Manifiesto Que el Soberano Congreso Constituyente Hizo a los Pueblos, en los Momentos de Publicarse el Acta Constitutiva de la Federacion

Mexico: Imprenta del Supremo Gobierno, en Palacio, 1824. Very good.. [2],xvi pp. Folio. Original printed wrappers. Stab holes at gutter margin from prior stitching. Very small dampstain at lower edge. Light tanning and dust soiling. A celebratory manifesto from the newly independent Mexican Congress that announces the completion of the Acta Constitutiva to form a republican government, accompanied by a solemn warning to the people to protect the new republic. After achieving independence from Spain, Agustín de Iturbide briefly ruled as head of the First Mexican Empire, but was overthrown and exiled in March 1823. A constituent congress was eventually convened to decide on a new direction for the fledgling nation, and they ratified the Acta Constitutiva on January 31, 1824. The Acta declared Mexico a federal republic of sovereign states (deliberately modeled after the United States) and provided for an interim government while a permanent constitution was debated. That constitution was created and ratified with minimal adjustments in October of the same year.

The present manifesto, signed in type by five members of the Congress with José Miguel Gordoa at their head, describes the recent history of the revolution, why a federation of states is the best a freest government for Mexico, and emphasizes the duty of the people to uphold and support its tenets. "Here is the fruit of the revolution," it begins, "That glorious revolution so unique in its traits and comparison to others, and which now calls the attention of the political world to the singular character of the Mexican people" [our translation]. Now that such attention has been cast upon them, however, it was the duty of the people to live up to expectations and to avoid the pitfalls of other revolutions of the recent past.

The authors also spare a moment to mention Iturbide, the "Hero of Iguala," who, "When the day came...to fulfill the solemn promises to which his word was linked...and submit to the body to the body that represented national sovereignty, his heart changed direction." Monarchists and detractors of republicanism still lingered within their ranks, the Congress warned, "But all their arguments can be vanquished with a single point -- show them the United States to the North." They close with a mixture of pride and apprehension, pointing to the mercurial tides of the revolution and succeeding empire:

"Yes the revolution is over...[but] here, Mexican people, is the crisis where you now find yourself, the evils that can befall you, and the extremes to which you can be driven. Understand that a people does not find itself in the position you are in more than once -- with your hands you will choose life or death, glory or ignominy, prosperity or destitution, slavery or liberty." A rare and important piece of Mexican history, officially announcing the end of the revolution and the beginning of a free republic. We locate only five copies in U.S. institutions, at the Bancroft, the Lilly, the American Philosophical Society, University of Virginia, and Library of Congress.