Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 411.
Mr. Biddle to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
San Salvador, July 22, 1872. (Received August 19.)

No. 65.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and translation of a decree dated the 9th instant, by virtue of which President Gonzalez resumed his official functions.

My No. 61 has informed you-of the succeeding turbulence. By decree dated the 17th instant (a copy and translation of which is hereto annexed) President Gonzalez, reviewing the exigency of the situation, assumed dictatorial powers for the preservation of tranquillity and peace, and created a strict censorship of the press, the government taking the responsibility of its actions, to be accounted for to the congress hereafter—the decree to have effect from its date, and to cease when the circumstances creating it have terminated.

On the 18th instant the President addressed a “manifesto” to the Salvadoreans, * * briefly reviewing his record, exposing the perils of the times, and declaring that in the interests of peace, order, and liberty his policy is founded, and also his steadfast devotion to republican freedom. It thus concludes:

Fellow-citizens, have confidence in my loyalty; and, fearing nothing which I now may do in bringing to a happy close the work for which I am responsible, confidently hope the reign of that liberty which will bring order, progress, and stability to our country. Such are the assurances, desires, and promises of your friend and fellow-countryman.

This morning, at 4 o’clock, Ex-President Dueñas was taken from prison, and, under a guard, sent en route for the port of La Libertad, from whence he will go by steamer to Panama, the government having taken his bond, with five securities in $10,000 each, that he will not return to Salvador within four years without permission from the authorities, and the hypothecation of all his large estate to abide the result of the civil procedures against him.

Thus terminates the case of Dueñas, so far as the guarantee to the United States is concerned, the government of Salvador having complied with its compact with my predecessor. Also, by the same opportunity, a number of individuals obnoxious to the government were banished. Among these are mentioned the priest Orillaña, supposed to have been the instigator of the riot at Oojutepeque, as stated in the extract from the Official Bulletin of the 18th instant, * * also Señor Don Rafael Campo, of Sonsonate, ex-President of the country; Señor Don Manuel Galliado, ex-minister of the interiors Jose Lopez, ex-governor of Santa Teela; Señor Berrios, a prominent lawyer; and a number of Capuchin priests and others.

All the above related procedures emanate from the assumed dictatorial power, and are repugnant to the constitution, which guarantees the liberty of speech and of the press, specifies the method of procedure in the event of the violation of the proprieties of either, and prescribes that extradition is unlawful save in compliance with judicial process, as per my dispatch No. 13.

On the other hand, the execution of the article in the late treaty with Guatemala concerning the expulsion of the Jesuits has roused to hostility a powerful portion of the community, and an anarchical spirit has prevailed to an alarming extent, tending to the overthrow of the present administration and involving the assassination of the President. Aware of the extreme peril of the situation, President Gonzalez has acted with prompt decision; he has assumed a power above the constitution, declaring himself responsible to the legislature alone, and the future will, test the purity of his intentions as well as the wisdom of the desperate remedy which he has adopted.

The resignation of Señor Antonio Grimaldi as minister of the interior has been accepted.

General Borja Bustamente has not acted as minister of war since the hostilities with Honduras.

I am, &c.,

THOS. BIDDLE.

[Translation.]

Decree of the government.

Manuel Mendez, vice-president of the republic, exercising the executive power, considering that the reasons having ceased for the deposit which the constitutional President made with the vice-president of the executive power on the 10th of May of this year in the city of Sensuntepeque, I decree—

Only article. The constitutional President, Field-Marshal Don Santiago Gonzalez, assumes the executive power of the nation from this date.

Given in the National Palace, at San Salvador, the 9th of July, 1872.

• MANUEL MENDEZ.
• The Minister of the Interior,
  A. Grimaldi.

[Translation.]

Governmental decree.

Santiago Gonzalez, field-marshal, constitutional President of the republic of Salvador, considering—

That from the information received in investigating the origin and results of the revolutionary movement which broke out in Cojutepeque on the 9th instant, it is clearly proved that the reactionaries and disaffected to the government plot secretly against the security of the state, especially devoting their criminal labors to the most valuable portions of the republic;

That in the presence of the activity of the enemies of order, of their clandestine operations, and the imminent danger, the procedures consonant to the laws of the republic appear insufficient, and the guarantees established for the worthy citizens have been converted into shields for the evil-doers; and it being the first duty of the government to preserve the established order, to protect the social interests, and to invigorate the principle of authority, the only safeguard of any political community in circumstances as the present, I have thought well, in accord with the wisest and worthiest portion of the community, and in view of Articles 17 (sections 1 and 2) and 98, of the constitution, to issue the following decree:

• Article 1. The executive power of the republic will dictate and execute all the measures conducive to the preservation of peace and interior tranquillity, consulting only the public good, and the greatest expedition in the civil and military action.
• Article 2. No publication, periodical or otherwise, of whatever description, shall be circulated, unless, beforehand, a copy shall have been submitted to the minister of the interior.
• Article 3. The owners or managers of the press who may disregard the previous article shall suffer a fine of from one to two hundred dollars for the first offense, and the office shall be closed upon a repetition.
• Article 4. The government assumes, consequently, the responsibility of its actions, for which it will account, with the opportunity, to the national representatives.
• Article 5. This decree shall take effect from the date of its promulgation, and shall cease when the circumstances creating it have terminated.

Given in San Salvador, in the National Palace, the 17th July, 1872.

SANTIAGO GONZALEZ.