ACT OF INDEPENDENCE
NATIONAL PALACE OF GUATEMALA, 15 SEPTEMBER 1821Whereas:
It is public and indubitable the desires of independence from the Spanish government, which in writing and verbally have been expressed by the people of this capital;
We have received on the last mail delivery different official letters from the Constitutional City Councils of Ciudad Real, Comitán and Tuxtla, through which they report having proclaimed and sworn such independence and incite to do the same in this city;
It is positive that the same letters have been delivered to other City Councils;
We have determined, according to the Excellent Provincial Diputation, that in order to deal with such serious matter, the Provincial Diputation should meet in one of the halls of this palace;
The Most Illustrious Archbishop, the individuals nominated to the Most Excellent Audiencia Territorial, the Venerable Dean and the Ecclesiastical Council, the Most Excellent City Council, the Most Illustrious Senate, the Consulate and the Most Illustrious Bar Association, the Regular Prelates, Chiefs and civil servants all gathered together in the same room where we have read the said letters and have carefully discussed and meditated upon the matter and heard the cries of Viva la Independencia!, repeated continually by the people gathered on the street and on the plaza, and on the patio, the lobby and in the corridors of this palace;
This Diputation and the members of the Most Excellent City Council AGREED:
1. That, being the independence from the Spanish Government the general will of the people of Guatemala, and without prejudice to that which the Congress to be might determine upon it, the Political Chief publish this act of independence in order to prevent the daunting consequences if the people were de facto to proclaim it themselves.
2. That official letters be circulated immediately to the provinces, by special couriers, so that without delay the provinces may elect their deputies or representatives that they may appear at this Capital to form the Congress, which shall decide on the matter of the general and absolute independence, and establish, if it is agreed, the form of government and the fundamental law that shall govern it.
3. That in order to facilitate their appointment, Deputies shall be elected by the same electoral councils that elected or should have elected the last Deputies to the Courts.
4. That the number of such deputies shall be in proportion of one to every fifteen thousand individuals, without excluding from the citizenry those natives of Africa.
5. That the same provincial electoral councils, bearing in mind the latest censuses, shall determine, according to this basis, the number of deputies or representatives to be chosen.
6. That in view of the gravity and urgency of the matter, elections shall be made so that all the Deputies may be gathered in this capital on the first day of March of next year, 1822.
7. That in the meantime, there being no novelty in the established authorities, said authorities shall continue to exercise their respective powers under the Constitution, laws and decrees until the said Congress determines what is more fair and beneficial.
8. That the Political Chief, Brigadier Gavino Gainza, continue to serve as head of the higher political and military government and in order for this government to have the character required by the circumstances, an Provisional Consultative Junta be formed, made up of members from this Provincial Deputation and the following persons: the Minister of this Audiencia, Don Miguel Larreynaga; the Auditor of War, Don Jose del Valle; the Marquis of Aycinena, Doctor Don Jose Valdes; the Treasurer of this Holy Church, Doctor Don Angel Maria Candino; and the Third Constitutional Mayor, Licentiate Don Antonio Robles; the first for the Province of León, the second for Comayagua, the third for Quezaltenango, the fourth for Sololá and Chimaltenango, the fifth for Sonsonate; and the sixth for Ciudad Real de Chiapas.
9. That this Provisional Junta consult with the Political Chief on all economic and government affairs worthy of his attention.
10. That the Catholic religion, which we have professed in the previous centuries and shall continue to profess in the centuries to come, be kept pure and inalterable, maintaining alive the spirit of religiosity that has always distinguished Guatemala, honouring the secular and regular ecclesiastic ministers, protecting their person and property.
11. That official letters be forwarded to the worthy Prelates of the religious communities so that, promoting peace and tranquillity, which is the first necessity of the people when they migrate from one government to another, they may have their clergy exhort for fraternity and harmony, calling upon those who are united in the common sentiment of independence to be united also in all other respects, stifling individual passions, which are the cause of division leading to dire consequences.
12. That the Most Excellent City Council, which is responsible for the maintenance of order and calm, take more active measures to keep peace unflappable throughout the capital and adjoining towns.
13. That the Political Chief publish a manifesto to make known to all the general sentiments of the people, the opinion of the authorities and corporations, the measures of this government, and the causes and the circumstances that made him decide to take before the First Mayor, and by petition of the people, the oath of independence and swear fidelity to the American Government to be established.
14. That the same oath be taken by the Provisional Junta, the Most Excellent City Council, the illustrious Archbishop, the Tribunals, the political and military Chiefs, the regular Prelates, their religious communities, the chiefs and employees of the tax bureau, authorities, corporations and troops in all garrisons.
15. That the Political Chief, according to the Most Excellent City Council, arrange for a solemn ceremony and designate the day on which the people shall make the proclamation of the said oath of independence.
16. That the Most Excellent City Council agree on the minting of a medal to perpetuate throughout the centuries the memory of the 15th of September, 1821, as the day on which independence was joyfully proclaimed.
17. That, upon being printed, this act and the said manifesto be delivered to the Most Excellent Provincial Deputies, the Constitutional City Councils and other regular ecclesiastic, secular and military authorities, so that, in consistency with the self-same sentiments expressed by the people, they may act pursuant to all the above.
18. That a solemn mass of thanksgiving be sung on the day designated by the Political Chief, which shall be attended by the Interim Junta and of all the authorities, corporations and chiefs, and a gun salute be fired with the city remaining illuminated for three days.
National Palace of Guatemala, September 15, 1821.

Gavino Gaínza (signed), Mariano de Beltranena (signed), José Mariano Calderón (signed), José Matías Delgado (signed), Antonio de Rivera (signed), Manuel Antonio de Molina (signed), Mariano de Larrave, (signed), Jose Antonio de Larrave (signed), Ysidoro de Valle y Castrisiones (signed), Mariano de Aycinena (signed), Pedro de Arroyave (signed), Lorenzo de Romana (signed), Secretario; José Domingo Diéguez (signed), Secretary.
Palacio Nacional de Guatemala, Septiembre 15 de 1821.-

Gavino Gainza, Mariano de Beltranena, Mariano Jose Calderon, Jose Matias Delgado, Manuel Antonio Molina, Mariano de Larrave, Antonio Rivera, Jose Antonio de Larrave, Isidoro del Valle and castration, Mariano de Aycinena, Pedro de Arroyave, Lorenzo de Romagna, secretary, Sunday Diéguez, secretary.