THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 1861. :;ii'J 



might bo made suKse.iuently. The Deputies, thus headed, assembled properly; hut the Senate 

 was in a pi-edit -anx-nt. A quorum of that body, when its nnmlier in complete, in fifteen. There- 

 was one death vacancy, several continued aliseni, and one was unexpectedly taken ill; go that 

 only lulu teen c.inld !>< found in Santiago capable of attending. But as only one fourth of a sena- 

 tor was required to complete a quorum of the living members according to law, the two houses of 

 Congress so interpreted the Constitution as to direct that the ballots bo counted; and Mr. Montt 

 was declared duly chosen President for the five years next ensuing September 18th. 



To residents near the plaza the excitements of the day were not ended; and thousands were 

 distressingly alarmed at a later hour by an incident really burlesque. An unfortunate ox, 

 which had been liberated at the termination of a hard day's labor, was tempted from the shadow 

 of his master's cart by the sweet odor of alfalfa, of which a mule-load was passing. Deftly did 

 he follow the mule, and many a sweet mouthful was extracted from the moving stack, uncon- 

 sciously approaching precincts where the law permits only men and dogs to be "at large." 

 The serenos were absent from several corners at the time, and in the darkness he had approached, 

 before detection, to within three or four squares of the plaza a sudden blow from a lasso inter- 

 rupting the pleasures of his repast. In the obscurity the sereno had failed in his aim, startling 

 instead of capturing the estray ; and a race incontinently ensued towards the centre of popula- 

 tion, pursued and pursuer followed by rushing crowds, constantly increasing from all the lateral 

 streets along which they passed. Not knowing the cause of the uproar consequent to so novel 

 a spectacle, the lights on the plaza were extinguished, shops and dwellings were closed, and the 

 more timid of those who lived at a distance rushed for their homes, fully believing and spread- 

 ing intelligence that a revolution had broken out. Nor was tranquillity restored for some 

 hours after the innocent bovine cause of mischief had been put in the pound, to remain until his 

 master should come forward, ''prove property, pay charges, and take him away." 



At noon next day, amid the roars of a national salute fired on Santa Lucia, and the clangor of 

 trumpets in the plaza, a bando was published to the troops and others assembled at the latter 

 place, . proclaiming DON MANUEL MONTT President elect of Chile. At the same instant he 

 was attending a special mass of thanks in the cathedral adjoining. An hour later the same 

 troops were drawn up in the Canada, and the proclamation repeated there ; but it fell on ears 

 indifferent, and there was neither enthusiasm nor cheering on either occasion. The inaugura- 

 tion took place in the Senate chamber on the appointed day members of the two Chambers, the 

 diplomatic corps, and chief officials of government, being present. At this ceremony the retiring 

 President also assists, laying down the insignia of office as the oath to support the Constitution 

 and laws is administered to his successor by the presidents of the two Chambers. 



