarantees," which celebrated the broadest points of agreement among the contend
ing factions: independence, the union and equality of Creoles (American-born whites)
and Spaniards, and Roman Catholicism. Iturbide, whose reputation as a military
leader was for brutality rather than prescience, failed to anticipate the many chal
lenges and difficulties that came with Mexico's new political autonomy. His relations
with the Constituent Congress created by the plan were troubled from the outset.
They reached a breaking point when Iturbide, trumpeting the fact that neither Ferdi
nand VII nor any other European prince showed any interest in becoming Emperor
of Mexico, had himself crowned Emperor Agustin I. Resistance to this presumptu
ous move culminated in a rebellion headed by another former royalist officer, Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, the young commander of the Veracruz garrisona rebellion
that ousted Iturbide in March 1823. Thus began a long period of penury and chronic
political turbulence that quickly shattered the exuberant optimism apparent in the
Plan of Iguala.
24 February 1821
Americans:
When I speak of Americans, I speak not only of those persons born in
America, but of the Europeans, Africans, and Asians who reside here. May
they all have the good grace to hear me!
The largest Nations of the Earth have been dominated by other Nations,
and so long as they were not permitted to form their own opinions, they were
not free. The European countries, although they achieved great heights in

Plan of Iguala 193

education and politics, were once slaves to the Roman Empire. That Empire,
the most renowned in history, was like a father who, in his dotage, watched
as his children and grandchildren left home, for they were of an age to start
homes of their own and to fend for themselves, though they maintained all
the respect, veneration and love due their father.
For three hundred years, North America was under the tutelage of Spain,
the Most Catholic and pious, heroic and magnanimous of Nations. Spain edu
cated and aggrandized it, forming its opulent cities, its beautiful villages, its
remote provinces and kingdoms, increasing its population and splendors,
knowing every aspect of the natural opulence of its soil, its rich minerals, the
advantages of its geographical situation. We have seen the damage caused
by our great distance from the center of the Empire, and we know that the
branch is now the equal of the trunk: public and general opinion declare that
we should be absolutely independent from Spain and from all other Nations.
Europeans and Americans from all regions likewise believe this to be so.
That same voice which sounded in the village of Dolores in 1810, and which
caused the people so much hardship due to the disorder, abandonment, and
a multitude of vices, also convinced the people that a general union between
Europeans, Americans, and Indians, is the only solid basis upon which our
common happiness can rest. After the horrible experience of so many dis
asters, is there anyone who is now unwilling to support that union through
which so much good can be achieved? European Spaniards: your fatherland
is America, because you live here; here you shall have commerce and posses
sions! Americans: Who among you can say that you are not descended from
Spaniards? We are held together by a dulcet chain formed by links of friend
ship, common interests, education and language, and a unity of sentiments.
You shall see that these are close and powerful links, and that the happiness of
the Kingdom depends on everyone uniting in a single opinion and speaking
with a single voice.
The time has come to manifest the uniformity of your sentiments, so that
our union can be the powerful hand that emancipates America without the
need of foreign help. At the head of a valiant and resolved army, I have pro
claimed the Independence of North America! It is now free, it is now its own
Master, it no longer recognizes or depends upon Spain or any other Nation.
All shall greet it as an Independent Nation, and, with gallant hearts, we shall
raise our voices, together with those of the troops that have resolved to die
before abandoning this heroic enterprise. The Army is not animated by any
desire other than to keep pure the Holy Religion we profess, and to preserve
the general happiness. Listen, here is the firm basis upon which we found our
resolution:

194 Agustin de Iturbide

art. i. The Roman, Catholic, Apostolic Religion, without tolerance of any

other.
art. 2. The absolute Independence of this Kingdom.
art. 3. Monarchical Government, limited by a Constitution suitable for the
country.
art. 4. Ferdinand VII or someone of his dynasty, or some other prince,
shall become Emperor. We shall have an established monarchy so as to prevent
acts of ambition.
art. 5. There shall be an interim committee [junta] which shall convoke a
Congress [Cortes] to enact this Plan.
art. 6. This committee shall name a Governing body, and it will be com
posed of the representatives already proposed to the Viceroy.
art. 7. It shall govern in accordance with the oath already made to the King,
until the King shall come to Mexico, whereupon all previous orders shall be
suspended.
art. 8. If Ferdinand VII decides not to come to Mexico, the Committee of
the Regency shall govern in the name of the Nation until the matter of who
shall be crowned king is resolved.
art. 9. This Government shall be sustained by the Army of the Three Guar
antees.
art. 10. The Congress shall decide if the Committee should continue or be
replaced by a Regency until the arrival of the Emperor.
art. 11. As soon as it is completed, the Constitution of the Mexican Empire
shall enter into effect.
art. 12. All of the inhabitants of that Empire, with no considerations except
those of merit and virtue, are citizens qualified to accept any employment.
art. 13. All persons and properties shall be respected and protected.
art. 14. The Regular and Secular Clergy shall retain all of their properties
and privileges.
art. 15. All Government officers and public employees shall remain in
office, and shall be removed only if they oppose this plan. Those opposed to
the plan shall be replaced by those who distinguish themselves by their adhe
sion to the plan, as well as by their virtue and merit.
art. 16. A protecting Army shall be formed, which shall be called the Army
of the Three Guarantees. Any of its members, from the highest to the lowest
ranks, shall be executed if they violate any one of the Three Guarantees.
art. 17. This Army shall observe their Orders to the letter, and its Chiefs
and Officers shall continue on the same footing as before.
art. 18. The troops that compose the Army shall be considered as troops
of the line, as shall all who come to embrace this Plan: all other citizens shall

Plan of Iguala 195

be considered a National Militia, and the rules for this and the form it shall
take shall be decided by Congress.
art. 19. Military ranks shall be determined by reports from the respective
Chiefs, and shall be granted provisionally in the name of the Nation.
art. 20. The interim Congress shall meet and proceed against crimes in
complete accordance with the Spanish Constitution. ^
art. 21. Those who conspire against Independence shall be consigned to
prison; no further measures shall be taken against them until Congress dic
tates the punishment corresponding to the most serious crimes, including
treason against His Divine Majesty.
art. 22. Those who try to spread division and who are reputed to be con
spirators against Independence shall be subject to close vigilance.
art. 23. Inasmuch as the Congress which has been formed is a constituent
Congress, Deputies must be elected with this understanding. The Commit
tee will decide on the rules and the time necessary for the task [of writing a
Constitution].
Americans:
Herewith, the establishment and the creation of a new Empire. Herewith,
the oath of the army of the Three Guarantees, whose voice is that of he who
has the honor of leading it. Herewith, the object for which I ask your coopera
tion. I ask of you no more than what you yourselves have wished and longed
for: union, fraternity, order, interior calm, vigilance, and horror toward any
turbulent movement. These warriors want nothing more than the common
happiness. Join us to bravely advance an enterprise that in all aspects (except
ing, perhaps, the small role I have played in it) must be called heroic. Having
no enemies to combat, we trust in the God of the Armies, who is also the God
of Peace, that those who make up this armed force, which brings together
Europeans and Americans, dissidents and royalists, will be mere protectors,
simple spectators to the great task that I have outlined today, which the fathers
of the Nation shall retouch and perfect.
May the great Nations of Europe marvel at seeing how North America
frees itself without shedding a single drop of blood. In your joyful celebra
tions, say: Long live the Holy Religion we profess! Long live Independent
North America, among all the Nations of the Earth! Long five the union that
brings our happiness!
Agustin de Iturbide

sM
l, $^k;