END OF FILIBUSTERING IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
1856-1867.
RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENT RIVAS BY THE UNITED STATES—WALKER'S
HOSTILE ATTITUDE—FLIGHT OF RIVAS—WALKER MAKES HIMSELF
PRESIDENT—ALLIANCE AGAINST HIM—DEATH OF ESTRADA—THE
LEGITIMISTS ACCEPT RIVAS—COSTA RICANS AND NICARAGUANS
IN RIVAS—DESTRUCTION OF GRANADA—IT IS OCCUPIED BY
ALLIED FORCES—WALKER REOCCUPIES RIVAS—WHERE HE IS
BESIEGED—SUCCESSES OF THE COSTA RICANS—FAILURE OF LOCKRIDGE'S
EXPEDITION—SURRENDER OF WALKER—WAR OF NICARAGUA AND COSTA
RICA—COMMODORE PAULDING AND WALKER'S SECOND ATTEMPT—WALKER'S
INVASION OF HONDURAS, CAPTURE, AND EXECUTION—GOVERNMENT
REORGANIZED—PRESIDENT MARTINEZ' ADMINISTRATIONS.
After the departure of the Costa Rican forces from Rivas, toward
the end of April or beginning of May 1856, Walker visited the town,
treating harshly the principal citizens—men who loved their country
better than they loved designing interlopers—and causing one to be
hanged.[XVII-1] This was done to terrify his enemies. Leaving Hornsby
as military governor, with a garrison, Walker went back to Granada.
His army here was also being decimated by the epidemic, but its ranks
were replenished from the passengers brought by the steamships, which
still were his efficacious auxiliaries. Meanwhile the presence of the
combined forces of the other states in the west was felt in the towns
of the western departments, chiefly in Chontales and Matagalpa,[XVII-2]
the natives yearning for relief from foreign domination. A meeting of
military officers held on the 20th of April at Matagalpa, and presided
over by General Fernando Chamorro, adopted resolutions in favor of
restoring Estrada as the legitimate president.[XVII-3] This movement
came to naught; Chamorro, being defeated, passed into Honduras.
The democratic party, desirous as much as possible of being away
from Walker's oppressive influence, had the government seat removed
to Leon.[XVII-4] The general started from Granada May 31st with his
best officers and 300 infantry, for Leon, where he was greeted as a
conquering hero.[XVII-5] While there he approved of, or maybe prompted,
the decree of June 10th, convoking congress, and for the election of
a chief magistrate. He had in view to bring about his own election as
president, intending after that to throw off his democratic friends,
whose loyalty he distrusted. Very satisfactory news, both to him
and the government, came at this time. The government of the United
States had recognized Father Agustin Vigil as minister plenipotentiary
accredited at Washington by Rivas. This recognition was of great
advantage to Walker.[XVII-6]
[Sidenote: DISSENSIONS.]
On the 11th, after Walker had departed on his return to Granada,
leaving Colonel Bruno Naztmer in command, this officer ordered foreign
soldiers to take the place of the natives in the steeples of the
cathedral. Minister of war Jerez countermanded it, and being disobeyed
by Naztmer,[XVII-7] the government became much alarmed, Rivas and
Jerez starting forthwith for Chinandega,[XVII-8] whence Walker was
directed to concentrate the foreign forces in Granada. Upon hearing at
Masaya of the occurrences of the 11th and 12th, he countermarched as
far as Nagarote, ordering Naztmer to bring there his command; after
which he quartered his troops in Granada, placing, however, strong
garrisons in Managua and Masaya. Rivas thereupon declared Walker a
usurper, traitor, and enemy of the republic, depriving him of his
rank and command.[XVII-9] Walker, on his part, deposed Rivas, calling
Fermin Ferrer, minister of hacienda and government at Granada, who
had identified himself with his cause, to assume the executive office,
for the main purpose, it seemed, of decreeing an election for supreme
authorities, pursuant to the convocation of June 10th, though Rivas had
revoked it on the 14th.[XVII-10]
Under the national constitution, the chief magistrate was not chosen by
the direct suffrages of the people; neither did it permit a military
officer in actual command, much less a foreign one, to be voted for.
Nevertheless, in disregard of that law, the people of the region
controlled by Walker's bayonets were made to give him their suffrages
for the office of president, and 15,835 votes appeared as cast in his
favor.[XVII-11] He was declared elected, and on the 12th of July was
inducted into office with much pomp.[XVII-12] Wheeler, the American
minister, recognized Walker as the legitimate president, and Rivas'
government protested against it,[XVII-13] and declared all relations
between the Nicaraguan government and Wheeler suspended.
Walker's first act was to appoint his cabinet, the chief of it being
Fermin Ferrer.[XVII-14] One of his earliest decrees sounds the keynote
to all this silly usurpation and accompanying infamy; it was the
annulling of the federal law abolishing slavery.[XVII-15] Another
infamous measure was the confiscation of the estates of Nicaraguans who
might take up arms against him.
In a circular of July 3d Rivas appealed to the other Central American
governments for aid to drive out the invaders. The call was answered,
and his government recognized by Guatemala, Honduras, and Salvador,
these three powers agreeing to unite their forces against Walker. Costa
Rica was invited to coöperate, and promptly did so.[XVII-16]
[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF THE LEGITIMISTS.]
While the events thus far recorded were occurring, Estrada, the
legitimist chief, entered Nicaragua, and established his government in
Somotillo, appointing Pedro Joaquin Chamorro his minister-general, and
General Tomás Martinez commander of the army to be raised.[XVII-17]
On hearing that Rivas had been recognized, it was concluded to leave
Somotillo, via Nueva Segovia to Matagalpa, where Gros aroused the
Indians. But on the way, at Ocotal, on the 13th of August, a party
of democrats attacked and defeated them. Estrada tried to flee, but
was overtaken and hacked to death.[XVII-18] The town was plundered,
and papers scattered, after which the assailants went away. Afterward
an instrument was picked up in which Nicasio del Castillo was named
Estrada's successor, who at once assumed the responsibilities of the
position. However, General Martinez and Fernando Guzman, who, though
respecting Estrada's good motives, had disapproved of his persistence
in going contrary to accomplished facts, after his death held a
consultation and concluded that the best policy was to coöperate with
Rivas' government, bearing in mind the principle of legitimacy, though
disregarding means and persons. Martinez and Guzman went to Leon, and
succeeded with the assistance of the allied generals, and Gregorio
Arbizú, the commissioner of Salvador, in making an arrangement by
which there should be but one government in the republic, with certain
legitimists in the cabinet;[XVII-19] pursuant to which the latter was
organized as stated below.[XVII-20] Castillo accepted the arrangement
and assumed the duties to which he was called.
* * * * *
The allied forces, having entered Nicaragua, occupied Leon in
July, and in October advanced upon Managua, forcing Walker, after
several encounters near Nindirí and Masaya, to reconcentrate in
Granada.[XVII-21] Masaya was occupied by the allies October 2d. There
was much division among them, owing to old rivalries, and the need of
an influential commander was evident.[XVII-22] General Martinez was
earnestly requested to hasten his movements and join the army. He had
organized at Matagalpa a body of troops that subsequently bore the name
of Ejército Septentrional, with which he came on; but cholera having
played havoc among his Segovians at Tipitapa, he had to remain in
Nindirí till the scourge abated, when he joined the allies.[XVII-23]
[Sidenote: THE BELLIGERENTS IN ACTION.]
Walker's forces consisted of about 1,200 effective men, mostly
Americans, the rest being English, French, and Germans.[XVII-24] The
climate was his worst enemy. A number of his men succumbed daily,
victims of cholera and fever.[XVII-25] The ranks were further depleted
by desertions.[XVII-26] This was one of the chief reasons why Walker
abandoned Managua and Masaya to concentrate in Granada, keeping,
however, the transit line from San Juan del Sur to La Vírgen. The
filibuster chief now took advantage of the division of the allied
forces—Belloso and Jerez in Masaya, Zavala and Estrada in Diriomo—and
on the 11th of October made a dash with 800 men on Masaya, which
had a garrison of 1,000. He entered the place at eight o'clock and
took positions in Monimbó, south of the town. Early on the 12th he
advanced as far as the blocks contiguous to the plaza, which he would
undoubtedly have taken but for Zavala's attack on Granada.[XVII-27]
On hearing of Walker's movement, Zavala started to the relief of
Masaya. At Diriá he was informed that Walker was routed and in full
retreat to Granada. He then changed his course, and turned up at the
burying-ground of Granada with the view of getting the start of the
enemy; but as the latter did not come, and he had positive information
of the place being weak, he resolved to occupy it at once, though a
heavy rain somewhat retarded the movement. He might have taken the
town by surprise either from the north to south, but went round by
Jalteva.[XVII-28] The allied force had not till then been detected from
the city. But on the officer of the day descrying groups, he went to
ascertain if they were Walker's men, and immediately giving the alarm,
preparations were made to meet the expected assault. Nevertheless, the
allies at two o'clock in the afternoon occupied the buildings on the
plaza, excepting the church, where the foreign sick were intrenched.
Zavala took Walker's house, and finding there a flag, rushed out
waving it, until a bullet struck the flag, and another his surtout,
when he realized his danger. Both the Guatemalans and legitimists gave
themselves up to excesses.[XVII-29] The night of the 12th came on, and
the church had not been taken. Hearing the cannonading or receiving a
report, early that morning Walker hurried back, it being preferable to
save Granada than to take Masaya. In the morning of the 13th, Zavala
learned that the enemy was rapidly approaching, and vainly tried to
check them at Jalteva. Zavala and Estrada fled in the direction of
Diriomo, leaving a considerable number of drunken men in the streets,
who were butchered. Several Guatemalans fell prisoners.[XVII-30]
Zavala's assault of the place where Walker had his base of supplies was
a failure, but it saved the allied army.[XVII-31]
[Sidenote: VERY FAIR FIGHTING.]
A Costa Rican division under General José M. Cañas started for
Nicaragua, November 2d, and notwithstanding the enemy's efforts to
hinder it, occupied San Juan del Sur and the road to La Vírgen, thus
cutting off Walker's communication with either point. It concentrated
at Rivas on the 13th, and was joined by Jerez with 300 Nicaraguans.
It was now in communication with the main combined army, which was
preparing to assail Granada. Belloso received information from a friend
in that city that Walker was on the point of making another dash on
Masaya with 600 men. The allied army, in the city and vicinity, was
now of about 3,600 men,[XVII-32] and leaving out wounded, sick, and
servants, the effective force must have been no less than 3,000. The
filibusters came on the 15th under Bruno Von Naztmer, a German, and
were met outside by Nicaraguans and 600 Guatemalans at three o'clock
in the afternoon. The enemy opened fire, and the Guatemalans fled
panic-stricken. However, the first charge of the filibusters was
checked, and they now assumed the defensive. The Guatemalans returned
to the charge, and heavy fighting followed, which lasted till night.
The next morning Walker took command, Naztmer being wounded, and pushed
his operations into the town, where the allies had concentrated in the
night, burning a number of buildings; but he soon convinced himself
of the impossibility of accomplishing his purpose, and retreated to
Granada in the night of the 18th.[XVII-33] At a council of war, it was
resolved to evacuate the city, after setting fire to the buildings,
leaving a garrison to keep the enemy in check. This work of destruction
was intrusted to Henningsen, who at once ordered the citizens to
leave the place within a few hours before it was consigned to the
flames. And all the time the authors of this vandalism were calling
the Central American defenders of life, home, and liberty savages
and greasers, and themselves lovers of freedom and disseminators of
civilization![XVII-34]
In the early morning of the 24th the allied forces marched out of
Masaya by the Carretas road; at 2 o'clock in the afternoon they were
defiling on the low hills of the Otra banda, from which they could see
the bonfire, made by the self-styled regenerators of Latin America,
consuming seven churches and the public buildings, together with the
dwellings of the citizens of Granada. The same day the allies had
skirmishes with the enemy, and were defeated.[XVII-35] Martinez with
his men from the north next day operated against the San Francisco
building, and the filibusters in fear of being cut off abandoned it,
and concentrated in the plaza. The night of the 25th was a very rainy
one. The 26th the filibusters, being hard pressed in the plaza and
Guadalupe street, kept up a constant cannonade to keep open the way to
the lake. On the 27th the filibusters had been driven from the plaza
and reduced to Guadalupe street between La Sirena, a high house on the
east of the parish church, and the ruins of the church. The Guatemalans
pressed them from the south; the Nicaraguans from the north.[XVII-36]
Henningsen's force was on the 1st of December only 150 men, out of 300
that he had retained to hold the position of Granada with, and being
invited by Zavala to surrender, proudly refused.[XVII-37]
[Sidenote: WALKER WORSTED.]
Walker had occupied San Jorge, distant three miles from Rivas, where
Cañas and Jerez were intrenched, leaving his sick and wounded with
a small guard on the island of Ometepec,[XVII-38] where he thought
they would be safe; but a party of Indians with their priest Tijerino
captured them on the 1st of December, and destroyed everything on the
island that could be of use to the enemy. Walker did not lose sight
of his lieutenant Henningsen, to whom he finally sent relief on the
steamboat _Vírgen_, with which Henningsen captured the small fort that
had so harassed him, and then, December 13th, left on the boat, taking
with him the 115 emaciated men that remained of his original force. The
site of Granada was now fully in possession of the allies,[XVII-39] who
discovered in the woods a number of wounded filibusters, and treated
them humanely, excepting one whom they put to death.
December 11th had been a day of joy in the allied camp, owing to the
arrival of General Florencio Xatruch with the first contingent of
Honduran troops;[XVII-40] but they were cut up in the attack of the
13th by Henningsen. This officer's success in extricating himself with
so much loss to his opponents caused a panic among the allied leaders,
and the breaking out anew of dissension. Belloso and his Salvadorans
went back to Masaya, reporting the discomfiture of the army. Whether
out of spite, or from ignorance of the state of affairs, the general
ordered Cañas to return to Costa Rica, and Jerez to retreat to Masaya.
The latter, as a subordinate, had to obey; but Cañas, having come
to fight the filibusters, would not go back, and accompanied Jerez
to Masaya. Thus was Rivas evacuated by the allies, and reoccupied by
Walker without firing a shot.
The lake steamers were of great advantage to Walker for the quick
transportation of men and supplies, and on the other hand, made it
necessary that the allied chiefs should have strong garrisons in
Granada and Masaya, preventing a movement on La Vírgen and Rivas.
The president of Costa Rica determined to deprive Walker of those
facilities. To this end he despatched his brother, General José Joaquin
Mora, with troops to the confluence of the San Cárlos and San Juan
rivers, who reached it on the 19th of December, and then going down in
canoes to San Juan del Norte, without encountering much resistance,
captured on the 24th four steamers.[XVII-41] They then went up the
San Juan with the steamers, two of which were left at the junction
with the Sarapiquí, and on the 28th took the Castillo Viejo with the
steamboat _Vírgen_, laden with artillery, rifles, and ammunition.
They next possessed themselves of Fort San Cárlos, and soon after of
the steamboat of the same name, which had incautiously approached the
fort. All this being accomplished, Mora was placed in communication
with the allied forces of Granada, and left Walker without means of
transportation by water, or to communicate with the northern sea-coast.
Had the allies acted with reasonable promptness, both on land and
water, Walker's end would have been a matter of only a few days. But
it was retarded by their lack of union and generalship.[XVII-42] His
situation was now critical. Desertions, which were frequent, sickness,
and scarcity of food, daily decreased his force. For all that, he
resisted in Rivas several assaults from both the land and lake till the
23d of February, and struck some heavy blows to the besiegers in San
Jorge.[XVII-43]
[Sidenote: THE INVADERS BESIEGED.]
The allied leaders had, after a council of war on the 23d of
January, at Nandaime, appointed a general-in-chief, and heads of the
several departments. The chief command was conferred on Florencio
Xatruch.[XVII-44] His tenure lasted but a few days, José Joaquin
Mora being finally selected by the governments commander-in-chief,
when he was recognized as such in general orders of February 19th and
20th.[XVII-45]
The allies came to the conclusion that it was advisable to closely
besiege the enemy rather than to attempt further assaults. Xatruch
occupied and held, March 26th, the barrio de la Puebla, south of
the city, which was the only means of free ingress and egress for
the filibusters. Thus was Walker penned. But his friends abroad had
not forgotten him. Three Americans, Lockridge, Anderson, and Wheat,
brought 500 men to San Juan del Norte in March, and undertook to ascend
the river. Lockridge occupied La Trinidad, but Titus was repulsed
at the fort. They then concluded to invade Costa Rica, as was then
supposed, for they essayed to go up the Sarapiquí; but soon after
entering the river their steamer blew up, and the expedition came to
naught.[XVII-46]
The besieged, on hearing of the arrival, April 3d, with reënforcements,
of General Martinez, whose prowess they had learned to respect, became
alarmed, and the next day eighty deserters entered the allied lines. An
assault in force was made April 11th, which failed. Walker's casualties
were quite small, while those of the assailants were heavy.[XVII-47]
The latter secured possession of San Juan del Sur, in order that Walker
should receive no further aid from that quarter. It was now evident
that the filibusters could not hold out much longer. The original
force of 1,000, though more or less augmented with the arrival of every
steamer, had become reduced to about one half that number. The garrison
had an abundance of plantains, but no meat other than that of asses,
mules, and horses.
[Sidenote: CAPITULATION OF WALKER.]
An officer of the United States corvette _Saint Mary's_, which had been
some time lying at San Juan, came on the 24th to Mora's headquarters
to solicit in the name of Commander Charles H. Davis a truce of six
hours, which was granted, for the removal from Rivas of the women,
children, and other non-combatants. Walker, becoming apprised by that
officer of the failure of Lockridge's attempt to succor him, signified
a willingness to capitulate, not to the general-in-chief of the
besieging forces, as was natural, but to commander Davis. To this Mora
assented, in order to bring the war to an end at once, and save himself
from certain complications he apprehended.[XVII-48] The capitulation
being signed and carried out, Walker and sixteen officers, after
bidding adieu to the army on the 1st of May, departed under the escort
of Zavala, for San Juan del Sur, where they embarked on the _Saint
Mary's_.[XVII-49] Davis then delivered the city of Rivas to Mora, and
the rest of Walker's men, about 400 in number, were transported to the
United States.[XVII-50]
The war being ended, the allied troops retired to their respective
states. But prior to their departure there was an affair which might
have ended in a sanguinary conflict had it not been for the prudent
course pursued by most of the generals. The trouble arose from the
hot-headedness of Zavala, the commander of the Guatemalans, who had
been led to believe, by an evil counsellor, that the government would
not return him some arms he had lent, nor furnish him transportation,
nor even pay him the honors due his rank. All this was unfounded, but
he maltreated the officer of the guard at the government house, and
grossly insulted the president, his ministers, and others, threatening
to hang them on the church of La Merced. His conduct was violent and
scandalous.[XVII-51] Máximo Jerez and hundreds of soldiers rushed to
the government's defence, and there would have been bloodshed but for
Barrios of Salvador, who had command of 1,800 men, and prevailed on
Zavala to go back to Chinandega, whence he marched to Guatemala, where
he was received with the honors he had fairly won.
Mora returned to Costa Rica, leaving the command in charge of Cañas. It
is said that he had planned to extend the boundaries of Costa Rica to
the lake, which he deemed an easy undertaking, as the Costa Ricans had
the lake steamers, and the Nicaraguans would be sure to break out into
civil war.[XVII-52] War was declared by Costa Rica against Nicaragua
on the 19th of October, 1857, and accepted by the latter in defence of
her territory.[XVII-53] But upon a second invasion by Walker, peace was
concluded on the 16th of January, 1858.[XVII-54]
[Sidenote: SECOND AND THIRD EXPEDITIONS.]
Walker arrived safely in his own country. But he was not yet satisfied
with the misery and desolation he had wrought upon a foreign and
unoffending people. He must play the vampire further; he must conquer
Nicaragua and be a great man. Taking advantage of the rupture between
this republic and Costa Rica, he prepared another expedition, with
which, eluding the vigilance of the United States authorities, he
sailed from New Orleans for San Juan del Norte. He was arrested,
however, at Punta de Castilla, December 8th, and sent back by Commodore
Paulding, commanding the American home squadron.[XVII-55] The officer's
course obtained the highest commendation and gratitude in Central
America, and particularly in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the latter
conferring upon him high honors. Loyal men who took up arms in the
country's defence were also rewarded.[XVII-56] But like a wild beast
maddened by its wounds, Walker was still bent on blood, if blood were
necessary to subjugate Central America to his will. He fitted out
a third expedition, and landing with its avant guard at Trujillo on
the 6th of August, 1860, seized the funds of the custom-house, which
were pledged to the British government for the payment of Honduras'
indebtedness to its subjects.[XVII-57] The British war vessel _Icarus_
entered the port on the 20th, and her commanding officer, Norwell
Salmon, demanded that Walker should forthwith leave the place, which
he did, fleeing to the eastern coast, where he and his men underwent
the utmost suffering in that uninhabited marshy region. A party of
Hondurans harassed them, and Walker was wounded in the face and leg.
Finally, General Mariano Álvarez arrived with a Honduran force at
Trujillo, and together with Salmon proceeded to the mouth of Rio
Tinto, arriving there on the 3d of September. Walker surrendered to the
_Icarus_, and was turned over to Álvarez, who had him tried at Trujillo
by court-martial. He was sentenced to death, and executed on the 12th
of September. Thus ended on the scaffold the career of William Walker,
filibuster, pirate, or what you will.[XVII-58]
* * * * *
The provisional government of Nicaragua on the 14th of January,
1857, organized a consultive council of five members and three
substitutes,[XVII-59] which was installed on the 20th. To that body
were referred the strictures of ministers Cardenal and Castillo, upheld
by General Martinez, the two former having resigned their portfolios
because the president had declined to transfer the seat of government
to the eastern department.[XVII-60] The council did not approve of
their course, and suggested that Martinez, under a clause in the
agreement of September 12, 1856, should summon R. Cortés and P. J.
Chamorro to fill the vacancies in the cabinet. It does not appear,
however, that Martinez took any steps in that direction.
The old dissensions which Walker's war had kept in abeyance now
threatened to break out afresh. Legitimists and democrats alike saw in
bloodshed and desolation the only means to settle their differences.
Martinez and Jerez, with some of their friends from the east and west,
and assisted by General Gerardo Barrios, commissioner of Salvador,
labored in vain to effect an amicable arrangement.[XVII-61] Jerez
concluded that the only recourse now left to avert a war was for
himself and Martinez to assume the responsibility of jointly governing
the country dictatorially until it could be again placed under a
constitutional régime. This plan being accepted, the two leaders
organized themselves, on the 24th of June, into a junta de gobierno,
otherwise called Gobierno Binario, which was recognized by both
parties, and the dreaded calamity of war was avoided. The organization
was completed with the appointment of Gregorio Juarez and Rosalío
Cortés as the cabinet. Martinez and Jerez continued at the head of
affairs until the 19th of October, when war with Costa Rica having
been accepted, they resolved to assume personal direction of military
operations, and resigned the executive office into the hands of the
ministers. Martinez was then made general-in-chief of the forces, with
ample powers, and Jerez second in command.[XVII-62]
[Sidenote: REORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT.]
The first acts of the new government were to reconstitute the supreme
and other courts, and to summon the people to choose a constituent
assembly for framing a constitution,[XVII-63] and a president of the
republic. At the suggestion of Cortés, and with the assent of Jerez,
Tomás Martinez was named to the people as a proper person for the
executive office, and he was elected almost unanimously.[XVII-64] He
took the oath of office on the 15th of November, promising to pursue
a policy of peace and conciliation,[XVII-65] and appointing Juarez,
Macario Álvarez, and Cortés, his ministers respectively for foreign
relations, treasury, and government.[XVII-66] During his first term
there were several changes in the personnel of the cabinet.[XVII-67]
Martinez' administration not only gave Nicaragua the longest period of
internal peace she had ever had, but promoted her prosperity in every
branch, and notably in finances. At the time of its inauguration, the
government had not one hundred dollars in the treasury. The liberating
army had not been paid during the late war, and the only way to adjust
the arrears was by issuing warrants, which the merchants soon got
possession of at sixty to eighty per cent discount, and returned to
the treasury at par in payment of import duties on merchandise, thus
greatly reducing the revenue from that source. The government also
adopted the unusual course of assuming to indemnify private persons
for the losses they had sustained during the civil war, those resulting
from the burning of Granada included.[XVII-68] And yet Martinez, after
his victory of April 29, 1863, against the united forces of Salvador
and Honduras, succeeded within six years in doubling the amount of
public revenues, and in arranging for the payment of the foreign debt.
[Sidenote: NEW CONSTITUTION.]
The constituent assembly, on the 19th of August, 1858, adopted
a new constitution, declaring Nicaragua to be a sovereign,
free, and independent republic under a popular representative
government.[XVII-69] Two days later the assembly resolved to continue
acting as an ordinary legislature, and decreed that all public
functionaries should retain their respective offices until the new
constitutional régime should have been installed. Prior to this,
on the 30th of January, that body had declared illegitimate all the
provisional administrations which had ruled Nicaragua from 1854 till
the 8th of November, 1857, excepting only the gobierno binario from
June 24, 1857.[XVII-70]
[Sidenote: PRESIDENT MARTINEZ.]
During the first years of Martinez' rule, the most friendly relations
seemed to exist between him and the leaders of the two political
parties. Jerez was intrusted with important diplomatic duties.[XVII-71]
At the beginning of 1861, the president in his message to congress
stated that the country was at peace at home and abroad, Salvador
being the only nation that had suspended diplomatic relations with
Nicaragua.[XVII-72] Again, in January 1863, the president congratulated
congress that peace reigned, and the country was prospering. He said
with pleasure that no Nicaraguan was undergoing penalty for political
causes.[XVII-73] The country was at the same time an asylum for the
persecuted and exiles of other states. However, this hospitality
extended to exiles gave rise to serious differences with Salvador,
whose demands were invariably disregarded, until Barrios threatened
to blockade the port of Realejo.[XVII-74] The consequence was, that
Nicaragua and Guatemala, pursuant to the treaty made September 20,
1862,[XVII-75] became allies in the bloody war that broke out this
year against Salvador and Honduras, details of which have been given
in the history of Salvador for this period.[XVII-76] Martinez having
been reëlected president for the quadrennial term from March 1,
1863,[XVII-77] offered his resignation on the ground that there might
be opposition to his holding the office a second term. But congress, on
the 5th of February, 1863, declined to accept it, and requested that
he should continue at the head of affairs at least for a time. During
the war with Salvador and Honduras, Martinez commanded the army in the
field, and Nicasio del Castillo acted as president. At the end of the
campaign, Martinez and the troops were rewarded for their services, he
being raised to the rank of captain-general.[XVII-78] He resumed the
executive office August 31, 1863.[XVII-79] The most stringent orders
were issued against Jerez and others, declaring them traitors, and
decreeing that revolutionists were severally answerable with their
property for the expenses the government had been put to by their acts.
However, on the 20th of April, 1864, an amnesty law was passed, though
not including the chief leaders.[XVII-80]
Toward the end of Martinez' second term some attempts at revolution
were made, and easily quelled. They arose from a representation that
Martinez contemplated retaining power for life; but in a proclamation
of April 24, 1866, he pronounced the statements false.[XVII-81]
Following the example of Washington, he insisted on his countrymen
calling another citizen to the executive chair, and Fernando Guzman
having been chosen,[XVII-82] he surrendered his authority to him on
March 1, 1867. His rank as captain-general had been confirmed, and upon
his tendering a resignation, congress refused to accept it.[XVII-83]
However, scarcely one year later, congress suppressed the rank
altogether.[XVII-84] Ex-president Martinez' death occurred on the 12th
of March, 1873, and his remains were buried with high honors on the
20th.[XVII-85]