LIBERAL IDEAS IN HONDURAS.

163

been imprisoned, notwithstanding the safe-conduct given him after the fall of Comayagua, managed to escape, and subsequently rendered efficient aid to defeat the federals at Trinidad." The government installed by Milla disappeared, Morazan temporarily assuming the reins in November. The further interference of the federal government in the internal affairs of Honduras has been fully narrated elsewhere. The country was not exempt from internal troubles from the close of 182972 to the beginning of 1833, requiring nearly always the final intervention. of the federal government to bring them to an end.TM3

73

Morazan's ascendency awakened in Honduras more liberal ideas than had ever prevailed in the country, as was evidenced in the laws then enacted." During the following years Honduras was comparatively tranquil, the political agitations of the republic scarcely affecting her. There was a local sedition in December 1836, and the early part of 1837, contributing to render much worse the financial condition of the state, which had been bad enough before. The friends of the federation decreased from day to day. Honduras accepted the act of the federal congress authorizing the states to constitute themselves as they liked; and in June 1838 the legislature and executive called for a constituent assembly to do so, which met at Comayagua on the 7th of October.76

71 See his Apuntes, MS., 9-10.

72 There was a sedition of the serviles, headed by Father Rivas and others, which was concluded by a peaceable arrangement with Morazan. Montúfar, Reseña Hist., i. 191–3, 196.

73 Martinez and Cori, implicated in a plot with negroes of Belize and Bacalar, and others were executed May 25, 1833. Montúfar, Reseña Hist., ii. 132. "They mostly affected the clergy. Marure, Efem., 23-7, 35-6.

75 Resulting from various causes. A law providing for a provisional currency checked foreign trade. In the interior it was at 50 per ct discount. A decree establishing a single tax never could be carried out. The abolition of tithes was a measure which caused trouble. Timid or fanatical rulers were afraid of 'cuatro canónigos viejos de Comayagua que amenazaban con el salmo 108 y las penas del infierno,' and fanaticism soon brought about the restoration of the tithes. Montúfar, Reseña Hist., iii. 277.

This was the second constituent assembly, and its first president was José Santiago Buczo. The town of Tegucigalpa demanded absolute independence, declaring itself seceded and under the protection of Nicaragua until

The declaration of independence was solemnly promulgated in a single sentence on the 26th of October, 1838. All further efforts on the part of Morazan and his fellow-federalists to restore the disrupted republic proved unavailing, as we have seen.78 At the end of January 1840, the secessionists were victorious, and federalism was rooted out.

I append a list of Honduras rulers after Morazan's short provisional administration in 1827-28.79

it should be declared. This was the work of the returned reactionists. Id., 279-82.

77 Art. Único. El estado de Honduras es libre, soberano, é independiente.' It was published by the acting jefe, Leon Alvarado. The declaration being deemed insufficient by the secessionists, another act was passed on the 5th of Nov., to say that Honduras was independent of the late federal government, of the governments of the cher states of Cent. Am., and of any other government or foreign power. Id., 282; Marure, Efem., 47.

18 Tegucigalpa had been twice taken, and Comayagua once, by the federal forces. Id., 50-1.

79 Gerónimo Zelaya, primer jefe, June 1828. His authority was never recognized outside of Santa Bárbara. His election was finally declared null, like all others effected pursuant to the convention by the president of the republic. Diego Vijil, vice-jefe, Apr. 1829. Juan Angel Arias, consejero, Dec. 1829. José Santos del Valle, consejero, July 1830. José Ant. Marquez, jefe, March 1831. Francisco Milla, consejero, March 1832. Joaquin Rivera, jefe, Jan. 1833 to Dec. 31, 1836. During his term, owing to illness, the executive was temporarily in charge of F. Ferrera, the vice-jefe, in Sept. 1833, and of J. M. Bustillo, consejero, in Sept. 1835. The latter was again in power as acting president in Aug. 1839. Ferrera again held the executive in Jan. 1841, with the title of president of the state. J. M. Martinez, consejero, Jan. 1837. Justo José Herrera, jefe, May 1837. Leon Alvarado, consejero, Oct. 1838. Felipe Medina, José Alvarado, and Lino Matute are also inentioned as having had charge of the executive in Nov. 1838; the last named till Jan. 1839. Juan F. Molina, consejero, Jan. 1839. José M. Guerrero, consejero, May 1839. Francisco Zelaya, consejero, Sept. 1839. Id., 63; Montúfar, Reseña Hist., ii. 133–6, 325-31; iii. 282-3.

CHAPTER IX.

SALVADOR, NICARAGUA, AND COSTA RICA.

1824-1840.

SALVADOR STATE GOVERNMENT-LIBERALS OVERTHROWN-SECESSION FROM THE UNION-SAN SALVADOR AS THE FEDERAL SEAT OF GOVERNMENTGUATEMALA IMPOSES HER WILL-JEFE CAÑAS AND COMANDANTE MALESPIN-NICARAGUA'S EARLY TROUBLES-SIEGE AND BOMBARDMENT OF LEON-ORGANIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT-DISSENSIONS AND WARERUPTION OF COSIGÜINA-SECESSION FROM THE CONFEDERATIONCOSTA RICA AS A CONFEDERATED STATE-JUAN MORA'S ADMINISTRATION -TOWNS' BICKERINGS SETTLED-BRAULIO CARRILLO'S RULE-FINAL SECESSION FROM THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLIC-PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.

FARE

SALVADOR, from the earliest days that utterance was given to the idea of liberty and independence from Spain, was ready to echo and champion it, and was the first to effect an organization for self-government.1 The state was divided into four departments, San Salvador, San Vicente, San Miguel, and Sonsonate.2 Under the direction of the constituent assembly a state government was organized, with Juan Vicente Villacorta as jefe,3 and Mariano Prado as

1March 5, 1824, the local constituent assembly met, and on the 4th of July, the state constitution, decreed on the 12th of June, was published, and its support sworn to. Marure, Ejem., 10-11.

'Sonsonate had always belonged to Guatemala, but was annexed to Salvador on the return of the auxiliary force that was despatched to the former in 1823 to quell Ariza's revolt, of which I have given an account. By intrigue and force, the inhabitants were made to declare in favor of Salvador. The region was later attached to the latter, though the change of jurisdiction has never been formally acknowledged by Guatemala. Some time after there was a plan of creating, with Sonsonate and Santa Ana, a separate state, but the federal congress did not sanction it. Marure, Bosq. Hist., i. 149.

He assumed his office Dec. 13, 1824. During the period of organization the executive was in charge of Juan Manuel Rodriguez, who bore the title of director. Id., Efem., 13, 62; Mem. Rev. Cent. Am., 32.

vice-jefe. After installing a superior court, the constituent assembly adjourned sine die on the 23d of November, 1824.

For a long time past there had been differences between Guatemala and Salvador upon ecclesiastical matters. The latter not only claimed an authoritative voice in the political affairs of Central America, but also to be placed upon an independent footing as regarded the ecclesiastical. Hence the anxiety to have a bishopric erected at San Salvador. This matter assumed a threatening aspect, and engaged the attention of ccclesiastics and statesmen, as well as the public at large in both sections of the country. The details will be given in a separate chapter treating of the church in Central America. It is in order to state here, however, that the disputes about the diocese of San Salvador had a deep influence in the country's politics. The contending parties had taken up the question. The liberals in both states sided with José Matías Delgado, who had been appointed by the Salvador legislature the first bishop. The servile clement, on the other hand, supported the archbishop of Guatemala. But after a time Delgado, who was not unmindful of his purposes, supported President Arce, thus forsaking his former friends, and joining the servile party. A marked change occurred soon after, however, the relations between Arce and Delgado becoming cold because the latter suspected that Arce really sympathized with the archbishop. The liberals failed not to strengthen that suspicion, nor to fan the flame.1

Jefe Villacorta, owing to impaired health, surrendered the government to the vice-jefe, Mariano Prado, whose first act was one of opposition to the national government, by repealing Arce's convocation of October 10th for a new congress, and issuing one

At this time Salvador became the asylum of the liberal party.

5 Arce alleged that Molina and others had induced Villacorta to believe he was the only man who could right political wrongs; but he found he could not do this, and so resigned. Mem., GO-1.

RULE OF CORNEJO AND PRADO.

167

of his own, on December 6, 1826, appointing Ahuachapan, in Salvador, as the place of assemblage. Prado now began the military preparations which were followed by a war between Salvador and the federal government, and which terminated with the overthrow of the servile party by Morazan.

A liberal policy was for a short time pursued in Salvador under the rule of José M. Cornejo, who had become the jefe in January 1829, and peace reigned during the next three years. But in 1832 it was again disturbed. The government of the state, becoming dissatisfied with its former hero, Morazan, attempted to secede from the union, but was brought under subjection. Cornejo was deposed, and, together with those who aided him in the rebellion, was sent to Guatemala as a prisoner, to be dealt with according to law. Elections for authorities were then held, and Mariano Prado was chosen jefe,' and Joaquin San Martin y Ulloa vice-jefe. A period of liberalism now commenced, like that of Guatemala in 1829. Several liberal measures were adopted, one of which was the establishment decreed August 21, 1832-of a single, very moderate, direct tax.10 This enactment,

intended to relieve the exhausted treasury, met with violent opposition in San Salvador, and sedition broke out on the 24th in several wards; but the rioters were dispersed. Prado issued a proclamation expressing his resolution to uphold the law and maintain order; but as the excitement continued, he ordered that the supreme authorities should transfer themselves to the villa de Cojetepeque on the 31st." On the 14th

Convents were abolished March 1, 1830. A college was established in July of the following year; and the state seemed to have recovered from the losses of the late war.

Cornejo could not be in accord with the federal authorities; he was a servile, and in league with their enemies. Montúfar, Reseña Hist., i. 334. The executive authority was held for a while by Morazan himself. Marure, Efem., 30, 62,

To accept the position he resigned the vice-presidency of the republic. Montúfar, Reseña Hist., ii. 6.

10 Tithes had been suppressed and trial by jury introduced.

11 The public archives and artillery were to be also removed. The comandante-general was to remain behind with four cannons and 200 muskets.