The Audiencia in the Spanish Colonies: As illustrated by the Audiencia of Manila (1583-1800)Cunningham, Charles Henry
History
The Audiencia in the Spanish Colonies: As illustrated by the Audiencia of Manila (1583-1800)
Cunningham, Charles Henry
Philippines -- History -- 1521-1812; Spain -- Colonies -- Administration
These disagreements have been discussed in the foregoing pages largely
from the view-point of the audiencia. Practically all the charges and
complaints which have been cited were made in behalf of the audiencia,
and these show the magistrates in almost all cases to have been acting
in defense of their rights against usurpation and tyranny. Fairness
demands, however, that the other side should be presented in the
same manner. [559] Reference will now be made to a few of the many
memorials heretofore unquoted, which were sent by various governors
in protest against the alleged excesses of the audiencia.
As a first instance we may note the criticisms which Governor Gómez
Pérez Dasmariñas made of the first audiencia which served from 1584
to 1589. We shall also consider the complaints which Dasmariñas made
against Pedro de Rojas, former oidor and later teniente and asesor of
that governor (1589-1593). Dasmariñas came to the colony shortly after
the first audiencia had been suppressed and from his correspondence
one may estimate the prevailing opinion of the tribunal which had
been recently removed. The governor wrote as follows:
As the royal Audiencia was here so haughty and domineering, he
(Pedro de Rojas) retains that authority and harshness, with which
he tries to reduce all others as his vassals. In the matters of
justice that he discusses, he is unable to be impartial, but is
in many matters very biased. This is because of his trading and
trafficking, which the president and all the auditors (oidores)
carried on from the time of their arrival--and with so great
avidity, trying to secure it all to themselves, that I find no
rich men here beside them. This is the reason why Rojas ... and
the auditors opposed the pancada in order that the consignments
of money sent by them to China might not be known--which, at last,
have come to light. [560]
The governor charged the audiencia, moreover, with having opposed
the three per cent tax levied for the construction of the city
wall. Indeed, he accused the magistrates of having influenced
the friars to oppose all his acts as governor. He referred to
the commercial excesses of the oidores, saying: "If the matter of
inspection and the residencia held here had fallen to my order and
commission, as it fell to that of the Viceroy of Nueva España, I
would have proved to your Majesty the investments of past years." He
concluded with the statement that Rojas had been so busy with gain that
he had been unable to attend to his other duties; he was "puffed up
with the authority and name of auditor" (i. e., oidor). He protested
against the transfer of Rojas to an office in Mexico, "for," he wrote,
"such men go delighted with their interests and gains from trade here,
they are fettered and biased by their relations with the trade of
this country."
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