Miguel Ramos Arizpe (1775-1843) was a Mexican priest known for his performance in politics. He was called the "Father of federalism in Mexico" since he had a very relevant role in the history of the country. This distinction was received thanks to the participation he had in the creation of the first draft of the Constitution in Mexico, during 1823.
He held various positions at the political level. He held the post of Minister of Justice and was also part of the Spanish Courts, as a deputy. This role was the one he had when he was appointed as the leader of the group that was in charge of making the first draft of the federal constitution.
Representation of Miguel Ramos Arizpe in the National Museum of Interventions. Source:], via Wikimedia Commons. The Constitution was finally published and made official in 1824 and there it was determined that Mexico would become a federal republic. At that time, the nation of the American continent was divided into 19 states and had a total of four different federal territories.
The draft Constitution in which Ramos Arizpe participated had some detractors, specifically the centralist sectors. Despite this, the project was approved and Ramos Arizpe received the position of major in the ministry of justice and ecclesiastical business.
Later, the Mexican priest was chosen to be the representative of Mexico in Chilean territory. Thanks to his contributions, other Latin American countries also wanted to have the representation of Ramos Arizpe.
Biography
He was born in 1775 with the name of José Miguel Rafael Nepomuceno Ramos de Arreola y Arizpe. The place where he was born was called Valle de San Nicolás de la Capellanía.
Currently this city is known by the name Ramos Arizpe, a name given to it on May 19, 1850, in honor of the prominent priest and politician. The city of Ramos Arizpe is located in the state of Coahuila.
Family
Ramos Arizpe was the product of the union between Ignacio Ramos de Arreola and González with Ana María Lucía de Arizpe and Fernández de Castro. The couple had a total of nine children and Miguel was the youngest of all.
The Ramos Arizpe family had deep-rooted Catholic and religious traditions of the time. They were part of a society that was characterized by being very traditional, focused on agricultural activities. By then, Mexico was one of the colonies of Spain.
Studies
During the first years of his life, Ramos Arizpe completed his studies in the city of Saltillo. There he was part of the school of San Juan Nepomuceno under the supervision or care of one of his uncles.
When Ramos Arizpe completed his primary education, he moved to the city of Monterrey and continued with his academic training, although from this moment on in seminars. There he learned and deepened more in areas such as Latin, philosophy or theology.
His educational process was completed in Guadalajara, where he managed to receive a bachelor's degree in philosophy and law. He expanded that title in 1810, specifically on April 4, when he defended the examination for which he received the distinction as a doctor in the area of law.
By 1803 he completed his training as a priest and decided to move to the diocese of Monterrey. There Ramos Arizpe served as chaplain, which meant that he was the person whose responsibility it was to perform the religious service.
He did not stop and continued to expand his education. Between 1807 and 1808, in the city of Guadalajara, he added to the list the title of graduate and doctor in canon law.
Due to the good skills he showed over the years, he was appointed as the tax promoter. He served as a defender of pious works, which consisted of taking charge of the donations that were destined to help the most vulnerable sectors.
In addition, he managed to become the first professor of civil and canon law to teach at the seminary in the city of Monterrey.
Motivated by some problems with the bishop, Ramos Arizpe was transferred to Santa María de Aguayo, a small town in Cantabria (Spain) where he served as a priest.
Prisoner
During his passage through Spanish territory, Ramos Arizpe ended up in jail in Madrid and Valencia. This happened as a consequence of some problems in relation to the reign of Fernando VII.
Ramos Arizpe from a very young age showed and expressed some very liberal and independentist ideas, which were not well seen during that time. For this act he was persecuted and imprisoned in 1814 by direct order of the king.
Fernando VII accused the priest of supporting the uprisings that began to occur in places like Chile, Buenos Aires, Caracas and even in Mexico.
For his actions he was taken to the Madrid prison, where he was isolated from everything for a period of close to 20 months. Later he was transferred to the Valencia de Ara Christi prison, where he was held until 1820.
His release only occurred after the revolution started by Rafael del Riego. Then Ramos Arizpe was released and he was granted the post of deputy in the new Cortes. He was also appointed as a cantor, or choirmaster, in the cathedral in Mexico.
Charges
Once out of jail and fully integrated into the political life of Mexico, Ramos Arizpe was elected as a deputy from Coahuila. This happened in 1821, when he became part of the country's constituent congress.
Only two years later he was the one who led the group that was in charge of carrying out the draft of the first constitution. This was his most relevant contribution to the history of Mexico.
He continued to hold positions on the Mexican political scene. Later he was elected as an officer in the ministry of justice and ecclesiastical business. This role was carried out from November 1825 to March 1828.
Later, Ramos Arizpe received the position of minister in charge of representing Mexico in the negotiations. Other countries also wanted his representation.
In 1831 he had another ecclesiastical position, this time as dean in the cathedral of the city of Puebla. Later, between 1832 and 1833, he returned to the post in the Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Business.
Even during the government of Manuel Gómez Pedraza he was in charge, although only for a month, of the Ministry of Finance. By 1842 he continued to fulfill political roles when he was appointed deputy in the constituent congress of the time. By that time, his health was seriously affected.
Death
Miguel Ramos Arizpe died on April 28, 1843 due to complications from relentless gangrene. His death occurred in Mexico City. His remains rest in the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons, which at that time had the name Rotunda of Illustrious Men.
On this site you will find different personalities from the history of Mexico, especially those who had a prominent role for the benefit of the nation.
Four years after his death he was recognized by the Congress of the Union. He received the distinction of Benemérito de la Patria. As a result of this appointment, his name was inscribed in the room where the Mexican deputies meet. This inscription was made in gold letters.
Contributions
He was an important character for his different provinces since he was in charge of making the memories that dealt with the state at a natural, political and civil level in these areas. Several proposals emerged from this publication made by Ramos Arizpe. For example:
- He proposed that one should fight for free municipalities.
- He presented ideas on free trade.
- He stated that the creation of a new university and a legal college in the Saltillo area was necessary.
His fight for the defense of education was one of the characteristics that most determined him during his career. Although his most important contribution was having been a participant in the reestablishment of federalism in 1847.
This happened after some centralist governments or with a unitary model. Federalism, in addition, is a form of government that continues to this day in Mexico.
His contribution during the first draft of the constitution was very important. This document was completed in a matter of days. Almost all the articles that were proposed in this manuscript ended up being part of the constitution that became official in 1824.
Famous phrases
His most representative and iconic phrase was said in the Cortes of Cádiz, while he was part of the libertarian movements of Mexico. At that time he stated that "I have not left my land to beg for favors from despotism, the mission entrusted to me by the people of Coahuila is one of honor and not of farming."
In the reports he presented to improve some provinces, Ramos Arizpe expressed his dissatisfaction with the deterioration that occurred in those areas. That is why the Mexican priest and politician dedicated a chapter of his memory to education and its importance.
He affirmed that "it is one of the first duties of any enlightened government, and only despots and tyrants uphold the ignorance of the people to more easily abuse their rights."
References
- Gullón Abao, A., & Gutiérrez Escudero, A. (2012). The Cadiz Constitution of 1812 and its repercussions in America. Cádiz: University of Cádiz.
- Hernández Elguézabal, E. (1978). Miguel Ramos Arizpe and Mexican federalism. Mexico: Editions Casa de Coahuila.
- Munguía Castillo, M. (2014). José Miguel Ramos Arizpe. Mexico: Governments of the States of Puebla and Coahuila.
- Toro, A. (1992). Don Miguel Ramos Arizpe, "Father of Mexican Federalism.":.
- Alaman, L. (1939). Portraits and ideas. Mexico: Ed. De la Univ. Nacional Autonoma.