EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 335 



kin were scarcely less compassionate. On recrossing the straits the whole party were seized, 

 and a portion of tin -in. indinlin^ the governor :in<l priest, were not only shot, but their bodiea 

 \\riv Milisr.|iifiitlv iril'l'rtod and bunn-d ; atrocities scarcely credible when it is recollected that 

 they were inflicted on persons whom the same mutineers had suffered to remain near them 

 nearly a wi-i-k almost \vithoutmolestation. The cause of such treatment is only explicable on 

 the supposition that a part of the passengers by the Florida had roused new animosities, and 

 instigated this in retaliation for some of the high-handed measures going on about the capital. 



An American barque homeward bound from California, which had a quantity of gold dust on 

 lioanl, was taken possession of by the revolutionists soon after these events. In her passage 

 through the straits she had anchored at Punta Arenas for supplies, but instead of assistance had 

 her treasure rifled" and distributed, and her master detained to await the further purposes of the 

 new colonial government. From this time until January 2d the revolutionists were making 

 ready for a voyage, killing the cattle, drying charqui, and gathering other provisions whence- 

 soever they could. Destroying the property at Punta Arenas and Port Bulnes, they made sail 

 for Talcahuano or Lima, in case they could not enter the former port. When the news reached 

 'Valparaiso, the small navy of Chile was fully occupied in settling the Coquimbo and Atacama 

 difficulties. The last ship of the United States Pacific squadron had gone to Peru only a few weeks 

 before. With such bands of miscreants free on the ocean, it was impossible to foresee what 

 atrocities might not be committed. Perhaps out of charity to the two nations most interested 

 Chile and the United States the British vice-admiral at once despatched a steamer-of-war to 

 examine into the matter, and if possible arrest the pirates. Fortunate in her search, the 

 British steamer brought both vessels in as prizes, and the ring-leaders at Magellanes paid with 

 their lives the penalty of the law. 



This closed the revolt of 1851. The treaty of Purapel was, of necessity, ratified by govern- 

 ment ; yet it surprised us no little to learn that a part of the officers who fought against it in 

 the early days of December, on arriving at Santiago, were restored to posts about the executive 

 departments before the last day of the same month ; overweening confidence or magnanimous 

 forgetfulness of the past, one does not know which. The final acts of the drama were sump- 

 tuous banquets given to the ministerial chiefs by their partisans ; and, before the first month of 

 the new year had passed away, the country had apparently returned to its normal state, the 

 mass of its people having already forgotten the lives lost and treasure wasted. Subsequently, 

 some additional particulars were learned from participants and eye-witnesses of the battle on 

 the field of Loncomilla. These will be found in Chapter XV. 



We have seen the results : let us examine for a moment what the revolutionists proposed to 

 accomplish. That both the law of elections and the constitution had been violated in fact as in 

 spirit by those sworn to guard them, does uot admit of doubt ; and government was rapidly 

 centralizing its powers instead of becoming more democratic, as is the tendency of republics. 

 One evidence of this is nomination by the administration of its candidate for the Presidency. 

 The people, in convention or by other mode, do not select the individuals who are to serve as 

 their representatives, or as electors of President. Names of ministerialists mostly resident at 

 Santiago are forwarded from the Ministry of the Interior to Intendentes of the provinces, and it 

 is the duty of these last officers to cause the return of persons thus named. Electors reside in 

 the provinces for which they are chosen, but are selected in the same manner. Not only are 

 these so called representatives, and those who will nominally determine their Chief Magis- 

 trate thus appointed, but even members of the municipal councils are decided upon by the same 

 functionary. Meetings in the open air for the discussion of political questions are prohibited by 

 law ; and since the organization of socialist clubs, in the early part of 1851, assemblages in 

 houses for like objects are equally under its ban. As the intendentes, governors, sub-delegates, 

 and officers of the National Guard hold office directly from or at the will of the President, and 

 without the necessity for sanction by even the Council of State, it is fairly inferrible that they 

 are creatures of his commands. Moreover, commandants of battalions and haciendados or 



