He proclaimed for the constitution drawn up by the Cortes in 1812, which was unworkable, and which the chiefs of the conspiracy did not propose to restore.
When the new Cortes was elected in 1822, he was chosen deputy for his native city Oviedo, and the radicals selected him as president of the chamber on the 17th of February 1823.
Montezuma presented Cortes with a map, painted on Nequen cloth, of the Gulf coast.
The Cortes at Lisbon chose Bahia as a centre for resisting the independence, and large forces were sent thither.
Directly the Cortes met they elected Espartero regent by 179 votes to 103 in favour of Arguelles, who was appointed guardian of the young queen.
