Mr. Partridge to Mr.
Gresham
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, June 23, 1893.
(Received July 1.)
No. 52.]
Sir: Within a few days the National Constituent
Assembly has completed a new constitution which goes into effect at once. It
has not yet been published, but I hope to be able to send you a copy by the
following mail, with such explanations as may be required. It provides for a
Presidential term of four years, dating from February next, when
Constitutional President and Congress are to be installed. In the meantime
by a separate act the assembly, on the 16th instant, continued General
Crespo at the head of the executive power until the President, elected in
accordance with the provisions of the constitution, enters upon the
discharge of his functions. The provisional executive is also charged with
the immediate organization of provisional governments for the several
states. I inclose a copy and translation of that act.
The assembly on the 13th instant formally approved all of the acts of General
Crespo as chief of the revolution and chief of the National Executive. (Copy
of decree and translation inclosed.)
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
52.—Translation.]
The National Constituent Assembly of the United States of Venezuela.
Considering:
That the national constitution having been sanctioned, it is
indispensable to establish the steps which must be followed in order
that there may be organized in conformity with it, in the shortest
possible period, both the Republic and the states which compose it; Decrees:
- Article 1. The National Executive
will be presided over provisionally by the chief of the
revolution, General Joaquin Crespo, until the President of the
United States of Venezuela, who maybe elected in conformity to
the constitution, enters upon the discharge of his
functions.
- Art. 2. The National Constituent
Assembly will appoint the members of the council of government,
of the high federal court and of the court of Casación, all of whom will continue in the discharge
of their respective functions until they may be replaced, in
conformity with the provisions of the constitution.
- Art. 3. The Provisional Executive of
the Republic will proceed immediately to organize the
provisional governments of the states; and they, those of the
respective districts.
- Separate paragraph.—The chief of the
national executive will also organize provisionally the federal
district in such a way that it may enter at once upon the
enjoyment of the autonomy which the constitution establishes
with reference to the economical and administrative management
of the municipality.
- Art. 4. The provisional governments
of the states will convoke the people to election, to name their
respective constituent assemblies, in such way that said bodies
may be installed the 1st day of October next, or as soon
thereafter as possible.
- Art. 5. The constitutions of the
states having been sanctioned in perfect harmony with the
fundamental charter of the Republic, the provisional governments
will again convoke the people to hold their respective
elections, to name their magistrates and constitutional bodies
and deputies to the National Congress. These elections will take
place at the same times which will be fixed by the law which the
National Constituent Assembly is to enact for the elections of
constitutional President of the Republic and deputies for the
federal district to the National Congress.
- Art. 6. The times to which the
foregoing article refers will be fixed in such a way that the
constitutional legislative assemblies of the states may be
installed the 20th day of January, 1894, or as soon thereafter
as possible; and in giving possession to the magistrates who may
have been elected, all of the political entities of the Union
shall be constitutionally organized.
- Art. 7. The constitutional congress
of 1894 shall be installed on the date fixed by the
Constitution.
- Art. 8. The Provisional Executive of
the Republic will dictate his orders so that, from the date on
which the provisional governments of the states organize, in
conformity with the provision of the third article of this
decree, they shall commence to receive the revenue which
corresponds to them by bimonthly quotas, which will be
calculated upon the amount given as the division of said revenue
by the last general budget of revenues and expenses approved by
congress.
- Art. 9. While future constitutional
congresses are harmonizing the national legislation with the new
constitution, there remain in force all the laws which were in
effect in the Republic on the 14th day of March, 1892, in so far
as they are not opposed to the prescriptions of the fundamental
charter.
- Art. 10. The provisional interregnum
which is established by this decree is not included in the
prescription of article 71 of the constitution, which refers to
constitutional periods.
Given in the hall of its sessions, in Caracas, the 16th of June, 1893,
30th year of the law and 35th of the federation. President of the
Assembly,
Feliciano Acevedo.
Deputy secretary,
F. Tosta Garcia.
Federal Palace in Caracas, June 21, 1893.
Let it be executed, and let care he taken in its execution.
Joaquin Crespo,
Countersigned:
The minister of internal affairs,
[Inclosure 2 in
52.—Translation.]
The National Constituent Assembly enacts:
- Article 1. All and each one of the
acts of General Joaquin Crespo, as chief of the revolution and
as chief of the national executive, are approved.
- Art. 2. The contracts celebrated
under the authority of the said chief of the national executive
remain submitted to the consideration of the next Congress, in
order that they may be approved or rejected by the legislative
houses conformably to their constitutional powers, which this
assembly as a constituent body lacks.
There will be submitted also to the next constitutional congress the acts
emanating from the national administration during the next provisional
interregnum.
Given in the hall of its sessions in
Caracas, the 13th of June, 1893, 30th year of the law
and 36th of the federation.
President:
Feliciano
Acevedo.
