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
the 11th of April, 1844,[XI-43] and all officers were required to take
an oath to support it. Pinto, the comandante general, refused to do so
without first consulting Alfaro and others. He tried to make an armed
opposition, but did not succeed, and was dismissed, Colonel José María
Quiroz superseding him.[XI-44]
The publication of the new fundamental law was celebrated with feasts
for three days. But the fact of Pinto's dismissal from the command
of the forces caused serious divisions in families,[XI-45] which has
been felt ever since in the political events of the country. The two
chambers decreed by the constituent assembly complicated the political
machinery, and the enemies of the new constitution exaggerated its
defects. The necessity of a senate in Costa Rica was not clear, for
the composition of the house of deputies was such that it required
impulsion rather than checks. Therefore, what would be the mission of
the senate?[XI-46]
[Sidenote: MOYA, GALLEGOS, AND ALFARO.]
Alfaro reassumed the duties of the executive office on the
28th of June, on which date Castro resigned his position of
secretary-general,[XI-47] to take a seat in the chamber of deputies,
which was installed on the 3d of July. The first duty of this body
was to count the votes for senators; but the returns were coming in
very slowly, so that the senate did not assemble till the 12th of
November.[XI-48] Both houses then on the 15th declared Francisco María
Oreamuno duly elected jefe of the state. He took possession of the
office with reluctance.[XI-49] The spirit of localism which caused so
much trouble in 1835 was still rampant, and Oreamuno found himself
confronted by it. Whatever measure was proposed in favor of any one
locality was certain to displease the others. Rather than contend
with such difficulties, he tendered, on the 26th of November, his
resignation, which was not accepted; but he was resolved to retire,
and one day, being more than usually disgusted, he abandoned his post
and went off to his home in Cartago.[XI-50] His successor was Rafael
Moya, then president of the senate,[XI-51] who exerted himself to
do away with localism, and to promote harmony between the several
sections; but his senatorial term expiring on the 30th of April, 1845,
he could no longer continue holding the executive authority, and the
chamber of deputies called to assume its duties Senator José Rafael
Gallegos,[XI-52] who was made chief of the state at the expiration
of Juan Moran's second term. He took the chair on the 1st of May. An
ominous cloud could already be descried away in the horizon. The new
constitution had thus early become an object of abuse, even by the
men who had enthusiastically proclaimed it, and acrimoniously censured
Pinto for refusing it recognition.[XI-53]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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