commander-in-chief of the cavalry troops of the line, and accept ed the office. He shortly afterwards retired to Montevideo. Orders were issued prohibiting the use of fire-arms by citizens not in the municipal service. The prisoners who had been sent to Balina Blanca in the preceding March were set at liberty, and returned to the capital. So that in Buenos Ayres Proper and in Santa Fe, to which Provinces alone the new arrangement related, quiet was considered as being fairly established. The deficit in the revenue of 1828 was ascertained to have been more than thirteen millions, while the amount collected during the same period was less than four. The governor was inducted into office on the 28th August. The installation of the senado consultativo took place on the 16th of September. Seventeen of the twenty four members chosen were considered Federalists. It was hoped that Viamout, being a moderate man, would mediate between the parties; and in his inaugural proclamation, he declared his intention to bury past political feuds in oblivion, and to punish with all the severity of the laws, those who should violate them, or raise the cry of sedition. The ministers before mentioned, and whom he retained, were also understood to be Federalists, but moderate men in their views and feelings. Some clouds hung over the initiation of the new Government into its functions. Several of the members of the consultative Senate did not attend, and others, under various pretexts resigned their places. This circumstance, together with another equally suspicious, which was, that the sittings were strictly private, diminished the public confidence in the stability of the new Government. The Council, however, elected a President and Vice President, and adopted measures in relation to the revenue, and the protection of the frontiers against the Indians. Their legislation had some effect in both instances, for the moment; as the value of ounces fell in the stock market from $120 to $92; and apprehensions from the inroads of the Indians were quieted by the organization of what was deemed a sufficient force, under General Paduco. The Secretary of State, wisely, at this period, besought the new Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Fe, to relieve the country from the inconvenience of the innumerable holidays, with which ecclesiastical shrewdness gratified constitutional laziness in Catholic South America, and makes idleness a work of holiness. We do not learn that the Bishop complied even nominally, with the request; and the evil still exists, and will exist, until the removal of the final cause. An interesting communication was received about this time from the widow of the murdered Dorrego. The honor of representatives at a former period, had voted one hundred thousand dollars to him for the services he had rendered his country; and the existing Government honestly or from policy, being desirous of not participating in any of the stain of his execution, decreed the pay ment of stock to that amount, to his widow. She informed them that in the few hours between the intimation of his sentence and its being carried into effect, he had thought of his country and of the gallant army just returned from the Brazilian campaign; and had enjoined it upon her to put one third of the amount voted to him, at the disposal of the Government. The offer, however, was declined. Acting further on this generous or politic principle, the Government passed a decree on the 29th October, directing the remains of Dorrego to be conveyed from the church of Navarro, where they had been deposited, to the cemetery north of the city of Buenos Ayres, where a monument was ordered to be erected to his memory. The removal and interment took place in December following with great pomp and ceremony, and nothing seemed wanting to the only atonement which could then be made, but the immolation of Lavalle to the manes. A treaty of friendship and alliance, between the Provinces of Buenos Ayres and Santa Fe was ratified in October. Rosas and Lopez, the Governor of Santa Fe, were sworn friends. The treaty bound them to mutual protection against their neighbors, provided for the reimbursement of the expenses of the army under Rosas and authorized the Government of Buenos Ayres to transact all foreign affairs with European and American States. The Government of Santa Fe promised to procure the consent of the two Provinces of Entre-rios and Corrientes, not only to obtain equal authorization in favor of the Government of Buenos Ayres, but also that they might be allied together by express compacts, and form one cause with the Province of Buenos Ayres, conforming themselves to its political and constitutional principles. The appearance of affairs thus continued to grow better. Justice obtained some of its legitimate victims, who had been guilty of assassinations. The foreign ministers resident in the city partook in festivities with those of the Government. A decree, however, prohibiting, under severe penalties, the publication of any remarks concerning the conventions of June 24th and August 24th, indicated a sense of insecurity. On the 6th of December, Rosas was elected Governor and Captain General of the provinceof Buenos Ayres, by the House of Representatives, receiving thirtytwo votes; there being only one against him. A Lieutenant Colonel, named Smith, had made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the officers and men of his regiment to revolt, and join Paz in Cordova. The alarm created by the rumor of this transaction seems to have been the pretext for investing the new Governor with extraordinary powers. He was installed on the 8th of December, and issued proclamations to the citizens, to the army and navy, and to the militia. He retained Guido and Garcia in their respective appointments, and appointed I. R. Balcarce minister of war. He issued circulars to the Governors of all the provinces, urging the importance of reunion, by every consideration of wisdom and policy. He alluded among other things to the severe neutrality of the first republic of this continent; and stated that a war of twenty years with Spain had not been sufficient to secure the political independence of the Argentine states; nor could it be secured without a strict federation. Rosas was considered a bigot, and the House of Representatives seemed disposed to favor his views by resolution against the extent to which freedom of religious opinion and worship had been previously tolerated in Buenos Ayres. The Governor was also solicited to open a correspondence with the Pope. The Press was put under most rigid restraints; and the accounts which the journals furnish of passing events, are of course meagre and delusive. The majority of the people of Cordova, from inclination or fear, submitted to Paz, the usurping Governor, who was at this time at the head of 4000 men, most of whom belonged to the militia. The province was in a wretched condition, however, disturbed by the insurgent peasantry, with whom frequent skirmishes took place. A convention between this province and that of Buenos Ayres was published in January. A mutual co-operation against foreign invasion was agreed upon; and an alliance offensive and defensive, against the Indians, was entered into. The government of Buenos Ayres was also authorized, as it had been at the convention with Santa Fe, to transact the business of the province in its foreign relations. The two governments invited those of the other provinces to convoke assemblies for the organization of the nation, as soon as internal troubles should have been quieted. But this consummation was far from being at hand. Quiroga had taken the field against Paz; and the latter availed himself, perfidiously, as is alleged, of an improper opportunity, to cut up the forces of his antagonist. Commissioners from Buenos Ayres, despatched to effect a pacification of the disturbances, according to the terms of the convention above referred to, were in Quiroga's camp, on the plains of Laguna Larga. He expected of course no immediate assault. His force consisted of 2300 men. On the 25th of February Paz came upon him by surprise, with 3200, and, after six hours' engagement, 1000 men were killed or missing, and all the baggage, infantry, and artillery of Quiroga, were captured. His cavalry was dispersed, and he betook himself to Buenos Ayres, where he was well received by the government party. Indignation was generally felt at the conduct of Paz, and a rupture with Cordova was anticipated. The Unitarians however exulted in the success of Paz. I has been mentioned that Lavalle retired to Montevideo. He sent in his resignation as commander in chief of the cavalry, in no very respectful terms. Most of his party, on the establishment of Rosas in the government, left the city in disgust. They complained loudly of the weakness of the administration. Instead of ordering the election of a new legislature, the government had reinstated the old one, whose acts had been specially displeasing to the Unitarians. The funeral honors decreed to Dorrego, the re-establishment of intercourse with the Pope, and the legislative suppression of all writings printed during Lavalle's continuance in power, criticising the acts of the now dominant party, were all equally offensive to that which had been ejected from power. Many of them, in consequence, joined Paz in Cordova. In reply to a communication from Paz, giving an account of his defeating Quiroga, in which the blame was of course laid on the latter, an answer was despatched on the 16th March by the Buenos Ayrean government. The efforts it had made to prevent the further effusion of blood, and the expectations it had cherished from the mission of the commissioners, charged to mediate between all parties, were set forth; and the hope was expressed that the affair of the 25th February might be the last, in which Argentine blood would be shed by fraternal hands. The hopes of the Unitarians generally became stronger. Sev Some of their complaints seem not to have been unfounded. Rosas certainly carried it with a high hand, in relation to them.-eral of the interior provinces were By a decree, dated March 13th, it was declared that Every person who might be publicly considered as author, abetter or accomplice of the affair of December 1st, 1828, (the date of Lavalle's usurpation) or any of the outrages committed against the laws by the intrusive government, and who had not given and should not thenceforward give unequivocal proof that they viewed such proceedings with abomination, should be punished as guilty of rebellion.' And the decree went on to enact, that All persons who either by word or writing, or in any other manner, should manifest themselves in favor of the said meeting of December 16th, or any of the aforesaid outrages, should be equally punished.' Despotism cannot go farther than to attempt a suppression of the privilege of speech; and despotism itself canot effect it. understood to be in their favor.- Cordilleras, by a detachment of troops, and made prisoners. The Chamber of Representatives met pursuant to adjournment in Buenos Ayres, on the 3d of May. The governor informed them, that, during their brief recess, the foreign relations of the country had remained in statu quo; that though the government had vainly used every effort to prevent the effusion of blood in Cordova and Cuyo, its zeal was not diminished for the attainment of peace, nor would its exertions be relaxed. As to the revenue, it was frankly admitted, that very great sacrifices must be made to put the credit of the country on any tolerable footing. The depreciation of the despised currency paralyzed industry, and menaced the community at large with hopeless distress and embarrass ment. The Chambers passed a law prohibiting the exportation of coin and bullion, which had a partial effect in lowering the difference of exchange. The actual value of the currency of the country, at this time, may be estimated from the fact, that flour of inferior quality was sold at $70 the barrel. Higher duties were laid on several of the most important articles of importation. Trade, notwithstanding, continued in a most languishing condition, and very few American vessels visited the port. The Governor made a tour in the interior, for the purpose of inspecting the state of the country. Deputies were appointed by the provinces of Buenos Ayres, Entre Rios, Corrientes and Santa Fe, to settle definite terms of peace and alliance between them, and strong hopes were entertained of their successful negotiation. New troubles and rumors of insurrections, however, arose, which induced the legislature on the 21st of July, again to invest the Governor with extraordinary powers, to continue during the existence of the crisis. Corbolan, the ex-governor of Mendoza, made an attempt to retake that city, and his force was entirely cut up by the Indians. He was slain, with nearly all his principal officers. But we have reached the limits assigned to the present barren record.Since the memorable July of this year, the attention of the world has been occupied with far more important events than the comparatively petty affairs of the Argentine provinces. We cannot but hope, however, that the influence of these events may be salutary as regards them; and that in the general advancement of the cause of freedom, they may become enlightened enough, not only to understand but to act upon the principles, that in union alone there is strength, and that civil liberty cannot be enjoyed under the sway of priests and generals. In the state of Monte Video, during the period we have passed over, Rondeau the Governor, was deposed by a movement excited by his improper trafficking with ambitious men. A new constitution was adopted, which was guarantied by Buenos Ayres and Brazil, and was sworn to in July. |