Office of the Historian

Mr. Partridge to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, July 1, 1893. (Received July 12.)
No. 55.]

Sir: The National Constituent Assembly, which was convened May 1, completed its work and adjourned sine die on the 24th ultimo. Its principal acts were:

  • First. A new constitution, which will be promulgated with appropriate ceremonies in Caracas and in each one of the states on the 5th of July, the eighty-third anniversary of the independence of Venezuela. I regret that it is not yet possible to obtain a copy for transmission to the Department.
  • Second. The formal approval of all of the acts of Gen. Crespo as chief of the revolution and chief of the national executive, reported in my No. 52 of June 23.
  • Third. The continuance of Gen. Crespo as provisional chief of the [Page 729] executive until the inauguration of a constitutionally elected President in February next, also reported in the same dispatch.
  • Fourth. A law for the conduct of the national elections; and
  • Fifth. An act of general amnesty for all political crimes and offenses committed in the Republic to December 31, 1892, a copy and translation of which are herewith inclosed. Gen. Crespo by an executive decree, dated March 14, and reported in my No. 11 of March 18,* had previously granted a pardon to all those engaged in the late civil war, with the exception of 96 of the higher officials of the Andueza Palacio government.

I have, etc.,

Frank C. Partridge.
[Inclosure in No. 55.—Translation.]

The National Constituent Assembly considering:

That it is sound policy to destroy from the root the ill feelings which the civil war engendered, by means of a grand example of magnanimity, as also to invite ail Venezuelans to a new era of peace and fraternity, and that the chief of the executive power, in the account which he has just rendered, recommends an act of clemency in favor of those excepted from the pardon of the 14th of March of this year; decrees:

Single Article.

Full amnesty is conceded for all political crimes and offenses committed in the Republic to the 31st of December, 1892. In consequence the judgment of responsibility is remitted to which the executive decree promulgated March 14th last refers, and the precautionary dispositions are without effect which were dictated to effectuate said judgment.

Given in the hall of its sessions in Caracas, the 18th of May, 1893, thirtieth and thirty-fifth.

President:

J. A. Velutini.

Secretary:

F. Tosta Garcia.

Federal Palace in Caracas, the 24th of May, 1893, thirtieth year of the law and thirty-fifth of the federation.

Let it be executed, and let care be taken in its execution.

Joaquin Crespo.

Countersigned, etc.

  1. Not printed.↩