THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 1851. 307 



there was little excitement apparent about the polls : few men were intoxicated; no fighting 

 rnsucd ; and there WUH Imt little of the noise or excitement to which we are are accustomed at 

 elections in the United States. A leader occasionally threw a handful of small silver among 

 the crowd, with a shout of 'Viva Montt' or 'Viva Cruz,' and the rabble would repeat the cry 

 whilst scrambling t'r it; but interest expired as soon as all the money was picked up. Except 

 in tin- \ icinity of the polls, the city seemed deserted; nor were such crowds assembled there as 

 might have been anticipated on a like occasion. Nearly all the police having been collected about 

 the different polls in squads of thirty to forty each, even the customary sight of these in the 

 streets was wanting, Dashing among the crowds with drawn sabres to arrest culprits, or to 

 disperse numbers, they effectually prevented the realization of a free election. 



" Though carried on to a scandalous extent, the purchase of votes was nevertheless managed 

 quietly; and it would not have attracted attention, but that men were seen from time to time to 

 enter neighboring houses with checks, and shortly after return counting money. In some of the 

 parishes on the first day the market price was half a doubloon ($8.62); but there being no con- 

 test on the second, as has been stated, he was a lucky fellow who realized four reals. 



"About 4 P. M. of the same day the polls were closed ; and finding no further diversions in their 

 vicinity, the masses instinctively flocked to the plaza as the centre of re-union and amusement. 

 The first that came entered without obstruction ; but mounted police were soon stationed at 

 every entrance, and the majority were denied admittance. Meanwhile the crowd within, com- 

 posed almost wholly of rotos and members of the opposition, collected about the door of ' El 

 Progreso,' a liberal newspaper, and commenced depositing with leaders the certificates of quali- 

 fication on which they had not been allowed to vote. Again the police interfered, preventing 

 every one from entering the court who did not claim to have business with the post office, which 

 was within the same enclosure. Though exercised gently, this obstruction prevented the larger 

 number from depositing their real or fictitious papers ; but that the party might not lose the 

 benefit of this testimony as to the illegality of the election, a woman wife or mistress to one of 

 the slain in the revolt of April 20th volunteered to receive the certificates, and succeeded in 

 delivering them to their friends. As the rabble kept up their noise and excitement until after 

 night-fall, they were finally driven out of the plaza with whips by squads of the mounted police. 



"Taking advantage of the arrival of the daily mail next morning, the crowd re-assembled in 

 front of the 'Progreso' office; and as they promised to become troublesome, the police charged 

 among them as before. This time, instead of retreating from the plaza, the rabble took refuge 

 on immense heaps of earth piled in front of two extensive buildings then in course of erection, 

 and from there gave the police volleys of stones at every favorable opportunity. As it was 

 almost impossible to charge up these hills, it was an hour or two before this dangerous pastime 

 ended, and the rout of the mob closed the excitement of the election." 



Although the same system seems to have been followed in every province, the election was 

 regarded as the most fair that had ever been witnessed in Chile. An American gentleman of 

 much observation, long resident in the country, remarked to me, "It is the very first I have 

 known at which corporal punishment and imprisonment have not been resorted to." It is pro- 

 bable, however, that punishment was a sequel to it in more cases than the following. 



When the time arrived 'for a renewal of the qualifications, the porter to the Astronomical 

 Expedition was sent for by some one in whose employ he had served previously, and under 

 the system of nominal rates of income mentioned was in a little while constituted a voter, as 

 he had, no doubt, previously been before. But since the preceding election Jose" had imbibed 

 other notions, and, to the surprise of his disinterested patron, declined surrendering the certifi- 

 cate received, unwisely concluding that if he was entitled to obtain, he was also entitled to 

 retain. This being more than the gentleman had bargained for, and a result which might cost 

 his party half a doubloon or a vote against them, an altercation was forced and a scuffle ensued, 

 terminating as all such affairs between rich and poor do Jose was furnished with lodgings at 

 the expense of the municipality. 



