History of Central America, Volume 3, 1801-1887: The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 8Bancroft, Hubert Howe
History
History of Central America, Volume 3, 1801-1887: The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 8
Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Central America -- History
RULE OF CARRILLO CONTINUED—PLOTS FOR ITS OVERTHROW—INVASION
OF MORAZAN—CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT—MORAZAN'S
POLICY—OPPOSITION—REVOLTS—MORAZAN'S DEFEAT AND
DEATH—SATISFACTION OF THE OLIGARCHS—MEASURES
OF THE VICTORS—NEW CONSTITUTION—SUBSEQUENT
AMENDMENTS—SEDITION—CASTRO'S ADMINISTRATION—COSTA RICA
DECLARED A REPUBLIC—RECOGNITION BY SPAIN—RELATIONS
WITH OTHER POWERS—BOUNDARY QUESTIONS WITH NICARAGUA AND
COLOMBIA—PRESIDENT JUAN RAFAEL MORA—HIS REPRESSIVE MEASURES.
Carrillo, believing himself clothed with unlimited authority, on the
8th of March, 1841, issued what he called a 'ley de garantias,' giving
himself a life tenure of office and inviolability.[XI-1] The supreme
government was made to consist of the executive, and two chambers,
named respectively 'consultiva' and 'judicial,' whose members were to
be chosen by electoral colleges.[XI-2] Intending to celebrate with
éclat the inauguration of the cámara consultiva, Carrillo recalled
from exile Juan Mora and four others.[XI-3] The consultiva, following
Carrillo's wishes, elected Manual Antonio Bonilla segundo jefe.[XI-4]
The enemies of the present ruler were numerous, and increasing. They
called Morazan to their aid, through General Bermudez of Peru.
[Sidenote: MORAZAN AND SARAVIA.]
Morazan sailed from Chiriquí in Panamá, and after visiting several
places in Central America landed with about 500 men at Caldera[XI-5]
on the 7th of April, 1842. With him were generals Saget, Cabañas,
Saravia, and Rascon.[XI-6] Carrillo heard of the invasion in the
evening of the 8th, and at once assumed personal command of the troops
to operate against the enemy, turning over the executive office to
Bonilla, the vice-jefe,[XI-7] and providing other measures for an
active campaign. Nearly 1,000 men under Colonel Vicente Villaseñor
composed the expedition, among whose captains and lieutenants were some
of the wealthiest persons in the country.[XI-8] Morazan had issued a
manifesto assuring the Costa Ricans that his policy would be one of
order, union, and progress, to accomplish which Braulio Carrillo must
be ousted from power. As the government forces approached the invaders,
Villaseñor made known its contents to his command, and asked whether
they were for fighting or for a peaceable arrangement. Both officers
and men almost unanimously[XI-9] favored the latter, and a convention
was concluded at Jocote on the 11th of April, by virtue of which the
two forces fraternized, becoming one army. It was further agreed that
a constituent assembly should be called to reorganize the state, the
government meanwhile remaining in charge of Morazan, or in his absence
in that of Vicente Villaseñor.[XI-10] This convention was accepted
on the next day at San José by Carrillo, with a few additions which
did in no wise vitiate it, and Morazan afterward ratified the whole
at Heredia.[XI-11] He was enthusiastically welcomed at Alajuela and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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