León; and Francisco Vidaurri, to represent Coahuila. José María Carbajal was named secretary of the general council; he, Canales, the military chief, and Anaya, then in the United States seeking aid, were to be supplementary members of the council.[3]  Hobart Huson says, "a presidential guard, composed entirely of Texans, 60 in number, was organized, and placed under the command of Captain Jack Palmer. It was the duty of this guard to protect the President and civil officers of the provisional government."[4]

Laredo, within the claimed boundary of Texas, was proclaimed the seat of government, but it was determined that for the present the government would remain at Guerrero, since a printing press was available at that place.[5]  The new government tendered José Antonio Navarro of San Antonio the appointment of agent "to establish relations of amity and commerce with the Government of your Country [Texas]."[6]  Cárdenas unblushingly admitted that the successes which the Federalists hoped to enjoy would rest not only upon their own efforts, but "upon the succors which we ought to expect to receive from the Government of Texas." Navarro, however, rejected the appointment, believing, he said, that Texas wanted no part in the internal affairs of Mexico.[7]  The new government established an official newspaper called the Correo del Río Bravo del Norte, replacing the old Tamaulipeco, and its prospectus was issued at Guerrero under date of Wednesday, February 2, 1840.[8]  The government press was in charge of José María González Cuéllar. In recruiting troops, the Federalist government promised to grant larger land bounties than had any government before it, and to appropriate the property of the convents and churches, including the large landed estates, in order to pay the volunteers.[9]