I 



VICE PRESIDENCY SUPPRESSED IMPORTANT DECREE. 369 



They brought in a bill declaring that " the vice presidency of 

 the republic, created by the decree of the 21st December, 1846, 

 should be suppressed." The debate upon this was of the most 

 animated nature, the friends and enemies of Farias showing equal 

 vehemence in sustaining their views. On the 31st day of March 

 the vote was taken, and the proposition carried by a vote of thirty- 

 eight to thirty-five. 



The following day a decree was passed embodying the above 

 proposition and others : 



1. Permission is granted to the actual president of the republic 

 to take command in person of the forces which the government 

 may place under his command, to resist the foreign enemy. 



2. The vice presidency of the republic, established by the law 

 of 21st December last, is suppressed. 



3. The place of the provisional president shall be filled by a 

 substitute, named by congress according to the terms of the law 

 just cited. 



4. If in this election the vote of the deputations should be tied, 

 in place of determining the choice by lot, congress shall decide, 

 voting by person. 



5. The functions of the substitute shall cease when the pro- 

 visional president shall return to the exercise of power. 



6. On the 15th day of May next the legislatures of the states shall 

 proceed to the election of a president of the republic, according to 

 the form prescribed by the constitution of 1824, and with no other 

 difference save voting for one individual only. 



7. The same legislatures shall at once transmit to the sovereign 

 congress the result of the election in a certified despatch. 



This decree having been passed, it was at once signified to con- 

 gress, through a minister, that Santa Anna was desirous of assum- 

 ing the command of the army immediately and marching to the 

 east to provide for the national defence. Congress went at once 

 into permanent session, in order to choose a substitute or the presi- 

 dent. The election resulted in the choice of Senor D. Pedro Anaya. 

 He received sixty votes and General Almonte eleven, voting by 

 persons, and eighteen votes against three, counting by deputa- 

 tions. The result being promulgated, permission was granted that 

 Senor Anaya should at once take the oath of office. This was on 

 the 1st of April, and on the 2d, Anaya entered upon his duties. He 

 dispensed with the usual visits of congratulation and ceremony on 

 account of the pressure of public business, and Santa. Anna left the 

 capital for the armv in the afternoon of the same day. 



