Note 7 — THE GOVERNMENT AND DEATH OF BUSTAMANTE

As for those who might compose this council, I cannot find any who would be better—in order that it might be durable, and most free from prejudice; and that its proceedings might be most prudent and reasonable, judicious and learned—than the following: for president, the archbishop of Manila, and in his absence the dean of the holy cathedral church of Manila; for its members, the dean, in case he is not president—and, if he act in that post, in his place shall come in the senior prebend, by vote of those in the council; and besides these, the doctoral prebend of the same church, and the rectors and prefects (or the regents) of the two universities, Santo Domingo and that of the Society, or those who shall take the place of all these. Those who occupy the chairs of Institutes7 and laws in the university (which have been recently established) shall not have place in this council, for I do not know whether they will be permanent; and because, even if they are so, these professors must be included in the number of those who are under the protection of the said council, as being officials appointed by the king and subjects of the government here. The decision of the members of this council must go out in the name of the whole body, and will be that which shall receive the most votes from the six councilors; and in case of disagreement among them the decision will be that to which their president shall agree, out of those proposed in the council—each one of these councilors giving his opinion in writing, which opinion must be a decisive vote, and not merely consultory.