Tagle to To the Citizen-, February 16, 1877

Circular of February 16 to the provincial governors, announcing the policy of President Diaz.

Department of Government.—Section 1.

Circular.

The decree which I have the honor to inclose to you will inform you that the citizen-general-in-chief of the army has to-day reassumed possession of the executive power of the union, after having terminated in the most happy and satisfactory manner his campaign, leaving the government of the republic, in order to assume the said campaign, in the hands of the second citizen-general in command, according to the decree of the 6th of December of last year.

On again assuming the position assigned to him by the plan of Tuxtepec, amended at Palo Blanco, the citizen-general-in-chief has the satisfaction of having secured peace throughout the whole country, the triumph of the national insurrection being now complete and absolute.

This satisfaction is even greater to him inasmuch as, in obtaining a blessing of so great value as is the general peace of the republic, there has been no occasion for the effusion of more blood since the combats which overthrew the administration of Lerdo.

The citizen-general-in-chief assumes the provisional power which he exercises, inspired with the same sincere desires which have always animated him for the prosperity of the republic, his firm purpose being to restore, in the shortest time possible, the constitutional order disturbed since the preceding administration; and he will direct all his forces to the abbreviation of the present transitory period of the reconstruction of the constitutional powers. I can consequently assure you that the provisions of the convocation and the promises of the revolution of Tuxtepec will have complete fulfillment in regard to the early constitutional reorganization of the republic.

In the very few days in which he will still have to exercise the provisional power, with which he is invested by virtue of the present situation, the citizen-general-in-chief will cause, nevertheless, that the constitution shall be a reality, respecting it, and requiring its fulfillment in all of its provisions, which the present circumstances do not make impossible of execution.

If the lack of the federal legislative and judicial powers does not permit that they shall act, or that the constitutional order shall exist immediately in all its fullness, all the other constitutional provisions which do not relate to those powers, as those which insure individual guarantees, which designate the form of government, which sanction the reform, &c., shall be the supreme laws of the republic, and will be observed and strictly complied with. In this manner the citizen-general-in-chief believes that he repays the confidence which the nation has been pleased to place in him, preparing the early re-establishment of the complete constitutional order.

The plan of Tuxtepec, amended at Palo Blanco, expressly proclaims in article 1st the constitution and the laws of reform as the supreme laws of the republic. The revolution, tolerant inasmuch as it is liberal, has not been, is not, neither will it be, reactionary; it does not retrograde to the most gloomy times of our history, rejecting the principles which are professed to-day by all cultivated nations, and whose conquest has cost Mexico torrents of blood. The revolution has been and is liberal and progressive, and will sustain with good faith and vigor the doctrines of the national party, written and sanctioned in our constitution and the laws of reform.

The citizen-general-in-chief directs me to make the foregoing observations in the most explicit manner, in order that the nation may know what are the aspirations and views of the provisional government, in order that it may know that the revolution of Tuxtepec is not a reaction against the laws of reform; that the present government neither protects nor lends its support to the tendencies of retrogression. These declarations, made known in this solemn form-and accepted by the cabinet with complete unanimity, will serve to completely tranquilize all fears, causing it to be understood that after the regenerating revolution which has displaced a corrupt administration, there should he no fear of the loss of the great blessings which Mexico has secured in half a century of political convulsions.

I am also ordered by the citizen-general-in-chief to make known on this occasion another declaration of no less importance. Being persuaded that exclusive governments do not have the elevated views which are necessary for the constitutional and stable reconstruction of a country so burdened with revolutions as ours, he desires to govern with the national liberal party, without distinctions of circles or banners; he desires to have at his side all Mexicans who sincerely and loyally obey and respect the constitution and its additions and reforms. He calls all citizens to his side, and will accept with pleasure the co-operation of all intelligent and useful persons in the difficult task of the constitutional reconstruction.

The citizen-general-in-chief has the noble ambition to reorganize the liberal party, and he believes that this is the occasion for taking the first step in that direction, maintaining no exclusions except for crime and for refusing to accept our institutions or obey our laws.

On ordering the publication of the decree which I send you, be pleased to order, also, that this circular may be made known in all parts of the state under your worthy charge, in order that doubts for the future may cease, all the country knowing the sentiments by which the provisional government is animated.

Liberty in the constitution.